Top 10 Card-Based Combat Games for Deckbuilding Enthusiasts

Slay the Spire

One of the simplest and most popular games on this list has to be Slay the Spire, and that's a testament to how well-developed it is. You don't need super complicated decks or thousands of classes: it's all about doing a little, but doing it so well and masterfully that each deck feels unique in its abilities and their synergy. Just wait until you play with the Watcher to see what I mean! | © Mega Crit

Griftlands

I will always love the character designs and worlds of Klei. But unlike Don't Starve or Oxygen Not Included, Griftlands uses a card system to resolve its actions. And while it’s true that it lacks some narrative complexity and a more impactful decision-making element, what makes it great is its gameplay duality, where you have one deck for fights and another for influencing and discussing. Remember, when diplomacy fails, it's time for fists. | © Klei Entertainment

Inscryption

One of the most highly regarded games in the underground world of indie video games, so much so that it is transitioning into a cult classic, is Inscryption. It's more than just a simple card game; it offers a very different horror experience that is not typical of the genre and is capable of breaking the fourth wall on more than one occasion. | © Daniel Mullins Games

Monster Train

The concept of Monster Train is enough to make you want to try it. It's a simultaneous battle between several carriages of a train, with hordes of demons, angels, and all kinds of abominations facing off against each other. But the gameplay? It's a technical masterpiece that demonstrates how brilliant card-based combat can be. | © Shiny Shoe

Shogun Showdown

Shogun Showdown puts us in the shoes (or Geta) of a samurai, where battles are decided by who manages to use the right card at the right moment, when the ideal combo is formed, and the opponent is left defenseless. Unlike other games in its genre where you have to knock them down with attacks, this title focuses more on a subtle and swift unsheathing of the katana. | © Roboatino

Cobalt Core

Roguelike games work very well in space, considering how fun space dogfights between ships are. But a gameplay based on cards? It's not so common in the genre, but the combat in Cobalt Core is a marvel, especially when combined with the upgrade system that makes each run different. | © Rocket Rat Games

Black Book

The great thing about Black Book is that it combines the mysticism of Eastern European folklore and horror tales with a card system, divided into white cards for protection and healing and black cards for dealing damage to the monsters and fairy tale creatures that stand in your way. Not only that, but it's a game where your decisions impact the outcome for the community, and where you'll need to maintain a certain karmic balance to appease the dark entities that have granted you these powers. | © Morteshka

Darkest Dungeon

Among all the card-based combat games, none will have you crying in pain and frustration like Darkest Dungeon. The best advice is not to get attached to your heroes, as they are all destined to die, even those you've invested hours and hours in. The dark fantasy atmosphere fits perfectly with its gameplay, as you'll have to make sacrifices along the way just to use the ideal card to kill that last enemy. | © Red Hook Studios

Deep Sky Derelicts

But if you're looking for more of that dark atmosphere, maybe even with a touch of cosmic horror, where you have to explore derelict spaceships, look no further than Deep Sky Derelicts. While it may be a bit simpler, the retro-futuristic art of the '80s comics brings us a world where every step consumes your oxygen, and you'll have to choose whether to be greedy and push a little further at the risk of encountering something that could kill your entire team, or retreat while you still can. | © Fulqrum Publishing

Library of Ruina

To close the list, I’d like to recommend a small Korean indie title with a very dedicated fan community and an exceptional story. Unlike its counterpart called Limbus Company, Library of Ruina is a single-player story where you face different gangs in a city seeking refuge in your library, and perhaps find the book they've been looking for. But be warned, it’s a game full of gore and horror, with the reward being the enjoyment of the various plots surrounding the gangs and finding the right card combination to deal with each of them. | © ProjectMoon