Choose Monster Train
Choose Monster Train if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 96.7% positive across 12,182 reviews.
Monster Train vs Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game
Monster Train and Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game 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 4 years older than Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game (2024). Monster Train scores higher on Steam reviews (96.7% positive) than Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game (89.1% 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 Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game
Choose Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game if you want an Indie, Free To Play, and Casual experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game launched in 2024.
Both Monster Train and Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP, 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 |  Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy, Indie, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 4.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 96.7% positive (12,182 reviews) | 89.1% positive (834 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Shiny Shoe | Darksun Studio |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Monster Train (2020) is 4 years older than Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game (2024).
- Monster Train scores higher on Steam reviews (96.7% positive) than Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game (89.1% positive).
- Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game is free; Monster Train is paid (4.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Monster Train vs Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game — FAQ
- Which is better, Monster Train or Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game?
- On Steam reviews Monster Train scores higher (96.7% positive) than Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game (89.1% 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 Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game first?
- If you want chronology, Monster Train (2020) came out before Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game (2024). 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 Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game 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.
- Is Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game free?
- Yes — Yi Xian: The Cultivation Card Game is a free-to-play Steam title. Monster Train is paid (4.99 USD).