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 Balatro
Monster Train and Balatro 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 Balatro (2024). Balatro scores higher on Steam reviews (98.1% positive) than Monster Train (96.7% 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 Balatro
Choose Balatro if you want an Indie and Casual game with Color Alternatives, Custom Volume Controls, and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it's currently about 40% cheaper on the Steam Store. 99,852 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Monster Train and Balatro sit in Strategy on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (96.7% vs 98.1% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Monster Train |  Balatro | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2024 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy, Indie, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 24.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.7% positive (12,182 reviews) | 98.1% positive (99,852 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Shiny Shoe | LocalThunk |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Monster Train (2020) is 4 years older than Balatro (2024).
- Balatro scores higher on Steam reviews (98.1% positive) than Monster Train (96.7% positive).
- Balatro is currently ~40% cheaper on Steam than Monster Train (14.99 USD vs. 24.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Monster Train is Deck Playable, Balatro is Deck Verified.
Monster Train vs Balatro — FAQ
- Which is better, Monster Train or Balatro?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: Monster Train sits at 96.7% positive (12,182 reviews), Balatro at 98.1% (99,852). 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 Balatro first?
- If you want chronology, Monster Train (2020) came out before Balatro (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 Balatro 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 Balatro have multiplayer like Monster Train?
- No. Monster Train supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Balatro is listed as single-player only.