Choose Monster Train
Choose Monster Train if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP side of the pairing. 12,182 Steam reviews back the pick.
Monster Train vs Relapse
Monster Train and Relapse 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 Relapse (2022). Both sit near 96% positive on Steam (Monster Train: 12,182 reviews, Relapse: 106). 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 Relapse
Choose Relapse if it's currently about 20% cheaper on the Steam Store. Relapse launched in 2022.
Both Monster Train and Relapse sit in Strategy on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (96.7% vs 96.2% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Monster Train |  Relapse | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2022 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 3.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.7% positive (12,182 reviews) | 96.2% positive (106 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Shiny Shoe | Valklabs |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Monster Train (2020) is 2 years older than Relapse (2022).
- Both sit near 96% positive on Steam (Monster Train: 12,182 reviews, Relapse: 106).
- Relapse is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than Monster Train (3.99 USD vs. 4.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Monster Train vs Relapse — FAQ
- Which is better, Monster Train or Relapse?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Monster Train sits at 96.7% positive (12,182 reviews), Relapse at 96.2% (106). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.
- Should I play Monster Train or Relapse first?
- If you want chronology, Monster Train (2020) came out before Relapse (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 Relapse 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 Relapse have multiplayer like Monster Train?
- No. Monster Train supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Relapse is listed as single-player only.