---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-33
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-33
lang: en
title: Card roguelikes
summary: >-
  The player progresses through battles while building a deck during the run.
  Random offers and limited resources require adapting to discoveries.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-33/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-33.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-33.md
aliases:
  - Deckbuilding roguelike
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-d5a8bf9da86c6870
  - source-ea407a6c37045737
sources:
  - id: source-d5a8bf9da86c6870
    title: Description of Mega Crit
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/Slay_the_Spire/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-ea407a6c37045737
    title: Monster Train
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-33
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-33'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Deckbuilding roguelike
    description: >-
      The player progresses through battles while building a deck during the
      run. Random offers and limited resources require adapting to discoveries.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/monster-train-battle.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Monster Train
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1102190/ss_edce778e9006c559cc347542ba2a61ed1461c945.1920x1080.jpg?t=1779381275
      credit: Shiny Shoe / Good Shepherd Entertainment
      rights: © 2020 Shiny Shoe LLC. All rights reserved.
      caption: Cards control combat on the train’s floors
      alt: >-
        Monster Train: a hand of cards sits below an energy counter and
        creatures positioned on the train’s floors.
      markers:
        - x: 46
          'y': 82
          label: The hand for the current decision
        - x: 9
          'y': 83
          label: Energy limits available actions
    tips:
      - Connect new cards to the build’s existing strengths.
      - Provide enough information to plan the next turn.
    examples:
      - title: Monster Train
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/roguelike
---
# Card roguelikes

id: roguelike--family-33
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-33
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-33/

The player progresses through battles while building a deck during the run. Random offers and limited resources require adapting to discoveries.

## At a glance

![Monster Train: a hand of cards sits below an energy counter and creatures positioned on the train’s floors.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/monster-train-battle.webp)

[Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/) · © 2020 Shiny Shoe LLC. All rights reserved.

1. The hand for the current decision
2. Energy limits available actions

- Connect new cards to the build’s existing strengths.
- Provide enough information to plan the next turn.

- [Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/)

## How it works

Selecting cards, building synergies, relics, and choosing a risky or safe route are directly included in the Slay the Spire device. Description of Mega Crit

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-33-variants"></a>

- Building a deck during a run <a id="variant-roguelike-33-01"></a>
- Drawing a random hand <a id="variant-roguelike-33-02"></a>
- Energy for playing cards <a id="variant-roguelike-33-03"></a>
- Reset and reshuffle the deck <a id="variant-roguelike-33-04"></a>
- Removing weak or unwanted cards <a id="variant-roguelike-33-05"></a>
- Map improvement <a id="variant-roguelike-33-06"></a>
- Copying and converting maps <a id="variant-roguelike-33-07"></a>
- Creating temporary maps in battle <a id="variant-roguelike-33-08"></a>
- Keeping a card in your hand between turns <a id="variant-roguelike-33-09"></a>
- Removing a card until the end of the battle after use <a id="variant-roguelike-33-10"></a>
- Condition and curse cards littering the deck <a id="variant-roguelike-33-11"></a>
- Conditional cost and conditional card effect <a id="variant-roguelike-33-12"></a>
- Combinations in order of play <a id="variant-roguelike-33-13"></a>
- Deck Top Manipulation <a id="variant-roguelike-33-14"></a>
- View and select future selection <a id="variant-roguelike-33-15"></a>
- Changing hand size <a id="variant-roguelike-33-16"></a>
- Dependence of strength on the size and composition of the deck <a id="variant-roguelike-33-17"></a>
- Deck Interaction with Constant Passive Effects <a id="variant-roguelike-33-18"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Description of Mega Crit](https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/Slay_the_Spire/) (id: source-d5a8bf9da86c6870)
- [Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/) (id: source-ea407a6c37045737)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors