Choose Monster Train
Choose Monster Train if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 38% cheaper on the Steam Store. 12,182 Steam reviews back the pick.
Monster Train vs Ruin Raiders
Monster Train and Ruin Raiders both land in Strategy on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Strategy games on Steam. Monster Train (2020) is 1 year older than Ruin Raiders (2021). Monster Train scores higher on Steam reviews (96.7% positive) than Ruin Raiders (68.2% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Ruin Raiders
Choose Ruin Raiders if you want an Action, Indie, and Adventure experience. On Steam, it's a focused single-player run rather than a multiplayer commitment. Ruin Raiders launched in 2021.
Both Monster Train and Ruin Raiders sit in Strategy on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Monster Train |  Ruin Raiders | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Genres | Strategy | Action, Strategy, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.7% positive (12,182 reviews) | 68.2% positive (44 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Shiny Shoe | OverPowered Team |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Monster Train (2020) is 1 year older than Ruin Raiders (2021).
- Monster Train scores higher on Steam reviews (96.7% positive) than Ruin Raiders (68.2% positive).
- Monster Train is currently ~38% cheaper on Steam than Ruin Raiders (4.99 USD vs. 7.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Monster Train vs Ruin Raiders — FAQ
- Should I play Monster Train or Ruin Raiders first?
- If you want chronology, Monster Train (2020) came out before Ruin Raiders (2021). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Monster Train and Ruin Raiders similar?
- They overlap on Strategy on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does Ruin Raiders have multiplayer like Monster Train?
- No. Monster Train supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Ruin Raiders is listed as single-player only.