Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 83 | 21 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 91 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 83 | 22 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 86% | 79 | 11 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.5, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 23,072 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 31 reviews sampled · 25 total reviews in window · weighted 20.8 up / 3.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (45)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
- 90
“Overall, Monster Train is a great experience and is extremely well-polished and balanced.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Monster Train is a very unique take on the Slay the Spire formula, with great writing and art direction and gameplay that invites you back for many more rides.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“While the presentation isn't much to write home about, Monster Train's moreish gameplay and nigh-endless replay value more than make up for it. If you've played and enjoyed other deckbuilders, this is another solid example to add to the collection.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Monster Train has an addictive gameplay loop and tons of replayability, but needs a little bit of balancing”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you are willing to turn down the tone-setting battle music, this is an excellent game to unwind with while listening to a podcast, so long as you find this kind of challenge cathartic rather than frustrating.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Monster Train is a well made cardbuilding title with plenty of novel and well executed ideas. There can be only one king of the genre, but if the developers keep working on Monster Train, the gap to the throne could shorten considerably.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“If you have even a hint of love for card games of any kind, I cannot recommend Monster Train enough.”
read full review ↗ - 77
“A deckbuilder that will have you doing hit point calculations and liking it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Monster Train is a highly addictive, lovable, and fun game. If you are a fan of Slay the Spire, you will surely fall in love with Monster Train.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I’ve found it hard to recommend deck builders recently because I’ve either thought they were clones of other games, not all that exciting or they have too much going on, however, in Monster Train they have managed to balance replayability and creativity. If you’re a fan of deck builders or are new to the genre, I feel comfortable saying you will love Shiny Shoe’s unique take. It brought back my love for deck builders, has a soundtrack that you will be humming daily, and a creative art style. It’s definitely, in my opinion, well deserving of the overwhelmingly positive review scores it has received on Steam. ”
read full review ↗ - 96
“Monster Train feels like an evolution of the deck-building genre. Taking it to new heights, even if the game takes place in the pits of hell. Slay the Spire may have set the bar, but Monster Train choo chewed right through it.”
read full review ↗
Fintendo
Seasoned Gaming
PC Invasion
Push Square
Capsule Computers
Checkpoint Gaming
SomHráč.sk
Niche Gamer
PC Gamer
Pixel Arts
DarkZero
GideonsGaming…and 33 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Monster Train Patch 2.2Oct 7, 2021
- Monster Train Patch 2.1May 19, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Train Patch 2.0.1Mar 31, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- The Last Divinity - Available Now!Mar 25, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Train Patch 1.4.1Jan 4, 2021
- Controller and Keyboard Update - Available Now!Dec 10, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Free Soundtrack Update: Talos and ArchusNov 8, 2020
- Monster Train Patch 1.3.3Nov 3, 2020
- Monster Train Patch 1.3.2Oct 31, 2020
- Monster Train Patch 1.3.1Oct 28, 2020
- Herzal's Workshop Update - Available Now!Oct 22, 2020
- Monster Train Patch 1.2.6Sep 17, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Friends & Foes Update - Available Now!Sep 3, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Friends and Foes - Public Test TrainAug 25, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Friends and Foes Exiled Champion UpdateAug 14, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Train Patch 1.1.5Jul 21, 2020
- Wild Mutations Update - Available Now!Jul 16, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Announcing Wild Mutations and 10% discount in the Steam Summer Sale!Jun 25, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Sneak peek at our first free content update for Monster TrainJun 18, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Monster Train Patch 1.0.10Jun 11, 2020
- Launch discount extended to June 4thMay 28, 2020
- Update: The screenshot challenge winners.Mar 16, 2020