ApexReaper Reviews

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Should You Play Monster Train 2?

Monster Train 2 features the Banished Angles and Pyreborn Demons working together against the titans, but the story is secondary to the gameplay. As a roguelike deck builder, players defend a pyre, gather cards, and engage in strategic battles. The game excels in character design, graphics, and overall fun, earning high ratings.

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Released on: May 21, 2025
Developed by: Shiny Shoe
Published by: Big Fan Games
Available on:
Nintendo
PlayStation
Steam
Xbox

The Story

The story of Monster Train 2 unfolds with the Banished Angles joining forces with the Pyreborn Demons. Together, they aim to take down the titans.

You get story bits as you play through the game and finish more runs. You also get optional dialogue between some of the characters. You find these before you start a run.

The story of Monster Train 2 is not where this game shines. The story is just kind of there to break up the gameplay. I will have to give the story a middle of the road 5 out of 10

Rating: 5 out of 10.

The Gameplay

This is where this game shines. Monster Train 2 is a roguelike deck builder game. You goal is to take out the enemies while defending your pyre. Your pyre is on the top level of your train. You unlock new pyre’s as you play and complete challenges. Each pyre has their own health and attack. There are 4 levels to your train with 3 levels for your units. Each floor of the train has so much space on it that can be increased.

You start a battle by drawing units. You can place them on any floor of the train. After you have them set you can start the battle. You than draw your hand size that can be increased throughout the run. You play as many cards as you can as long as you have the play points. You can get more play points throughout the run. Once you are done playing cards, you will discard the remaining cards. This does not apply if the card has an effect that keeps it in hand. Your next turn you will draw your hand size again. When you have no more cards in your deck you shuffle your discarded cards back into your deck.

Enemies will start at the 1st floor of the train unless they are special enemies. If you do not defeat them in one turn, they will move up one level on the train. If they make it to the Pyre. It will be a back and forth with the enemy attacks then the pyre attacks. Until the enemies die or the pyre is destroyed.

As you move along the map, you will get the chance to add new cards. You can also remove some cards to help build your deck. You will also be able to upgrade your units and spells to be more powerful or cost less. You also will be able to get artifacts that are passives that give you a boon. There will also be random events that you will have to make a choice.

Screenshot from a turn-based strategy video game showing the character "Heph" offering train modifications. The player is presented with options to install mods on different floors (Third, Second) or to modify the train themselves. Heph is shown standing next to piles of scrap, holding a large hammer, with a dialogue box explaining the situation.
This is a screenshot from a video game showing a decision point. On the left is an ornate, gold-framed mirror with swirling shades of rainbow and purple "magical" energy. Text to the right explains the mirror's ability to duplicate objects and poses the question, "How will you use the mirror?" Three options are presented as selectable buttons: "Use the mirror with caution (Copy a card)," "Push the mirror to its limit (Copy a card 5 times)," and "Leave." Game currency and resource indicators are visible in the top left corner.

You can also make the battles harder by activating trials you will get better rewards if you can win.

The best part of this game is getting synergy working in your deck. This can involve having units that get buffed by being moved. You can play a bunch of movement cards to buff your units. Or my favorite the mushroom units. You can get a mushroom colony that can be played even if your level is full. Whats great about this colony is you can increase the number of mushrooms in the colony and it’s stronger. Also the enemy will have to destroy the colony the number of mushrooms in it. If there are ten mushrooms in the colony, the enemy has to destroy it ten times. Only then is it removed from play. I had the most fun playing with the mushroom units.

  • A screenshot from a card-based strategy game. The player character, Arkion, Scion of Savagery, is engaged in combat with multiple fantasy creatures. The screen displays game elements like health, resources, and available card actions like 'Firestarter' and 'Cleave'. 'Flagellant' is highlighted with stats. 'Waves Remaining: 4' is visible. It appears the player is in the midst of a turn and can choose to "End Turn."
  • Screenshot of the “Monster Train” video game interface. On screen are two enemies on the top floor, a purple armored knight to the left and a white armored knight to the right with a portal. Below, the player has several card options: “Spear Steward", "Avenger", "Hot Head", "Cleave", and "Magma Mauler". Key resources and health points are displayed on the top left corner. The "End Turn" button is located on the bottom right. The overall aesthetic is dark fantasy with elements of steampunk.
  • A screenshot of a card-based strategy game. The player, named "Cael, Lord of the Cherubs" with a health of 85, is in a battle. The game interface displays resources at the top. The battlefield shows the player's character on the left and various enemy units on the right. At the bottom, a selection of playable cards is visible, including "Miser", "Just Cau", "Hot Head", "Shield Steward" and "Firestarter". An "End Turn" button is on the bottom right. The environment appears to be within a dungeon or fortress, with metallic walls and green, viscous liquid towards the top.
  • Screenshot from the video game "Monster Train" showing gameplay during "Savagey's Final Assault." The player has 1 wave remaining. The game board features multiple lanes with hostile units that resemble mushrooms. Above the playing field, the UI displays resources such as gold (135), Emberdrain (31) and key progression items (1,7). Below the playing field, the player has access to cards, prominently displaying a "Pyrecask" card with a cost of 1. At the bottom right, an "End Turn" button is visible. The "Grow Room" is also highlighted indicating that units will propagate 1 at the end of the turn.
  • A screenshot from a video game shows a menu titled "Once per battle, select the Heart to restore the front friendly units on all floors to full health.". Below the title are the names of each heart that can be selected: Proto Heartcage, Heart of the Pact, Lifemother's Pyre, Malicka's Shifting Pyre, Wyngh's Spirit, Fhyra's Greed, Aquath's Reservation, Bogwurm's Growth, Echo of the Time Father, Herzal's Horde , Pyre of Savagery, Pyre of Dominion, Pyre of Entropy, plus a Random Pyre Heart as well. Some of the hearts have a lock symbol meaning they must be unlocked. At the bottom left of the menu is a "Back" button. The game's interface elements are visible around the menu.
  • A screenshot from the game "Monster Train" displaying the victory screen after a "Banished Level Up." The player has unlocked the "Martyr's Signet" artifact, which is shown as a ring with a blue gem mounted on a red hexagonal device. The artifact's description states, "At the end of the entire battle, friendly units at the front of the floor permanently gain +6 heart icons”. The screen also shows the player's primary clan as Pyreborne at level 3, the progress bar to next level, and buttons for "Back to Outpost," "New Run," and "Play Endless”. The top right corner says, "Standard Run."
  • A victory screen in a dark fantasy style card game. The title "Mastered Cards" is displayed. Text below explains that winning a run with these cards has unlocked special card frames. Three cards are prominently displayed: "Lord Fenix," a Pyreborne champion with fire magic, "Bloodsoaked Arena", an Allied Clan room, and "Make It Rain," a spell that deals fire damage. Personal records and resource/status indicators flank the central display. A "Hell Yeah!" button is visible at the bottom.

The gameplay of this game is so much fun I will give it a solid 10 out of 10.

Rating: 10 out of 10.

The Characters & Enemies

There are a good number of clans for you to use in Monster Train 2. They range from the Pyreborne clan that had dragons as their champion. The Lazarus League that has mad scientists as a champion. Then my favorite the Underlegion with a big mushroom dude as their champion.

What is really great is that each clan plays different and looks different from each other.

The enemies as so well designed that you can tell what they do as you see them. Some enemies have Shields that you will have to break through first. Some enemies will heal themselves and their team. Then you got some more aggressive enemies. They include hast that lets them skip a level of the train. There is also the dude with a bell. He will deal 3 damage to your pyre even on the first floor.

The bosses are really cool. Each having there own skills and abilities that you will have to deal with. Including a flying boss that move to a random floor each turn. There is even a boss with minions that are carrying food. If the boss eats them, it gets a buff.

Overall, all the characters in this game are well designed and are deserving of a 10 out of 10.

Rating: 10 out of 10.

Graphics & Animation

The graphics & animations of Monster Train 2 are good. The graphics are well done. They are not bad at all to look at. You have seen them in the screenshots in this review. The animations look great and work really well for this game.

There is nothing else to say about the graphics. Sure, they could be better. However, for the 2D style this game has, they are great. I will give the graphics and animations a solid 8 out of 10.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Should You Play?

Yes, this is a really fun game. Messing around with all the different clans and seeing how powerful you can make a unit is fun. Now if you don’t like deck builder type games than you will not like this. That is one of the core mechanic of this game. With ever run being different and the rate that you unlock are a great combo to keep you playing. There are also challenges that will have you planning the run to complete them making that run special.

At the time of writing this this game is on gamepass that’s how I played it. If you got gamepass give this game a try.

Overall, I give Monster Train 2 an 8.25 by the math but for the star rating it’s a 8.5

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

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