Summary
Deck builders are a great choice for iOS games, especially those thatmake use of roguelike or roguelite elements. Slay the Spire remains one of the most well-known and influential deck builders in the gaming space. Deck Builders can feel very different from one another, withSlay the Spirefeeling very different from something likeBalatro.
Players that have enjoyedSlay the Spiresince its release in 2017 may be on the lookout for something new. The good news is that there are a lot of options to choose from, with some being more polished than others. This leads to the question of “which are thebest deck builders on iOS?”and if they are worth giving a try.
Zoetiis a roguelike that shares a lot in common withSlay the Spire. However, it alsooffers a lot of new features for players to explore. One such feature is its use of common playing cards to form poker hands in order to activate different abilities for the characters.
Players will form these hands from the cards available to them, with different battles offering different options. Players will also select new abilities as they progress through a run that can make a big difference.
Some players love gacha games, and some players avoid them entirely upon hearing the word. The fights are short and rewarding, giving an explosive amount of fun early on. As one would expect, there are many different currencies for different aspects of the game.
Players that only plan on playing for an hour or so a day will findplenty of fun to be had without spending any real world money.
This game goes by different names for different versions. It goes byAncient Gods: Card Battle RPGon the Google Play Store, and simplyAncient Godson Steam. These versions do differ, with Steam having a set price rather than being a free game.
Players that enjoy having more range to a run may find what they are looking for withMeteorfall: Journeys.Players will start by picking a class, getting some cards, and then refining a powerful deck as they progress through a run.
However, players will rely more on what cards are in their deck than permanent buffs from something like a relic — this can make formore of a challenge. Players will also only deal with 1 card at a time during combat, choosing to play it or skip it to conserve resources.
5Pirates Outlaws
High Seas Pirate Deck Builder
This game is perfect for players looking for a game that is similar toSlay the Spire, in the sense it offers plenty of ability cards, lots of ways to modify runs, and multiple characters. There are 16 characters, over 700 cards, and 200 reflections to discover and collect.
There are also over 60 bosses to overcome. Thisgives players a lot of bang for their buck. The game has in-app purchases for free version, but there are much costlier versions on Steam and Consoles that remove all micro-transactions.
Night of the Full Moonhas aspooky, yet funky, esthetic. Players will not see themselves on one side while enemies are on another, but instead have the sense that they are moving forward.
Players will be given options to choose from, such as visiting a tavern or facing off against an enemy. They will then address the choice before continuing to press on. This makes each run feel like they are on a journey forward, and it works really well. Runs still feel fresh and fun after copious hours of gameplay.
3Iris and the Giant
Surprisingly Emotionally Gripping
Iris and the Giant has an art style that is both simplistic and striking to look at. It has a great soundtrack andan emotional story. Some players will find themselves really immersed as they progress through a run.
Players can find themselves squaring off against large numbers of enemies that may seem overwhelming at first glance. However, the game gives players all the tools they need to dispatch them. Players may not get hundreds of hours of replayability, but the game makes up for it with its short but sweet story.
2Indies' Lies
Massive Amount of Combinations
WhileSlay the Spirehas players using just 1 character,Indies' Lieswill let players amass a party thanks to Partners. Combining this with the multitude of runes to modify card effects makes for runs that feel unique after many hours of gameplay.
There are also multiple campaigns to play through once players feel they need a fresh change of pace from trying to overcome one giving them trouble.
1Breach Wanderers: Deckbuilder
Customisable Starting Decks
WhileSlay the Spirehas set starting decks,Breach Wanderers: Deckbuilderlets players open packs to acquire new cards to modify their starting decks. This offers a lot of satisfaction in changing how your preferred character can start each run.
This allows fans to have an all-new line-up of characters and enemies to face while preserving the gameplay feel ofSlay the Spire. The game is also free, so there is no harm in trying it out.
