5 Best Roguelike Deckbuilders That Aren’t Balatro

by

I’m still completely hooked on Balatro, the incredibly popular game from 2024. I play it everywhere – on my commute, while watching TV, even in bed (and sometimes, let’s be honest, in the bathroom!). It’s a truly captivating game that’s hard to put down, thanks to its fantastic soundtrack (I still listen to the Game Awards orchestral version daily), addictive gameplay, and vibrant graphics. It’s easily one of the best roguelike deckbuilders available.

I know Balatro isn’t for everyone, and even some dedicated fans are now looking for their next favorite roguelike deckbuilder. If you’re among them, I’ve put together a great list of games. These options range from story-rich experiences to uniquely strange and visually striking titles – all excellent examples of game design and perfect for when you’re ready to move on from Balatro.

5. Tainted Grail: Conquest

Tainted Grail: Conquest is a story-driven deckbuilding game with roguelike elements, set in the same dark fantasy world as the popular game Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon. While it shares a similar gritty look and feel, Conquest goes beyond typical games in the genre by offering a world to explore, quests to complete, characters to interact with, and nine distinct character classes. With so many different ways to play, you could easily spend many hours with Conquest, but it’s also enjoyable for shorter gaming sessions.

What makes Tainted Grail: Conquest stand out is its engaging deckbuilding and atmospheric setting. The game offers a dark and captivating take on the Arthurian legends, and the developers at Questline have done a great job bringing that to life. With over 400 unique cards, each playthrough feels fresh and avoids repetitive gameplay. It’s a surprisingly overlooked gem in the genre, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a more mature gaming experience.

4. Griftlands

Griftlands, similar to Tainted Grail: Conquest, is a story-driven game where you build a deck of cards and embark on a roguelike adventure. It might seem challenging at first, but the creators of the popular Don’t Starve series, Klei Entertainment, have done a fantastic job of making the repeated storylines engaging. The game features multiple stories, each with its own character and cards, and they are all exceptionally well-written, making Griftlands one of the best science fiction games out there. Each story takes only a few hours to complete, but offers impressive depth and variety. Even when you have to start over after a defeat, you’ll always discover something new to enjoy.

The game’s fantastic deckbuilding system also makes it fun to start a new playthrough. You’ll need to think carefully about each move to get the most out of your cards, and earning new cards is always a treat – they unlock tons of new ways to create powerful combinations and strategies. Griftlands doesn’t cut any corners; its stories capture the spirit of classic Saturday morning cartoons and movies like Treasure Planet, its deckbuilding is among the best in the genre, and its unique take on the roguelike formula makes finally finishing a run incredibly rewarding.

3. Zet Zillions

Zet Zillions is a wonderfully quirky and incredibly fun roguelike deckbuilder created by the team behind the critically acclaimed RPG, Wolfstride. What makes Zet Zillions stand out is its striking visual style, which is present in everything from the beautifully designed bosses (often planets!) to the cards you play and the game’s interface. It’s a truly beautiful game, and fans of the developer’s previous work won’t be surprised.

Let me tell you, Zet Zillions isn’t just a pretty face – it’s genuinely brilliant. It’s a roguelike deckbuilder, so you’re collecting cards and moving through spaces with random events, but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever played. Seriously, destroying planets and literally throwing garbage at enemies? The whole concept is just so unique and I can’t stop playing it. It’s easily my favorite in the genre. Some other deckbuilders have more complicated card interactions, but none of them capture the same wild, chaotic fun that Zet Zillions does.

2. Roguebook

Many consider Roguebook to be one of the best roguelike deckbuilders available, and for good reason. Created with Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield, the game boasts incredibly deep and satisfying deckbuilding. Players can discover a huge number of powerful combinations and synergies to overcome a wide variety of challenging enemies and bosses. The game takes place in a beautifully randomized world presented as a storybook, where you’ll find new relics and cards to aid your journey and increase your chances of survival.

What really sets Roguebook apart for me is that instead of building just one deck, you actually control two heroes at a time. Each hero has their own unique set of cards, and figuring out how they work together is awesome. It’s not just about building a strong deck, but also about figuring out the best way to position them – who should protect who, and how can I combine their powers for maximum damage? Honestly, Roguebook is a beautiful game with incredible art and card design, and the gameplay is so addictive. I’ve easily sunk over 100 hours into it and I’m still having a blast!

1. Slay The Spire

No list of the best roguelike deckbuilders would be complete without mentioning Slay the Spire – it’s truly the king of the genre! It’s so popular, it even got turned into a board game, which is a rare honor. What makes Slay the Spire so great is how easy it seems at first. The game quickly gives you everything you need to enjoy yourself, while subtly revealing deeper strategies and possibilities. It hints at amazing card combinations, offers a huge variety of cards to collect, and throws challenging enemies your way. Before you know it, you’re completely hooked and have spent countless hours playing!

Slay the Spire is a standout achievement in roguelike deckbuilding, arguably only surpassed by its own sequel. It doesn’t rely on fancy graphics (though it looks great while you’re playing) or complicated rules. Its enduring popularity comes from how quickly you can learn the basics, and how challenging it is to become truly skilled. Slay the Spire is the kind of game you’ll repeatedly return to, wanting to play it on every device. It’s incredibly captivating, similar to Balatro in how completely it draws you in. Be warned, though – once you start playing Slay the Spire, you might lose yourself for hundreds of hours in its wonderfully designed gameplay.

Looking for good roguelike deckbuilding games? Share your recommendations in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/list/3-incredible-games-that-have-recently-gone-unnoticed-by-everyone/embed/#

Read More

2026-03-31 21:12