Deckbuilding has never been my forte. My past experience with Yu-Gi-Oh involved eagerly choosing monsters based solely on their appearance or attack power rather than any strategic consideration. As a result, my deck was a chaotic mix significantly exceeding the regulation size, and it performed poorly.
This experience has left me with some trepidation regarding deckbuilding games, especially digital adaptations of traditional card games. The last thing I want is to scratch the surface of a game only to discover its depth is beyond my grasp.
However, video games have a unique advantage—broad conceptual frameworks. At their core, deckbuilders involve the mechanism of collecting and leveraging recurring resources, typically involving cards, though not exclusively.
If you’re searching for accessible deckbuilding games to enjoy, consider exploring the following titles.
9 Peglin
Peggle Never Truly Dies
In the early 2000s, casual gaming experiences like Peggle dominated the scene. Its whimsical gameplay captured widespread attention, and had it included roguelike deckbuilding features similar to Peglin, it might have carved an even larger niche in the industry.
Peglin cleverly blends Peggle’s mechanics with an idle RPG and deckbuilding strategy. Players launch a ball at pegs to inflict damage on enemies standing above. Winning battles allows you to select new peg types and relics that enhance your abilities and modify gameplay.
Similar to Peggle’s appealing simplicity, Peglin invites you with its fundamental goal: hitting pegs with a ball, enriched by unique targets and abilities. It takes the charm of Peggle and amplifies it tenfold.
8 Ballionaire
Somehow Less Overstimulating Than Pachinko
The combination of vibrant visuals and satisfying numerical advancements resonates with many gamers. This appeal is particularly evident in the deckbuilder genre, especially in a game like Ballionaire, which might just keep me away from a pachinko parlor—I’d likely leave broke!
Ballionaire shares similarities with Peglin, revolving around dropping balls on pegs. However, its primary aim is accumulating as much cash as possible by hitting diverse and strategic peg types.
In the deckbuilding aspect, players are tasked with selecting where and which pegs will populate the board, acquiring a wider variety of peg types as the game progresses to maximize cash flow and rebound chances. The core skill lies in ball placement and effective trigger arrangements, resulting in dazzling displays of lights and numbers when properly executed.
7 Balatro
If You Know Poker, You Know Balatro
My poker instructor emphasized that success in the game relies equally on reading opponents and understanding probabilities—a tricky but valuable skill to master. Conversely, a more straightforward part of the game involves recognizing different poker hands, making them easier to grasp.
Balatro capitalizes on this familiarity with poker. If you can identify a poker hand, you’re well-prepared for Balatro. The game thrives on its connection to a widely recognized card game; even those with minimal experience can easily grasp the basic mechanics.
Once you’re comfortable with poker principles, it’s all about managing and arranging Jokers effectively. The effects of consumables are short-lived and clearly defined, making them easy to understand and utilize.
6 Dicey Dungeons
It’s All In The Dice
Did you know that dice have been around since ancient Mesopotamia, even back in 6, 000 B. C.? Originally used for fortune-telling, rolling dice has evolved into a universal concept integral to many games today.
This simplicity makes Dicey Dungeons exceptionally engaging. Players utilize dice and cards as primary resources, drawing a handful of cards and rolling dice to activate attacks and spells. The game ensures ease of synergy among cards despite some initial apprehension regarding setup.
By centering actions around dice rolls, players can maintain consistent attack strategies, irrespective of card combinations. While strategic coordination remains important, it is less complex compared to other deckbuilders—much like my youthful attempts at deckbuilding, but with greater success!
5 Slay The Spire
Like A PVE Card Game
Many card games can be intimidating due to competitive dynamics, leaving players feeling outmatched by opponents with superior cards or experience. That’s what makes Slay the Spire refreshing—you’re the sole card wielder, alleviating concerns about counter strategies or competitive disadvantage.
Among the titles in this list, Slay the Spire may be the most intricate, yet it retains greater accessibility than player-versus-player games. Enemies possess predetermined attacks and abilities, allowing you to focus on formulating a sound deck without the anxiety of meeting a more skilled competitor.
Consider it akin to practicing your skills against a training dummy in Hearthstone; you still need to develop synergistic strategies and comprehend energy management, but you lack the pressure of surpassing an experienced opponent.
4 Luck Be A Landlord
Let The Slots Fall Where They May
I learned early on that most slot machines in casinos operate on set payouts, minimizing frequent wins—not quite the “luck”one assumes. For those seeking a slot experience with greater agency, Luck Be A Landlord is a perfect alternative.
In this unique twist on the genre, players gather symbols to place on slot machine reels rather than dealing with cards or dice. Incrementing your symbols increases both your chances of payouts and the interactive elements among symbols to generate various effects.
As the results are inherently random, maximizing synergy across a limited number of spins becomes essential. While it retains many mechanics typical to slots, players can tip the odds in their favor by selecting optimal symbols.
3 Inscryption
So Simple, A Stoat Could Do It
Although I deeply appreciate Daniel Mullins’ work, I initially approached Inscryption with caution due to my struggles with deckbuilding.
Yet, as with all his creations, Inscryption cleverly subverts expectations, revealing deeper layers of gameplay and narrative. On the surface, it may appear as a typical roguelike deckbuilder that demands repeated attempts to master, but it encourages players with consistent rewards like stronger cards and useful items.
While some escape room-style puzzles require problem-solving, the core mechanics of the cards themselves remain straightforward, providing ample opportunity to learn and become adept before introducing more complex mechanics. Even as the game evolves, the foundational aspects of Inscryption remain central, preventing overwhelming frustration.
2 Dungeon Clawler
Get Yourself A Fistful
In my experience, the only claw grabber game I’ve ever successfully played involved retrieving candy. Thankfully, Dungeon Clawler operates on that premise, allowing players to snag actual loot from a digital claw machine.
Players decide which items to include in their claw machine, ranging from weapons to abilities. During each turn, they attempt to grab as many items as possible to build a series of actions and attacks while managing the claw itself effectively.
Dungeon Clawler’s gameplay emphasizes stacking effects, enabling thrilling encounters where strategy and skill amplify damage output exponentially. For those who enjoy fast-paced DPS challenges, this game is undoubtedly an exciting experience.
1 Lost In Random
Random Rules, But Stacked Decks Win
Deckbuilding mechanics predominantly appear in roguelike games or PVP card battlers, yet they can seamlessly integrate into traditional single-player adventures, as demonstrated by Lost in Random.
In this adventure, exploration emphasizes dialogue and puzzles, ultimately preparing players for engaging combat. Players roll dice to accumulate points, which are then spent on cards drawn from their decks, unleashing various weapons and abilities.
Lost in Random reframes deckbuilding from merely preparing for contingencies to assembling a dynamic arsenal. While it is possible to load up on powerful cards, players risk running short on resources during intense combat periods. Balancing this strategy requires nimble dodging skills while gradually defeating adversaries, or opting for lower-value cards that enable more frequent actions at diminished damage.
Leave a Reply