The Best Deck-Building Games If You Don’t Have Much Time To Play

The deck-building genre is a relatively minor niche that nonetheless has some major hits behind it. Tactically-minded fans flock to these games to build the perfect strategy and assemble a deck that can rise to any challenge. Many of these titles range widely in complexity, giving players ample opportunity to test their skills at different challenge levels.

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Even if you haven’t enjoyed the deck-builder genre before, you should still try out one of these excellent deck-building video games.

That said, deck-building games can often be quite time-consuming, as players analyze multiple different card options to perfect their strategy. Fans who need a quicker experience can turn to these next games for a deck-building thrill that won’t eat up too much time.

9

SteamWorld Quest: Hand Of Gilgamech

Like Clockwork

Systems

Released

April 25, 2019

ESRB

e

The prolific SteamWorld franchise has delivered a wide range of indie experiences, catering to fans of all manner of genres. SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech is the franchise’s first RPG offering, putting fans in charge of a plucky band of robots out to save the world. The turn-based combat is enhanced by a deck assembled from unique cards for each character in the party, ensuring that each turn is unique.

Fans have plenty of control over the characters in their party and which cards are in their deck. This makes SteamWorld Quest a uniquely flexible RPG where encounters can play out in wildly different ways. Likewise, it’s an easy game for fans to jump in and out of whenever they want to mess around with their party composition.

8

Marvel SNAP

Head-To-Head Heroes

Systems

Released

August 22, 2023

ESRB

e

There are very few IPs that dominate the current media environment like Marvel does. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an almost inescapable presence in the film industry, and the brand’s many iconic superheroes are constant presences in the gaming industry as well. Marvel SNAP celebrates this massive influence by giving these legendary heroes a chance to compete in multiplayer card battles.

As the name suggests, this competitive card battler emphasizes quick, snappy battles. Matches generally go by in a flash, lasting only a couple of minutes, and the mechanics are simple enough that fans can get the hang of them relatively quickly. This makes it ideal for card game fans on the go.

7

Peglin

Pachinko Plays

• Platform: PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch
• Released: April 25, 2022
• Developer: Red Nexus Games

Peglin is a unique type of deck-builder. The game’s primary form of gameplay is a simulation of pachinko; players must launch orbs into a collection of pegs, progressing through the game’s roguelike encounters based on which pegs they’re able to hit on the way down. As fans go through the game, however, they’ll still construct a deck of powerups that will influence their odds on the board.

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The roguelike nature of this game, paired with its simplistic pachinko gameplay, keeps runs quick and light. This lets players hop in and out whenever they have the time to blast away some pegs.

6

Cobalt Core

Do The Time Loop Again

Roguelike

Digital Card Game

Systems

Released

November 8, 2023

ESRB

E for Everyone

In a relatively crowded genre of deck-building roguelikes, Cobalt Core stands out due to its charming art style and unique premise. The game stars a crew of anthropomorphic animals stranded deep in space and caught in a mysterious time loop. In order to survive and break the loop, players must assemble a deck of cards to help them guide their spacecraft and survive fierce battles with hostile ships.

Each of the humanoid animals that players can choose from brings their own distinct catalog of cards representing their specialties on board the ship. Players can only have three crewmates in each run, meaning that each run will be distinct, and players are encouraged to jump in again and again in order to test out new strategies.

5

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game

Earning Your Coin

Released

October 23, 2018

ESRB

T For Teen due to Violence, Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, Language, Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol

The card game Gwent has been a facet of the The Witcher franchise for some time, dating back to the original novels that started it all. The success of the playable version introduced in The Witcher 3 prompted a standalone spinoff in the form of Gwent: The Witcher Card Game. This PvP card battler gives fans the chance to play this iconic in-fiction pastime to their heart’s content.

In Gwent, players compete for crafting materials in order to build new cards and perfect their decks. Matches are relatively quick, capping at around thirty minutes, giving players a chance to fit in a quick round of this iconic card game whenever they have a spare moment.

4

Dicey Dungeons

Roll Them Bones

Dicey Dungeons

Strategy

Tactical

Roguelike

Deckbuilding

Released

August 13, 2019

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence

As the title suggests, much of Dicey Dungeons‘ gameplay revolves around dice, but there’s more than enough deck-building in the game to satisfy more tactical fans. As players journey through the game’s procedural dungeons, they will assemble a collection of equipment and abilities, each of which can be activated by the placement of different dice. The value of the die then determines the effect of the card.

The game relies heavily on randomness, as can be seen from the title’s central mechanic. This means that no two runs will ever play out the same way, and players can hop into Dicey Dungeons whenever they’d like in order to try something new.

3

Griftlands

Social Cards

RPG

Indie Games

Adventure

Strategy

Released

July 11, 2019

ESRB

t

Griftlands goes above and beyond with its deck-building elements. The game is a sci-fi roguelike with RPG trappings, allowing fans to build up their mercenary’s skills and abilities as they go. However, Griftlands‘ card game mechanics go beyond simply battling creatures and foes.

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Players have two separate decks in Griftlands; one deck is used for combat situations, but the other comes into play when they navigate dialogue and negotiation. This gives players two major resources to keep track of during a run, adding a new layer of depth to the experience. Luckily, as with many roguelikes, runs remain relatively short, keeping things fresh no matter how much time fans have to devote to the game.

2

Balatro

Read ‘Em And Weep

Strategy

Digital Card Game

Roguelike

Released

February 20, 2024

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes

Balatro took the world by storm in 2024, earning a surprise Game of the Year nomination at the Game Awards. This bizarre deck-building roguelike puts a wild spin on poker with a wide variety of special cards and rules, ensuring that no two runs are anywhere near the same.

Thanks to the game’s port to mobile devices, fans can play Balatro whenever and wherever they’d like, no matter how much time they have to devote to it. And since the game is regularly getting DLC updates bringing in new cards from other games and franchises, there’s always a reason to dive back in.

1

Slay The Spire

The Legend Continues

Released

January 23, 2019

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Tobacco Reference

The iconic Slay the Spire may not have been the first deck-building roguelike ever created, but it was undeniably the most influential. To this day, it’s still held up as a paragon of the genre, and with over 730 cards split across the game’s four playable characters, fans will have to sink a lot of hours to try out every possible strategy.

Luckily, while individual runs can take a fair amount of time, they rarely last more than an hour. Furthermore, players can save and quit out of a run whenever they need, letting them go at their own pace as they discover all the many complexities and hidden treasures of Slay the Spire.

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