Deck-building is arguably one of the most popular game mechanics in modern games, especially among indie titles on Steam. Deck-building roguelites, in particular, continue to be popular, even long after the release of Slay the Spire, a game that arguably injected deck-building into the indie game mainstream.

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11 Of The Best Recent Deck-Builder Games, Ranked

From the iconic Slay the Spire to releases like Griftlands and Signs of the Sojourner, these are some of the best recent deck-builders.

Once players have learned to play one deck-builder, the chances are that they can play the majority of the rest. However, some deck-builders, even the genre pioneers themselves, can offer a real challenge to newcomers and veterans alike.

Updated on June 12, 2024, by Harry Ted Sprinks: While its popularity may have slowed down in the years following Slay the Spire's release, the deck-building genre is still alive and kicking. This is in large part thanks to the success of games such as Balatro, which has renewed popularity in the genre with innovative gameplay. Many of these newer deck-builders, such as Beneath Oresa, are particularly challenging. Much of the difficulty of these newer titles comes from their innovations in the genre, which provide twists on the conventional gameplay of deck-builders, encouraging players to approach the game in new ways.

8 Balatro

A Roguelike Deck-Builder That Relies Heavily On Luck

Balatro is a rogue-like deck-builder based on poker hands and, as a result, is inherently reliant on randomness. Because of this, Balatro can feel a little unfair at times, and it is often quite challenging. The luck of the draw can and will frequently end runs that were otherwise going well, though there are several tools at the player's disposal to stack the odds in their favor.

Balatro also has several difficulty modes and a variety of starting decks, each of which brings its own unique challenges to overcome. Furthermore, Balatro features several challenge runs that provide further difficulty once players have mastered the base game.

7 Crop Rotation

A Card-Drafting Deck-Builder With A Steep Learning Curve

This cozy farming game is a roguelike deck-builder that tasks players with drafting farm-themed cards. Crop Rotation plays cards automatically, allowing players to focus on the deck-building, which is the core of Crop Rotation's gameplay.

While Crop Rotation has a minimalist visual style and gameplay structure, the depth and complexity of its systems and user interface make it a relatively inaccessible deck-builder. In comparison to drafting games such as Luck Be A Landlord, Crop Rotation offers a much more challenging experience, at least at first.

6 Vault Of The Void

A Quirky Roguelite Deck-Builder That Can Quickly Become Complicated

This tremendously unique roguelite deck-builder takes the traditional structure and gameplay of the genre and adds several small tweaks. Each of these minor changes adds to Vault of the Void's complexity and heightens its skill ceiling.

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In Vault of the Void, unlike most deck-builders, players manage a deck of twenty cards at all times. When players gain new cards, they can freely switch them in and out of their current deck, allowing for constant freedom and flexibility. This alone adds a subtle layer of complexity to Vault of the Void, but when combined with the game's multitude of status effects, quirky damage system, and abundance of gameplay quirks, Vault of the Void is a distinctive and challenging experience for newcomers.

5 Beneath Oresa

A Unique 3D Deck-Builder That Places A Focus On Positioning

• Platform: PC
• Released: November 3, 2023
• Developer: Broken Spear Inc
• Genre: Deck-Builder

This heavily stylized rogue-like deck-builder takes place in a unique setting and combines traditional deck-building with turn-based tactics. Thanks to the game's 3D battle arenas, players will have to worry about the positioning of their characters throughout each battle, adding an extra layer of complexity to the game.

There are a variety of strategies to be developed in Beneath Oresa, thanks in large part to the multiple upgrade paths of each card, as well as the variety of companions. Overall, Beneath Oresa offers a unique and challenging experience, but its rough-edged difficulty curve won't be for everyone.

4 Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles

A Dice-Based Deck-Builder That Features Challenging Risk-Reward Gameplay

Although Astrea tasks players with playing dice rather than physical cards, deck-building remains a core part of its gameplay loop. In order to succeed, players will have to strategically build and manipulate a deck of dice, creating synergies and powerful combos.

Astrea also features a unique health bar system that grants players skills as they take damage. These skills refresh when the player heals, allowing them to exploit these skills by repeatedly dealing damage to themselves. This focus on risk and reward gameplay is what makes Astrea so satisfyingly difficult.

3 Wildfrost

A Challenging And Complex Engine-Building Card Game

This innovative roguelike deckbuilder features a cute and colorful art style and unique gameplay that helps to distinguish it from its many contemporaries. Wildfrost tasks players with building a deck and navigating a node-based map, but combat revolves around playing and buffing various companion cards.

These companion cards can be moved around during combat, adding a layer of tactical decision-making to Wildfrost that breathes new life into the genre. This added layer also adds complexity and challenge to Wildfrost, making it one of the more difficult deck-builders on the market.

2 Slay The Spire

A Modern Classic That Features A Variety Of Difficulty Modifiers

It could be argued that Slay the Spire revolutionized the deck-building genre, taking inspiration from iconic tabletop games such as Dominion. Despite its immense popularity, Slay the Spire can be quite difficult, thanks in large part to its "Ascension" system.

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Roguelike fans planning on tackling Slay the Spire will need to know a few helpful beginner tips to get a good start.

While beating a vanilla run of Slay the Spire may be relatively easy, especially for those familiar with the deck-building genre, the game's variety of extra difficulty modifiers do a great job of adding challenge to the experience. Furthermore, this difficulty ladder allows the game to have a higher replay value than it otherwise would.

1 One Step From Eden

A Real-Time Action Deck-Builder That Requires Constant Multitasking

This action roguelite deck-builder features chaotic real-time action gameplay that takes clear inspiration from Mega Man Battle Network. One Step From Eden combines its real-time action with strong deck-building mechanics packed with plenty of potential synergies.

One Step From Eden can be ridiculously difficult, as players will have to dodge attacks, fire their weapons, and play their cards simultaneously. This constant multitasking won't be for everyone, and while it's largely responsible for making One Step From Eden so inaccessible, it's also what makes it so satisfying to play.

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The 10 Best Deck-Building RPGs, Ranked

Deck-building games like Hearthstone have become very popular, and these games mesh their mechanics with RPG trappings for a truly unique experience.