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Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this.
AnimeAdventureFemale Protagonist
$24.99 ~60.3 hr median no co-op 90.6% of 14k
The Squirrel's verdictChrono Ark runs the same Slay the Spire deckbuilding loop Journey to the West borrows, but adds a full cast of playable characters with distinct kits, a story pieced together across runs, and multi-character party battles instead of a single fighter. Median playtime sits around 60 hours, for players who want narrative depth layered onto the genre's familiar card math.
Not for you if you want a quick roguelike run rather than a story-heavy game built around repeated playthroughs and party management.
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Turn-Based TacticsVisual NovelBoard Game
$24.99 ~24.3 hr median no co-op 97.1% of 4k
The Squirrel's verdictGrid-based tactical positioning is the core departure: StarVaders places cards and units on a battlefield grid closer to Into the Breach than to Journey to the West's single-unit Slay the Spire format. Each class plays differently enough that reviewers describe them as distinct games, and characters within each class add further variation. Released in 2025 with a 97.1% positive rating across sampled reviews.
Not for you if you want a straightforward card-combat roguelike without grid positioning or tactical unit placement.
3
Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
Dark FantasyChoices MatterBase-Building
$19.99 ~25.4 hr median no co-op 89.9% of 8k
The Squirrel's verdictTainted Grail: Conquest keeps the card-based combat with energy costs and readable enemy intents that Journey to the West players know, but wraps it in character creation, unlockable classes, and persistent NPC relationships that carry consequences across runs. It's a deckbuilder with an actual RPG layer instead of a straight Slay the Spire structure.
Not for you if you want in-run choices to reset cleanly between attempts rather than permanently locking quests based on early dialogue picks.
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Turn-Based TacticsCharacter CustomizationCombat
$3.99 ~14.5 hr median no co-op 92.1% of 178
The Squirrel's verdictStat gains, unlocked cards, and pets carry over between runs in Relapse rather than resetting, giving it a long-term build layer on top of the standard roguelike card structure. Class-specced decks replace a fixed character, and reviewers note strong synergy depth across builds. At $3.99, it has one of the lower price points among Slay the Spire-adjacent games. Median playtime is 14.5 hours.
Not for you if you prefer each run to start from scratch rather than accumulating persistent gains across multiple sessions.
5
Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar.
RetroPsychedelicSatire
$14.99 ~9.8 hr median no co-op 90.3% of 392
The Squirrel's verdictCrush the Industry runs the same Slay the Spire-derived deckbuilding loop: card-based combat, run structure, status effects layered onto turns. The difference is tone and mechanics texture, a corporate-satire theme with a rolling health system and a sanity meter replacing Journey's monkey-king setting, plus runs that clock around two hours rather than the sprawling deck Journey offers.
Not for you if you want sincere fantasy storytelling instead of crass workplace satire, or predictable card draw without odd status-effect timing.
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FantasyDark FantasyZombies
$24.99 ~34.7 hr median no co-op 83.7% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictAn overworld scouting map replaces the fixed branching path: you choose which encounters to investigate before committing, adding a layer of pre-combat decision-making that Journey to the West's structure doesn't have. The deckbuilding and class-based card systems are otherwise familiar. Reviewers consistently flag that optimal paths are narrow per class, so run variety is limited despite the map's apparent openness. Playtime averages 34.7 hours.
Not for you if you want wide build variety across runs, since most classes funnel toward one dominant strategy.
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CartoonyDungeon CrawlerFantasy
$12.74 ~24.5 hr median no co-op 83.7% of 2k
The Squirrel's verdictYao-Guai Hunter runs the same Slay the Spire deckbuilding structure Journey to the West borrowed: card-based combat, run-based progression, branching paths. The difference is the energy system, which carries over unspent energy but only regenerates 2 per turn, creating scarcity Journey to the West doesn't have. Chinese mythology setting and per-character custom art replace the monkey-king framing. Fits players who want the genre's mechanics under a stricter resource squeeze.
Not for you if you want Journey to the West's looser energy economy rather than a system that punishes running low on energy.
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Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
Dungeon CrawlerFantasyProcedural Generation
$4.49 ~20.5 hr median no co-op 75.8% of 790
The Squirrel's verdictReplace-on-pickup card acquisition and a multi-hero party with separate health bars and light positioning tactics are the two additions that separate Indies' Lies from a straight Slay the Spire structure. Starting at $4.49, it suits players who want extra crunch and party management layered onto a familiar mana-and-cards loop. Median playtime runs 20.5 hours.
Not for you if you play offline regularly, since the game requires an online connection to save unlocks and progression.