Choose CIPHER-8
Choose CIPHER-8 if you want a Casual experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. CIPHER-8 launched in 2023.
CIPHER-8 vs Monster Train 2
CIPHER-8 and Monster Train 2 both land in Strategy, Indie 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 share Strategy, Indie on Steam. CIPHER-8 (2023) is 2 years older than Monster Train 2 (2025). CIPHER-8 is free; Monster Train 2 is paid (24.99 USD). 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 Monster Train 2
Choose Monster Train 2 if you want the Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, and Mouse Only Option side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 4,790 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both CIPHER-8 and Monster Train 2 sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Playable without Timed Input, Keyboard Only Option, and Adjustable Difficulty, 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
 CIPHER-8 |  Monster Train 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2025 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Deck Verified |
| Price | Free to play | 24.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | — | 95.7% positive (4,790 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Ludokultur | Shiny Shoe |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- CIPHER-8 (2023) is 2 years older than Monster Train 2 (2025).
- CIPHER-8 is free; Monster Train 2 is paid (24.99 USD).
- Monster Train 2 is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; CIPHER-8 has no Deck rating yet.
CIPHER-8 vs Monster Train 2 — FAQ
- Should I play CIPHER-8 or Monster Train 2 first?
- If you want chronology, CIPHER-8 (2023) came out before Monster Train 2 (2025). 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 CIPHER-8 and Monster Train 2 similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie 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 CIPHER-8 free?
- Yes — CIPHER-8 is a free-to-play Steam title. Monster Train 2 is paid (24.99 USD).