Monster Train

 PC
Monster Train Image
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 68 Ratings

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  • Summary: Monster Train is a strategic roguelike deck building game with a twist. Set on a train to hell, you’ll use tactical decision making to defend multiple vertical battlegrounds. With real time competitive multiplayer and endless replayability, Monster Train is always on time.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. GameCritics
    Jun 25, 2020
    100
    As far as deckbuilders go, Monster Train is fantastic. The general strategy and the quirks of fighting on a multi-leveled train make it stand out as its own sort of unique puzzle that rewards players for cleverness. The runs are fast, it’s easy to learn, and the challenge modes give it plenty of depth and replay. Get on board before it leaves the station!
  2. DarkStation
    Jun 12, 2020
    90
    As addictive as any card builder on the market, Monster Train absolutely nails the dopamine drip of fast-paced matches, the promise of increasing power, and enough variety in its gameplay that it will take dozens of hours before the game starts to feel repetitive. A well written story and crisper graphics would elevate the title to another level, but what is here is fantastic and endlessly entertaining.
  3. IGN
    Dec 17, 2020
    90
    Do you like Slay The Spire? If so, you should absolutely try Monster Train's more tactical spin on the deck-building roguelike, which literally layers on new ideas and has every bit as much depth and variety.
  4. Softpedia
    Jun 26, 2020
    85
    For those who are into card games, Monster Train is a must-play title. It's better and more complex than Slay the Spire, although I would have liked to see more bosses throughout my several playthroughs, the RNG dictates who you fight and when. Monster Train is a fresh, new take on the deck-building card game genre that will be hard to be outmatched.
  5. Vandal
    Jun 17, 2020
    83
    This is one of the biggest surprises of the year for us. The combination of cards and tower defense works great, and even though there are some small flaws, overall it is a game we’ve really enjoyed.
  6. Jeuxvideo.com
    Jun 7, 2020
    80
    Quotation forthcoming.
  7. PC Gamer
    Jun 3, 2020
    77
    A deckbuilder that will have you doing hit point calculations and liking it.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Wraiven
    May 27, 2020
    10
    If you enjoy roguelikes/lites, GET THIS. I love StS but this game is veeerrrryyyy different in pretty much every way outside of the inclusionIf you enjoy roguelikes/lites, GET THIS. I love StS but this game is veeerrrryyyy different in pretty much every way outside of the inclusion of "cards". Both games are masterpieces, and both deserve to be considered two of the best RL games ever made. Been following this game closely for months and it had more than enough content when there were only two clans (classes essentially), but with release there are now 3 more and they're all SOOOO unique. I absolutely adore this game!… Expand
  2. Jenga
    Oct 9, 2021
    10
    The negative reviewer doesn't know what he's talking about, imo. I have so much time in Slay the Spire (A20 on all characters) but this gameThe negative reviewer doesn't know what he's talking about, imo. I have so much time in Slay the Spire (A20 on all characters) but this game is much better to me! It is not quite as difficult, but assuming you are trying for Divinity wins on Cov25, it has plenty to offer in that regard. Besides, top players frequently achieve a low win rate on StS A20 Heart runs (sometimes 25% win rate, and that is the best players in the world). To me, that is not just difficult, but in many ways impossible. In Monster Train,a run is almost always winnable - if you play perfectly. And to me, that's much better, as if I lose it was my fault! Long story short, it's plenty hard and well worth your time, just go straight for Covenant wins to start unlocking the highest difficulty where (imo) the game truly shines.… Expand
  4. Natdog
    May 28, 2020
    10
    This game is fun and addictive, with lots of interesting choices. The deck building is strategic and requires you to think ahead for cardThis game is fun and addictive, with lots of interesting choices. The deck building is strategic and requires you to think ahead for card combos that will maximise your clan’s strengths. The fights require tactical decisions to make the most of your the hand you’re dealt. I love his game!… Expand
  5. Kaprawiec
    Mar 24, 2022
    10
    If Youre a card games fan like me You cant go wrong with monster train. It offers tons of options, probably most complex deck builder createdIf Youre a card games fan like me You cant go wrong with monster train. It offers tons of options, probably most complex deck builder created to this date. Definitely recommended, hundreds of hours of great gameplay. One of the best along with Slay the Spire and Castle of Morihisa.… Expand
  6. JxBest
    May 25, 2021
    9
    If you enjoy rougelite/rougelike deckbuilders then you'll like this game as well. Coming from slay the spire this game is easy to get into andIf you enjoy rougelite/rougelike deckbuilders then you'll like this game as well. Coming from slay the spire this game is easy to get into and understand, until you unlock Covenant levels and the game becomes really challenging. Ive played alot of hours in this game and the replay value with the different deck combos keeps me very entertained. Overall consensus this game Is Very Good.… Expand
  7. keszotrab
    Jun 24, 2020
    9
    Very fun and unique game. Fresh look on a deckbuilder games, with the great idea of combining 2 of the 5 clans/colors.
    So each of the clans    Very fun and unique game. Fresh look on a deckbuilder games, with the great idea of combining 2 of the 5 clans/colors.
    So each of the clans got their "style" of play. For example you can chose Stygian guards who specialize with DOT and spells and combine it with Animus clan which specialize with big tanky units and heals. So after choseing the archetype you can than customize your main clan's champion so it will better fit your style.
    So how does the battle works? You have 3 floors on which you can place different units and 4th floor that has your train's core. Enemies will spawn each turn on the first floor until the boss arrives. After each turn each unit will deal damage to each other (enemies attack first) and than if enemy survived it will move floor higer. If your core's HP becomes 0 you lose.
    Between the fights there is a 2 diffrent ways you can choose each have diffrent upgrades and events so you can choose which one you want to get. Upgrades are really cool, each card in the game has 2 upgrade slots, the upgrades can range from simple stat boost, cost reduction, bonus effect or removing negative effect of a card but increasing it's cost.

    Soundtrack: 8/10 The game even says what track it's playing and they all feel very fitting.
    Graphics: 9/10 The visual are really great, some animations needs work tho...
    Gameplay: 9/10 Gameplay loop is really addictive and never get's boring!
    My Personal Overall Enjoyment: 10/10 It reallys feels amazing to play.    … Expand
  8. wilderplain
    Dec 27, 2020
    5
    As an StS fan - don't believe the hype.

    I have around 180 hrs on Slay the Spire and love that game. In comparison, Monster Train is far too    As an StS fan - don't believe the hype.

    I have around 180 hrs on Slay the Spire and love that game. In comparison, Monster Train is far too easy and runs are very short. It's fun for a few hours but once I unlocked all the clans and champions I felt no need to continue playing. I'm told it gets to a satisfying difficulty once you unlock later 'covenants' (modifiers that up the difficulty) but I feel no motivation to grind through 15-20 more runs to get there, as I feel like I've seen everything.

    Each run is only 8 battles and the enemies get repetitive very quickly.
    There are limited opportunities to get artifacts and their effects are OP but a bit boring
    Synergies are basic and unimaginative

    I played this on Game Pass, but before I was on there I almost bought it on Steam. Let's just say as an StS fan I'm glad I didn't spend money on this as I would have been disappointed.    … Expand

See all 21 User Reviews

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19
#19 Best PC Game of 2020

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