Summary
Horror theme is so popular and exhilarating that it almost fits into any genre of gaming, even if the gameplay loop is supposed to be as simple as deck building, without any heavy visuals or jump scares.
The fact that deckbuilding games have progressed enough that developers are now trying them with various themes is quite fascinating for the fans of card games. And it’s no stretch to say that some of the best deck builders indeed benefit heavily from their horrifying atmosphere.
6Do You Have A Moment To Talk About Our Lord And Savior?
When A Simple Job Becomes A Matter Of Life Or Death
It’s easy to miss this hidden gem among the abundance of deckbuilding games on Steam, butDo You Have A Moment To Talk About Our Lord And Savior?is a must-play for those who enjoyed their time withInscryption. Not to say that the game reaches the same heights, but it is a great attempt with a pretty interesting concept.
The game puts the player in the role of a missionary who enters a mysterious man’s house to spread the message. However, things don’t go as planned when the mysterious man offers to play a card game with the missionary, telling him that he is only allowed to leave the house if he ever reaches Level 13.
The concept is quite chilling, and the game does deliver some horror elements during the card battles, though not much should be expected. The use ofPSX retro visualsalso gives the game a unique look while not damaging its overall quality of horror.
5WAGON
A Survival Deckbuilding With Unique Visuals
IfInscryptionandThe Return of Obra Dinnever had a baby, that would beWAGON. The game inspires some ideas from both praised titles and also adds some of its own twist to the mix, and the result is already fascinating.
The quality of fear and horror inWAGONis not triggered by monsters, jump scares, or weird creatures, but rather it implies a fear of death that can catch the player off guard if they fail to manage the trip correctly or are not brave enough to make some tough decisions.
Similar toInscryption,WAGONalso features two-layered gameplay. The card game is the core part, but keeping the food on the table for everyone and using resources properly to survive is another part of the loop.
Another indie game with a brilliant and creative concept.Deck of Hauntsgains inspiration from other praised deck builders and blends them all into its own formula.
While deck building is the core of the gameplay,Deck of Hauntsalso offers a compact type ofcity-building mechanic, allowing the player to change the shape of the game’s world. This is an extra tool in the hands of the player to succeed, and also to make the game a lot scarier.
Deck of Hauntsis where the player becomes the villain, slaying any visitor to their ever-expanding house or driving them to insanity. Players contribute to the horror experience of the game by adding more disturbing themes to each room, making visitors lose their minds.
3Draft Of Darkness
Explore A Corrupted Dungeon Filled With Monsters
Draft of Darknessshould be a top priority for anyone who is a fan ofDarkest Dungeon. The overall flow of the game is quite similar to that ofDarkest Dungeon. Players begin by choosing a unique hero that comes with some special abilities, then they delve into the dungeon of darkness, fighting eerie creatures and other survivors.
Players may also come across friendly faces and recruit them into their squad to have a helping hand in the difficult parts of the dungeon. Similar toSlay The Spire, winning every battle will reward players with a new card to expand their options for the next engagements.
It’s not all about inspirations, though.Draft of Darknesshas a system of its own for categorizing the cards and limiting the player from using all of them at once. The game also comes with unique pixelated visuals, which give it a raw, horrifying look.
2Shadow Corridor 2
Trapped In The Ever-Changing Corridors Of A Haunted House
While all the games on this list are both horror anddeckbuilding, it matters which comes as a priority for the developer.Shadow Corridor 2is a game where horror is the primary element and deckbuilding comes next, but they both work together to give players some chills, and the result is quite satisfying.
Shadow Corridor 2is a first-person experience where the player is trapped inside a dark house with some eerie creatures and ever-changing corridors. As the player explores the house, they find some cards, which give them certain abilities or effects that help them confront the unknown beings inside the house.
The player cannot use all the cards, and they need to form a deck out of them, but more cards mean more options to find the best combo to survive the long night.
It’s the king of horror-based deck builders without a doubt. AlthoughInscryptionborrows some elements fromSlay The Spire, the game has its unique identity with a separate puzzle-solving mini-game next to its deckbuilding core that gives more depth to the horror theme.
InInscryption, players need to play with a monster repeatedly and beat it each time to make progress in the game and find a way out of the room they’re trapped in. The card game is not similar to any other titles on the market, as it comes with its own rules and twists to challenge the player.
Despite having a story to tell,Inscryptionis aroguelikeexperience, which means the player needs to stick to the game and try their best if they want to discover all the secrets in the room.
