Choose Monster Train
Choose Monster Train if you want the Online PvP and PvP side of the pairing. 12,182 Steam reviews back the pick.
Monster Train vs Crash The Core
Monster Train and Crash The Core 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 Crash The Core (2021). Monster Train scores higher on Steam reviews (96.7% positive) than Crash The Core (66.7% 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 Crash The Core
Choose Crash The Core if you want an Indie, Adventure, and RPG game with Shared/Split Screen, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, and Co-op. On Steam, it's currently about 70% cheaper on the Steam Store. Crash The Core launched in 2021.
Both Monster Train and Crash The Core sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, 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 |  Crash The Core | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2021 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy, Indie, Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 1.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.7% positive (12,182 reviews) | 66.7% positive (42 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Shiny Shoe | Jerome Labelle |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Monster Train (2020) is 1 year older than Crash The Core (2021).
- Monster Train scores higher on Steam reviews (96.7% positive) than Crash The Core (66.7% positive).
- Crash The Core is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than Monster Train (1.49 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
- Crash The Core has co-op; Monster Train does not.
- Both are Deck Playable.
Monster Train vs Crash The Core — FAQ
- Should I play Monster Train or Crash The Core first?
- If you want chronology, Monster Train (2020) came out before Crash The Core (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 Crash The Core 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.