video games

90 on Metacritic: Rogue-like deckbuilder Monster Train 2 is one of the highest reviewed games of the year

Praise is flooding in from critics and fans for Monster Train 2, the sequel to the beloved rogue-like deckbuilder, putting it near the top of 2025's best games.

Matt Buckley

May 21, 2025 12:39

90 on Metacritic: Rogue-like deckbuilder Monster Train 2 is one of the highest reviewed games of the year Source: Monster Train 2, Developer: Shiny Shoe.

Today, Monster Train from developer Shiny Shoe, released in 2020. The original has a 96% positive reviews on Steam from nearly twenty thousand total players. While the original game was a train to hell, Monster Train 2 follows the tracks to heaven, where angels and demons forces to defeat the Titans, who have seized control of heaven.

Monster Train 2 arrives with overwhelming praise from fans and critics

The Monster Train series is heavily inspired by other rogue-like deckbuilders like Slay the Spire, but where Monster Train stands out is its verticality. The train is not just a mode of transportation; it’s also a battlefield. The player must manage all three tiers of the train, defending the Pyre, the heart of the train that keeps it moving. Build a deck full of useful tactics and place monsters in the right positions to defeat your enemies and push further towards victory.

Monster Train 2 introduces five brand-new clans. The Banished have a fallen angel aesthetic, focusing on gaining armor and extra attacks. The Pyreborn are treasure-hunting dragons, and gold quite literally is a major factor in their play style. These two were available in the demo that was released as part of Steam Next Fest a few months ago. Other new clans include the spell-wielding Luna Coven, the macabre mad scientists of the Lazarus League, and the spore-spewing fungal folk of the Underlegion.

Player reviews are slowly coming in for Monster Train 2 on Steam, but people need time to play. At the time of writing, there are just over one hundred reviews, with 94% of them being positive. Fans praise the game, saying, “This is how you do sequels!” and “It’s the first but improved in every single way.” Most reviews have only been able to put in a few hours, between two and five, so if you are still hesitant, waiting a little longer to see what people think with more hours put into the game won't hurt. But for now, the response is overwhelmingly on the positive side.

Monster Train 2 is available today on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam and the Xbox Store. It’s also available today on Xbox Game .