Shroom and Gloom · Similar · Q&A
Shroom and Gloom Similar Games — Deckbuilders Worth Playing Next
Shroom and Gloom similar games: Slay the Spire, Inscryption, Darkest Dungeon and Balatro lead the deckbuilder comparisons, with genres and release dates.
By the New Game Wiki team · Updated 2026-10-04
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Games like Shroom and Gloom split into two groups: conventional deckbuilding roguelikes that share its run structure, and stranger titles that share its tone. GG.deals groups it with Slay the Spire, Inscryption, Darkest Dungeon and Balatro, while the NAG review independently reaches for Slay the Spire, Inscryption and Hylics. The double-deck, first-person, eat-what-you-kill loop is still the part with the fewest direct matches.
Closest Matches
The comparison list below comes from GG.deals, with the release dates and genres that page records. Because Shroom and Gloom is early in its life, most of these are useful as structure references rather than like-for-like substitutes.
| Game | Released | Genre | Why it is suggested |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slay the Spire | Jan 23, 2019 | Indie, Strategy | The structural benchmark for deckbuilding runs |
| Slay the Spire 2 | Mar 5, 2026, Early Access | Early Access, Indie, Strategy | The sequel, still in Early Access |
| Inscryption | Oct 19, 2021 | Adventure, Indie, Strategy | Bite-sized deck loop inside an odd authored world |
| Balatro | Feb 20, 2024 | Casual, Indie, Strategy | Deckbuilding with heavy run-to-run build variety |
| Darkest Dungeon | Jan 19, 2016 | Indie, RPG, Strategy | Pressure, attrition and a punishing dungeon crawl |
| Darkest Dungeon II | Oct 26, 2021 | Indie, RPG, Strategy | Run-based structure with a similar grim tone |
- Slay the Spire is the closest structural match.
- Inscryption is the closest tonal match.
- Darkest Dungeon matches the attrition feel, not the card play.
- Balatro matches the build-crafting loop at a different pace.
How to Choose Your Next Game
The useful question is which part of Shroom and Gloom you want more of. If it is the deck decisions, go to Slay the Spire or Balatro. If it is the strangeness and the presentation, go to Inscryption or Hylics. If it is the sense that every room costs something, go to Darkest Dungeon.
| If you want | Play |
|---|---|
| Pure deckbuilding depth | Slay the Spire or Slay the Spire 2 |
| A strange, authored world | Inscryption |
| Attrition and dread | Darkest Dungeon |
| Fast build-crafting runs | Balatro |
| Action plus run structure | Hades or Hades II |
- GG.deals also lists Die in the Dungeon, 9 Kings and The Bazaar for a newer take on the genre.
- Hades II released September 25, 2025 if you want the action end of the roguelike spectrum.
- Try the free Shroom and Gloom demo before buying a comparison title.
- Prices shift with sales, so check the current listing rather than a historical figure.
FAQ
What games are like Shroom and Gloom?
The closest comparisons are other deckbuilding roguelikes with a run-based structure. GG.deals groups the game with Slay the Spire, Inscryption, Darkest Dungeon and Balatro, and the NAG review independently names Slay the Spire, Inscryption and Hylics as reference points. The two-deck system is the part with the fewest direct matches.
What is the single closest game to Shroom and Gloom?
Slay the Spire, on structure rather than theme. NAG describes Shroom and Gloom as having the structural bones of Slay the Spire with the bite-sized loop of Inscryption, and GG.deals lists both Slay the Spire and its sequel among the nearest titles. Neither shares the first-person, eat-your-enemies loop.
Which similar games are first-person or unusual?
Inscryption and Hylics. NAG names both as reference points, describing the sensory chaos of Hylics and the bite-sized loop of Inscryption, and Inscryption also appears on the GG.deals comparison list. Both share Shroom and Gloom's habit of presenting deckbuilding inside an odd, authored world.
Are the similar games cheaper or more expensive?
Mostly comparable or cheaper on sale. GG.deals records historical prices of $5.99 for Slay the Spire, $6.36 for Inscryption, $9.69 for Balatro, $7.27 for Darkest Dungeon II and $18.98 for Hades II, while Shroom and Gloom sits at $14.99 in Early Access. Prices move with store sales, so check the listing.
Does Shroom and Gloom have a demo if I want to compare first?
Yes. A separate free demo app sits on Steam and the itch.io prototype is also free, so you can sample the double-deckbuilding before buying a comparison title. That matters because the first-person perspective is the feature most likely to divide players, as the NAG review notes.
References
- Games like Shroom and Gloom — GG.deals
- First Impressions Shroom And Gloom Demo — NAG
- Shroom and Gloom on Steam
- Shroom and Gloom is a deckbuilding roguelike — PC Gamer
Facts on this page are compiled from the references above. Items marked "to confirm" are single-source and not yet verified.