Choose Monster Train
Choose Monster Train if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 96.7% positive across 12,182 reviews.
Monster Train vs Alina of the Arena
Monster Train and Alina of the Arena 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 2 years older than Alina of the Arena (2022). Monster Train scores higher on Steam reviews (96.7% positive) than Alina of the Arena (92.9% 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 Alina of the Arena
Choose Alina of the Arena if you want an Indie experience. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 1,023 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Monster Train and Alina of the Arena 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 |  Alina of the Arena | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 5.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.7% positive (12,182 reviews) | 92.9% positive (1,023 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Shiny Shoe | PINIX |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Monster Train (2020) is 2 years older than Alina of the Arena (2022).
- Monster Train scores higher on Steam reviews (96.7% positive) than Alina of the Arena (92.9% positive).
- Monster Train is currently ~17% cheaper on Steam than Alina of the Arena (4.99 USD vs. 5.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Monster Train is Deck Playable, Alina of the Arena is Deck Verified.
Monster Train vs Alina of the Arena — FAQ
- Which is better, Monster Train or Alina of the Arena?
- On Steam reviews Monster Train scores higher (96.7% positive) than Alina of the Arena (92.9% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Monster Train is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Monster Train or Alina of the Arena first?
- If you want chronology, Monster Train (2020) came out before Alina of the Arena (2022). 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 Alina of the Arena 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 Alina of the Arena have multiplayer like Monster Train?
- No. Monster Train supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Alina of the Arena is listed as single-player only.