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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsMonster Train and Monster Train 2 are both strategic roguelike deckbuilders built around defending a train across several vertical floors. The sequel keeps that core and layers on five new clans, Room and Equipment cards, a pre-battle Deployment Phase, and more ways to play. It is also a viable first entry, according to the developer. For newcomers, the choice comes down to whether they want the original’s focused formula or the sequel’s broader toolkit; for returning players, the sequel’s new systems are the main reason to buy again.
How the two games compare
| Category | Monster Train | Monster Train 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Developer and publisher | Shiny Shoe; Good Shepherd Entertainment | Shiny Shoe; Big Fan Games |
| Release date | May 21, 2020 | May 21, 2025 |
| Core battle structure | Defend multiple vertical floors of a train. | Retains the three-tiered vertical battle format. |
| Additional systems | Five original clans, card upgrades, route decisions, and random events. | Five new clans, Room and Equipment cards, and a Deployment Phase before enemies arrive. |
| Modes and challenges | Roguelike runs with route and event variation. | Includes Endless Mode, Daily Challenges, Dimensional Challenges, and other modes. |
| Platforms | Not stated in the cited Steam and official-game pages. | Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, according to the developer FAQ. |
Steam lists Monster Train as released May 21, 2020, developed by Shiny Shoe and published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. Steam lists Monster Train 2 as released May 21, 2025, developed by Shiny Shoe and published by Big Fan Games.
What makes Monster Train’s strategy distinctive
Most deckbuilders ask you to assemble a deck and manage fights; Monster Train adds a spatial defense puzzle. Enemies advance through multiple floors, so the player must decide where to place units and how to distribute defenses and damage across the train. A strong plan on one floor does not automatically solve trouble elsewhere.
The original’s variety comes from pairing clans, improving cards, choosing routes, and responding to random events. The official game site describes more than 300 cards and 90+ artifacts; those are publisher-site figures, not independently audited counts. Together, these systems encourage different approaches from run to run while keeping the multi-floor problem at the center.
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#1 Best Overall
Steam’s English-language user-review summary for the original was 96% positive from 12,229 reviews when accessed October 8, 2026. This is a changing player-review aggregate, not a critic score.
What Monster Train 2 adds
More ways to shape a run
The sequel introduces five new clans, extending the game’s clan-based strategic combinations. It also adds Room cards and Equipment cards, giving players additional kinds of choices to make as they build out a run. These additions expand the documented toolkit; whether they make the game more satisfying depends on how much you enjoy learning and managing extra systems.
A deployment decision before combat
The Deployment Phase takes place before enemies arrive. That creates another point to plan around before the familiar multi-floor defense begins: players can make setup decisions with the coming battle in mind rather than treating the fight as a single uninterrupted sequence.
Rank #2
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More modes and challenges
Monster Train 2 adds Endless Mode, Daily Challenges, Dimensional Challenges, and other modes, alongside features such as Pyrehearts. The developers describe the sequel as pushing the original’s “endlessly replayable” design toward “eternally replayable.” That is promotional language, not a measured estimate of playtime. The available figures do not establish a reliable total number of hours for either game.
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Which game should you start with?
Choose Monster Train if you want the original formula
The first game is the straightforward choice if you want the established multi-floor defense, five original clans, route planning, card upgrades, and random-event structure without starting with the sequel’s extra systems. Its central strategic hook is already distinctive, and the developer’s expansion figures indicate a broad card-and-artifact pool.
Rank #3
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Choose Monster Train 2 if you want the expanded version
If you already know the original and want new clan combinations, more card types, a setup phase, and additional challenges, the sequel is the more relevant purchase. The documented additions give returning players concrete reasons to revisit the formula, though they do not by themselves prove that every player will find the sequel worth buying at full price.
New players do not need to play in order
The developer FAQ says players do not need to have played the original to enjoy Monster Train 2. A newcomer can start with the sequel rather than buying or finishing both games first. Choose the original for a more focused introduction to the core structure, or the sequel if its broader set of systems and modes is what you want.
Platforms, editions, and DLC
The developer FAQ lists Monster Train 2 for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Platform availability and storefront catalogues can vary by region, so check the local store listing before purchasing.
Rank #4
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| Product | Store listing details | DLC information |
|---|---|---|
| Monster Train First Class for Nintendo Switch | Nintendo’s US store identifies it as a digital edition released August 19, 2021. Nintendo lists the game file at 1.2 GB; this is a storefront technical detail, not a performance benchmark. | Includes the base game and The Last Divinity DLC. |
| Monster Train 2 for Nintendo Switch | Nintendo lists a May 21, 2025 release date and a 2.9 GB game file. The file size is a storefront technical detail, not a performance benchmark. | Nintendo lists Destiny of the Railforged DLC. |
Nintendo’s US listing for Monster Train First Class describes the digital Switch edition and included DLC. Nintendo’s US listing for Monster Train 2 gives the Switch product details and lists its DLC. Prices and catalogues may differ by region and change over time.
A retailer search surfaced a Limited Run Games listing for Monster Train First Class, but current stock and physical-format details were not verified. Nintendo’s own listed Switch edition is digital; treat any separate physical listing as a product to verify, not as confirmed availability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
On which platforms is Monster Train 2 available?
The developer FAQ lists Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Confirm the listing in your region’s storefront because catalogues can differ.
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Do I need to have played Monster Train to enjoy Monster Train 2?
No. The developer says the sequel can be enjoyed without prior experience of the original.
How is Monster Train 2 different from Monster Train?
It retains the original’s multi-floor train battles and adds five new clans, Room and Equipment cards, a pre-battle Deployment Phase, Pyrehearts, Endless Mode, Daily Challenges, Dimensional Challenges, and other modes.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
