IMHO.

Games like Ratropolis

If Ratropolis is your kind of game, the closest matches are Monster Train, Slay the Spire and Vault of the Void — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its tactical positioning matters, writing quality is exceptional and brutal. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.

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Ratropolis is a strategy deckbuilding city-builder that incorporates roguelite tower defense waves. Released in 2020 by Cassel Games, the game blends city-building with deck-building within a procedurally generated system. Players construct and defend a rat metropolis while managing a custom deck of cards that dictate resource gathering and unit production, including the placement of defensive structures. The wave-defense element introduces tactical depth, as players must position defenses strategically against increasingly difficult enemy assaults. Reviewers on Steam rate it positively at 86% from 1698 reviews, with players describing the gameplay as brutal and challenging. Tactical positioning is highlighted as a key hook, requiring careful planning to survive each run. The game is solo-only, priced at $7.19 USD, and is playable on Steam Deck.

About Ratropolis: A fusion of roguelite, tower defense, city-building, and deck-building! We created a new kind of real time strategy game filled with addictive and fast-paced gameplay. Create your deck, defend your city, and build the largest Ratropolis in history!

2020StrategyIndieSimulationCasual7.19 USDDeck PlayableMetacritic 82Windows · macOSby Cassel Games
Ratropolis — Steam game cover
Players highlight
Tactical positioning mattersWriting quality is exceptionalBrutalChallengingCity buildingDeck building

Players who liked Ratropolis also play

Steam players who put hours into Ratropolis also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.

  1. Monster Train

    WHY THIS

    Shares deck building and a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Top pick for Ratropolis fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Strategy with Ratropolis.

    Monster Train is a strategic roguelike deck building game with a twist. Set on a train to hell, you’ll use tactical decision making to defend multiple vertical battlegrounds. With real time competitive multiplayer and endless replayability, Monster Train is always on time.

    2020Strategy4.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  2. Slay the Spire

    WHY THIS

    Shares deck building, procedural generation and a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Second-strongest match for Ratropolis fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    We fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire!

    2019StrategyIndie6.24 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  3. Vault of the Void

    WHY THIS

    Shares a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Third-strongest match for Ratropolis fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    Vault of the Void is a fast-paced roguelike deckbuilder where the power is in your hands. Continuously customise your deck, crafting powerful combos and ingenious strategies. Upgrade your cards with Void Stones, infusing them with new abilities to help defeat the minions of The Void!

    2022StrategyIndie8.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  4. Balatro

    WHY THIS

    Shares deck building, procedural generation and a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Ranked #4 for Ratropolis fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.

    2024StrategyIndieCasual11.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  5. Blood Card

    WHY THIS

    Shares a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Ranked #5 for Ratropolis fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    This card game combines elements of roguelike and deckbuilding. During the game, you shall strive ahead, gathering cards to build a unique deck and use it to defeat the enemies getting in your way. You will have to choose between escaping or try to defeat Death, who is relentlessly pursuing you.

    2019StrategyIndie2.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  6. Necronator: Dead Wrong

    WHY THIS

    Shares a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Ranked #6 for Ratropolis fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    Necronator: Dead Wrong is a deck-building roguelike with an RTS twist. Build a powerful deck. Collect and deploy undead units and raise a unique army. Master each commander’s playstyle and conquer the world. Change the game with rule-bending relics. Unlock new decks and do it all again.

    2020ActionStrategyIndie12.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  7. Roguebook

    WHY THIS

    Shares a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Ranked #7 for Ratropolis fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    Embrace the challenge of a roguelike deckbuilder with unique mechanics from the developers of Faeria and Richard Garfield, creator of Magic: The Gathering™. Build a team of two heroes, unleash powerful combos and defeat the legends of the Roguebook!

    2021StrategyIndieAdventure24.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  8. Banners of Ruin

    WHY THIS

    Shares a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Ranked #8 for Ratropolis fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Strategy with Ratropolis.

    Assemble your party. Answer the call. Win the war. Build a deck and fight a series of turn-based combats with up to 6 party characters through the city of Dawn's Point. Each character can unlock a set of unique cards and abilities that can augment your deck in powerful, exciting ways.

    2021StrategyRPG19.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗

Reviewers mention these as similar to Ratropolis

Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.

  1. Slay the Spire

    WHY THIS

    Shares deck building, procedural generation and a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Reviewers of Ratropolis cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    We fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire!

    2019StrategyIndie6.24 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. KINGDOMS

    WHY THIS

    Shares city building and a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Reviewers of Ratropolis cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Indie and Simulation with Ratropolis.

    KINGDOMS is a procedural medieval RPG in a randomly generated open world. The main feature of KINGDOMS is a smart AI system that completely controls NPC behavior. As the player, you can fully interact with this massive world and become any person you want to be.

    2015ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  3. Monster Train

    WHY THIS

    Shares deck building and a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Reviewers of Ratropolis cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Strategy with Ratropolis.

    Monster Train is a strategic roguelike deck building game with a twist. Set on a train to hell, you’ll use tactical decision making to defend multiple vertical battlegrounds. With real time competitive multiplayer and endless replayability, Monster Train is always on time.

    2020Strategy4.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗

Cheaper alternatives

Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Ratropolis at current Steam store prices.

  1. POSTAL 2

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~86% under Ratropolis on Steam right now. Shares Indie with Ratropolis.

    Live a week in the life of "The POSTAL Dude"; a hapless everyman just trying to check off some chores. Buying milk, returning an overdue library book, getting Gary Coleman's autograph, what could possibly go wrong?

    2012ActionIndieAdventure0.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. Buckshot Roulette

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~58% under Ratropolis on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Simulation with Ratropolis.

    Play Russian roulette with a 12-gauge shotgun. Four enter. One leaves. Roll the dice with your life. Good luck!

    2024ActionIndieSimulation2.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  3. GRIS

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~48% under Ratropolis on Steam right now. Shares Indie with Ratropolis.

    Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality.

    2018IndieAdventure3.74 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  4. The Test

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~72% under Ratropolis on Steam right now. Shares Indie and Simulation with Ratropolis.

    You will answer a series of questions that will reveal truths from deep within. These questions may make you uncomfortable, but with great knowledge comes great sacrifice. Can you make it all the way through The Test, and if you do, are you sure you want the answers you seek?

    2020IndieAdventureSimulation1.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  5. Milk inside a bag of milk inside a bag of milk

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~79% under Ratropolis on Steam right now. Shares Indie with Ratropolis.

    A short story about what sort of challenges everyday little things can be. Help the girl buy milk, be the first not to disappoint her.

    2020IndieAdventure1.49 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  6. Blood and Bacon

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~86% under Ratropolis on Steam right now. Shares Casual with Ratropolis.

    This Co-op Shooter , has Day and Night levels, multiple maps, players will take on 25 enemy types and numerous bosses, like Gargantuan Monsters and Minibosses every 10 days as you explore, shoot and run for your life against the onslaught of porcine monstrosities.

    2016ActionAdventureCasual0.99 USDSteam ↗
  7. Crypt of the NecroDancer

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~58% under Ratropolis on Steam right now. Shares Indie with Ratropolis.

    Crypt of the NecroDancer is an award winning hardcore roguelike rhythm game. Move to the music and deliver beatdowns to the beat! Groove to the epic Danny Baranowsky soundtrack, or select songs from your own MP3 collection!

    2015ActionIndieRPG2.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  8. A Short Hike

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~45% under Ratropolis on Steam right now. Shares Indie with Ratropolis.

    Hike, climb, and soar through the peaceful mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park as you make your way to the summit.

    2019IndieAdventure3.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗

Free alternatives

Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.

  1. Helltaker

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with Ratropolis.

    Helltaker is a short game about sharply dressed demon girls.

    2020IndieAdventureFree To PlayFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  2. Ultimate Custom Night

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with Ratropolis.

    Welcome to the ultimate FNAF mashup, featuring 50 selectable characters and custom difficulties!

    2018ActionIndieFree To PlayFreeSteam ↗
  3. Bongo Cat

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Simulation with Ratropolis.

    Bongo cat needs your help. Bongo cat needz more hatz!!! Every time you press a key, Bongo cat will punch your taskbar. Type, click, play, work to collect more points. Which hats will you find?

    2025IndieSimulationMassively MultiplayerFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  4. The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Simulation with Ratropolis.

    Sonic the Hedgehog...was murdered!? Get to the bottom of the mystery in this brand-new adventure!

    2023IndieSimulationFree To PlayFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  5. Our Life: Beginnings & Always

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Casual with Ratropolis.

    A twenty-dollar bill, four summers, fifteen years, and a one of a kind life. Create an experience that’s all your own in this near-fully customizable visual novel where you grow from childhood to adulthood with the lonely boy next door.

    2020IndieFree To PlayCasualFreeSteam ↗
  6. missed messages.

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Simulation with Ratropolis.

    ‘goth gf’s iPhone’ airdrops you - accept or decline? A love/horror story about life, death, & memes.

    2019IndieSimulationFree To PlayFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  7. NGU IDLE

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie and Simulation with Ratropolis.

    NGU Idle is a Free To Play Idle game that's full of weird humor, tons of upgrades and hundreds of hours of content! Try out NGU Idle today and experience the joy of Numbers Going Up!

    2019IndieAdventureSimulationFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  8. Awaria

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Indie with Ratropolis.

    Awaria is a short game about working in haunted maintenance tunnels.

    2024ActionIndieFree To PlayFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗

Plays great on Steam Deck

Valve-Verified or Playable picks from the similar pool — ready to go on Deck out of the box.

  1. Slay the Spire

    WHY THIS

    Shares deck building, procedural generation and a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    We fused card games and roguelikes together to make the best single player deckbuilder we could. Craft a unique deck, encounter bizarre creatures, discover relics of immense power, and Slay the Spire!

    2019StrategyIndie6.24 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. Vault of the Void

    WHY THIS

    Shares a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    Vault of the Void is a fast-paced roguelike deckbuilder where the power is in your hands. Continuously customise your deck, crafting powerful combos and ingenious strategies. Upgrade your cards with Void Stones, infusing them with new abilities to help defeat the minions of The Void!

    2022StrategyIndie8.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  3. Balatro

    WHY THIS

    Shares deck building, procedural generation and a challenging mood with Ratropolis.

    Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Strategy and Indie with Ratropolis.

    The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.

    2024StrategyIndieCasual11.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗

Frequently asked about Ratropolis

Does Ratropolis run on Steam Deck?
Ratropolis is rated Playable on Steam Deck — it runs, but expect some manual adjustments (control remapping, text size, or graphics settings) for the best experience.
How much does Ratropolis cost?
Ratropolis is listed on Steam at 7.19 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
What games are most similar to Ratropolis?
Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Ratropolis are Monster Train, Slay the Spire, Vault of the Void.
Who developed Ratropolis?
Ratropolis was developed by Cassel Games.

imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on Ratropolis.

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