1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. 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 wraps turn-based deckbuilding and roguelite runs in a full RPG shell: character creation, unlockable classes, and voice-acted branching story that reviewers compare favorably to Disco Elysium in quality. Combat is strategic and layered once learned. Players who want slower, exploration-heavy pacing and persistent narrative alongside card mechanics will find the most here. Median playtime is about 25.4 hours.
Not for you if wrong dialog choices permanently lock you out of NPCs and questlines across all future runs, which some find punishing.
2
Turn-Based TacticsCharacter CustomizationCombat
$3.99 ~14.5 hr median no co-op 92.1% of 178
The Squirrel's verdictAcross runs in Relapse, your character accumulates unlocked artifacts, cards, and a pet that carries persistent buffs forward, so each session builds on the last rather than resetting fully. Class-based deckbuilding with multiple synergy paths drives the moment-to-moment play. Reviewers cite deep build variety and strong replay value; priced at $3.99 with a median playtime of about 14.5 hours.
Not for you if you want a cosmic-horror setting and story, or dislike grinding to unlock the build options that make synergies viable.
3
FantasyDark FantasyZombies
$24.99 ~34.7 hr median no co-op 83.7% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictKnowing the right card paths in advance is the core skill in Knock on the Coffin Lid: the overworld map offers many visible encounters, but reviews consistently flag that one route tends to outperform all others, so build freedom is narrower than it looks. Class-based deckbuilding, synergy cards, and turn-based combat are all present. Median playtime sits at 34.7 hours; no co-op; priced at $24.99.
Not for you if you want genuine build variety rather than map knowledge that rewards one or two optimal routes.
4
Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar.
Turn-Based TacticsCharacter CustomizationPerma Death
$14.99 ~48.2 hr median no co-op 88% of 443
The Squirrel's verdictBreach Wanderers is built for players who want control over their deck before a run starts: you pre-select both your starting deck and the card pool available during play, shifting the game toward deliberate construction rather than reactive drafting. No Lovecraft theme or story exploration — the focus is pure mechanical optimization. Median playtime runs about 48 hours, with a heavy unlock grind gating content early.
Not for you if you want atmospheric story-driven exploration, or dislike grinding through progression walls before builds open up.
5
LovecraftianFuturisticSpace
$19.99 ~10.9 hr median no co-op 85.9% of 333
The Squirrel's verdictStarless Abyss puts players in tactical control of three ships against an extradimensional invasion, blending sci-fi and occult aesthetics with pixel art and turn-based deckbuilding. Steam reviews are Very Positive overall, though multiple players flag persistent crashing bugs and a visually busy, flashing UI as recurring problems. Median playtime is about 10.9 hours.
Not for you if flashing visual noise or crashing bugs are dealbreakers, or you want card synergies with room to experiment rather than obvious, fixed build paths.
6
Dungeon CrawlerTurn-Based TacticsMouse only
$19.99 ~19.5 hr median no co-op 79% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictBanners of Ruin swaps the Lovecraftian cultists for a furry fantasy roster, but the deckbuilding spine is the same: turn-based combat, deck thinning, character-specific talents and equipment for synergy-building. Combat runs slower and grindier than Menace from the Deep, with exploration limited to one visible path at a time. Median playtime sits around 19.5 hours, and content thins out fast after the final boss.
Not for you if you want the Lovecraft atmosphere, a fast combat pace, or a deckbuilder with content to chew on past one playthrough.
7
Arcanium: Rise of Akhan
PC
LootTrading Card GameTactical RPG
$19.99 ~29.6 hr median no co-op 82.2% of 814
The Squirrel's verdictPlayers who enjoy building character synergies across a fantasy roster will find Arcanium: Rise of Akhan a strong fit: reviewers with hundreds of hours in Slay the Spire call it comparable to top-tier deck-builders, with memorable characters, varied unlocks, and run-to-run synergy combos as the core draw. The Lovecraftian atmosphere is absent, and UI polish issues are real. Median playtime runs about 29.6 hours.
Not for you if clunky UI is a dealbreaker, or you want cosmic-horror atmosphere over fantasy character synergy.
8
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 verdictMultiple heroes, a card-replacement mechanic that lets you swap draws mid-run, and extra character health bars distinguish Indies' Lies from a straight Slay the Spire clone — though reviewers consistently call it derivative rather than transformative. At $4.49 it's a low-cost option for deckbuilder regulars wanting more reps. Median playtime is about 20.5 hours.
Not for you if you want distinct theming over familiar mechanics, or refuse always-online DRM that blocks offline progress.