Looking for games like Slay the Spire? Here's a free, browser-based deckbuilder roguelike you can play right now — and turn into your own game with AI.
So you finished a Slay the Spire run and want more
Slay the Spire 2 dropped into Steam Early Access on March 5, 2026, and immediately set a roguelike record: 177,000+ concurrent players on day one. If you've already burnt through it, or you're not ready to drop $25 on Early Access, you're probably hunting for the next deckbuilder fix.
The good news: the genre is in a golden era. The better news: there's a free, remixable one you can play in your browser today.
What makes a game "like" Slay the Spire?
Slay the Spire defined the modern deckbuilder roguelike. The DNA most fans look for:
- Deckbuilding — start with a basic deck, pick new cards after each fight, prune as you climb
- Run-based roguelite progression — every run is fresh, but meta-unlocks give you new options
- Energy + intent telegraphing — turn-based combat where enemies show their next move and you plan around it
- Relics or modifiers — passive items that totally change your strategy
- Vertical map — branching paths with shops, elites, events, and bosses
- Build snowballing — by Act 3, your deck should feel broken if you've played well
Most games hit two or three of these. Few hit all of them.
Games in the same neighborhood
Roughly $15–$30 each on Steam:
- Slay the Spire 2 — the obvious one. Currently in Early Access at $24.99. Refined combat, new characters, co-op on the way.
- Inscryption — deckbuilder-meets-horror-puzzle-box. Plays with the format in genuinely shocking ways.
- Monster Train — three-lane tower defense crossed with a deckbuilder. Crunchy build variety, huge replay value.
- Balatro — poker-roguelike. Not strictly a deckbuilder, but the "build a busted run" feeling is identical.
- Wildfrost — gorgeous, brutal, lane-based deckbuilder with a frosty fairytale art style.
- Across the Obelisk — 4-character co-op deckbuilder with a long campaign and online play.
- Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard — Vampire Survivors meets Slay the Spire. Newer, snowball-heavy, very satisfying.
All worth your money. But if you want to play something right now without paying, keep reading.
A free Slay the Spire-style game you can play in your browser
We built a deckbuilder roguelike on Rosebud AI in the spirit of Slay the Spire. It's free, runs in your browser, and was deliberately built as a template so you can remix it.
What's in it:
- Card-based turn combat with energy and enemy intents
- Run-based progression with floors, elites, and bosses
- Card pickups and relics that shape your build
- A clean code base meant for forking
👉 Play it here: https://rosebud.ai/play/roguelike-deckbuilder-example-1
The thing the other games can't do: let you make it yours
Here's what's different on Rosebud. You don't just play. You can fork the template and turn it into your own game:
- Reskin it as sci-fi — drones, viruses, a derelict ship
- Add poker mechanics so your hand value matters
- Add a fourth character with Watcher-style stances
- Co-op-ify it for online play
- Procedurally generate cards based on your run choices
- Swap every card, enemy, and floor for your own designs
You don't write code. You describe what you want in plain English, and Rosie (the AI assistant) builds it.
How to play and remix
- Visit https://rosebud.ai/play/roguelike-deckbuilder-example-1
- Hit Play and try it in your browser
- Click the Rosebud watermark in the bottom-right corner and "Remix this game"
- Talk to Rosie in plain English about what you want to change
- Share your version with a link — anyone can play it without downloading anything
TL;DR
Want polished, paid, peak-genre deckbuilders? Buy Slay the Spire 2, Inscryption, or Monster Train.
Want something free you can play right now AND turn into your own game?
👉 https://rosebud.ai/play/roguelike-deckbuilder-example-1
Andi Bucescu
Andi is the Head of Marketing at Rosebud, where she writes about the intersection of AI, creativity, and brand storytelling. She explores how generative AI is reshaping marketing strategies and creative workflows, with a focus on making complex technology accessible and cutting through the noise of modern campaigns. Her perspective is informed by undergraduate research on effective social media content and consumer psychology.