Monster Train 2 released on May 21, 2025, across PC, next-gen consoles, and Nintendo Switch. As the sequel to the acclaimed Monster Train, it builds on everything fans loved: roguelike depth, strategic card play, and multi-layered combat. Priced at $39.99, it offers strong value with a wide range of modes, clans, and visual upgrades.
The core concept remains simple yet satisfying—defend your train from enemy waves climbing three vertical floors. But this time, the setting has been escalated: celestial titans have overtaken heaven, and former rivals must unite to survive the journey across heaven, hell, and the abyss.
New Clans, Equipment, and Room Cards Deepen Deck Strategy
The biggest mechanical shift in Monster Train 2 is the inclusion of five new playable clans. Each introduces unique playstyles and champions, encouraging experimentation. Your champion defines your early tactics, but the game’s real strength is how run-based synergies evolve based on the cards, relics, and upgrades you discover.
Combat retains its real-time layer system—enemies enter from the bottom and ascend each floor unless stopped. Players must place units carefully, balancing the limited space (typically five slots) with smart use of spells and card abilities. New to this sequel are equipment items that attach to units and room cards that affect entire floors. These add tactical wrinkles and long-term planning opportunities rarely seen in other deck builders.
Players also gain access to activated abilities, which are one-off powers triggered during key moments. Combined with the Ember resource system for casting cards, this pushes players to think several moves ahead.
Roguelike Progression and the Covenant Outpost Hub
Monster Train 2 offers persistent progression between runs. Even after defeat, players earn access to new cards, cosmetic unlocks, and factions. The covenant outpost hub ties this system together. It serves as a narrative base where characters expand the story, and players can review stats or customize the appearance and abilities of their train.
Each run generally lasts between 45 minutes to an hour. Endless mode, daily challenges, dimensional modifiers, and global leaderboards ensure long-term engagement. There’s no direct multiplayer, but these competitive systems add a community-driven edge for players chasing optimal runs and high scores.
Art, Audio, and Performance Enhance the Ride
The game sports a revamped art style that leans brighter and more stylized than its predecessor. While it may divide some returning fans, it helps improve visual clarity during chaotic moments. Animations are fluid, spell effects pop off the screen, and the overall presentation feels modernized without losing charm.
The audio design is another standout. A dynamic soundtrack shifts with the intensity of battles, ranging from haunting tones to explosive orchestral bursts. Spell effects and unit sounds have been sharpened, giving each play a satisfying weight.
Technically, Monster Train 2 runs smoothly across all platforms. Even with detailed effects and enemy waves, frame rates remain stable. The UI is mostly intuitive, although tooltips and icons could be improved to help newer players keep pace with complex mechanics.
A Must-Play for Strategy Fans
Monster Train 2 succeeds in being more than just a sequel. It refines the original’s core formula while introducing enough new ideas—clans, room cards, equipment, and verticality—to keep things fresh. The added strategic layers don’t overwhelm but challenge players to adapt and optimize.
While the UI could use some polishing and the difficulty may intimidate casual players, the game’s replayability, faction depth, and performance outweigh those concerns. With an asking price of $39.99, it’s one of 2025’s strongest entries in the deck-building roguelike genre.
