Highlights

• Inscryption is an indie game that combines escape room puzzles and deck-building gameplay, offering a unique and engaging experience.
• Fans who enjoy the love and creativity in Inscryption may also appreciate other games like Omori, Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, and There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension, which offer compelling narratives and fun gameplay.
• Players looking for similar deck-building roguelikes can check out titles such as The Hex, Loop Hero, Monster Train, and Trials of Fire, each with their own unique twists and challenges.

Sometimes, an indie game comes out of nowhere and takes the internet by storm. Inscryption is one of those games. Developed by Daniel Mullins, this wicked game is a combination of an escape room puzzle game and a deck-building roguelike. The story takes place in a cabin where the player is trapped and forced to play a card game with a shadowy figure.

Over the course of a wild adventure, players will have to win card battles with the figure while also trying to get out of the cabin. There are so many elements to the game that those who fall in love with it have plenty of options when it comes to finding games similar to Inscryption.

Updated February 14, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Inscryption is one of the many titles that make players feel glad that indie gaming has become a mainstay in the industry. The sheer amount of love and creativity on display here is apparent for everyone to see.

Unlike most AAA games that just stick to what works, Inscryption takes risks time and time again to ensure that things remain fresh and engaging until the very end. Fans of this title will be more than happy to check out other games like Inscryption, which captivates players with an incredible atmosphere coupled with a satisfying gameplay loop.

1 Omori

A Psychological Horror Game With A Chilling Story That's Masterfully Told

Players who want to unnerve and fascinate themselves in the same way as Inscryption did will find Omori to be right up their alley. Unlike the roguelike card game, Omori hides its sinister influences for the most part, pacing out its scares while telling one of the best narratives in video game history.

Players can't help but fall in love with the main cast in both Headspace and the real world, with the plot twist breaking players as the game crescendoes to a wonderful climax. It's an engaging psychological horror game that sports an emotional ending much like Inscryption.

2 Gwent: The Witcher Card Game

A Fun Card Game Stemming From A Popular Side Activity In The Witcher 3

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was one of the best video games ever made. It became so popular that even a simple card game featured in the title became a huge phenomenon that prompted CD Projekt Red to make Gwent more accessible to the masses.

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game fleshed out this minigame, letting players enjoy this title in its entirety as players compete against others in fun battles where strategy is the key to victory. Official support for this title is no more, but players can still jump into this title and enjoy some fun card battles with other people as they reacquaint themselves with the rules of the game.

3 There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

A Lighthearted Title Poking Fun At The Very Act Of Playing A Video Game

While it's not among the card games like Inscryption, There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension matches some of the ridiculousness that players get from Inscryption's blending of genres and art styles. The point-and-click adventure game takes players on a journey to try to play "the game," while a voice consistently tries to stop the player from doing so.

While attempting to gain access to the game, players will open a dimensional rift that will force them to experience sequences that are inspired by many games that came before this one. If players want to try something less scary and more lighthearted than Inscryption, There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension is the title for them.

4 The Hex

Another Mind-Bending Game Made By Daniel Mullins

Mullins has a history of developing solid games. While it doesn't necessarily fall under the core genres of Inscryption, The Hex is worth checking out if players are fans of Mullins' work. This mystery adventure takes place at a tavern where six characters, all of whom used to live lives as video game protagonists, are being investigated for possibly planning the murder of one of their fellow patrons.

Players are tasked with learning about each of these characters by reliving elements of their past, therefore exploring the genre they came from. The goal of the game is to figure out who is the future murderer, and who will be their victim.

5 Loop Hero

Use Cards To Construct Buildings, Place Terrain, And Configure Enemy Placement To Make The Hero's Job Easier

Devolver Digital, the publisher of Inscryption, had a solid year of indie game releases in 2021. This included another deckbuilding roguelike they released earlier in the year called Loop Hero. In this world, however, players are in charge of everything but the hero.

Trapped in an endless loop thanks to The Lich, players must place cards that include buildings, enemies, or terrain to help the hero get loot that will help make the next loop easier than the last. The goal of Loop Hero is to conquer a few tough bosses and end the cycle once and for all.

6 Monster Train

A Deckbuilding Roguelike Where Players Must Conquer A Train Full Of Monsters

As mentioned earlier, Inscryption is one of the best indie card games to come out in 2021. One of the best card games to come out a year prior was Monster Train. The main campaign revolves around players trying to climb four levels of a train that is filled with monsters.

Players must try to get to the top to protect the pyre from the enemies that want to break it. The single-player mode is also paired with a few modes that pit players against other gamers in challenges and real-time combat.

7 The Room

Fans Of Escape Room Gameplay Will Love The Room's Intuitiveness

While Inscryption certainly focused on the card game element the most, there is also the fascinating escape room element. Those who enjoy this may enjoy other puzzle games with escape room-like elements. One of the most famous examples regarding this subject is The Room series.

Each entry in the franchise has its own plot in which players are trying to solve the mystery. In most scenarios, players will be given a contraption that they will need to tinker with and use clues to unlock different elements of the contraption. It's perfect for players who want to experience an escape room from the comfort of a device.

8 Trials Of Fire

Control Three Heroes In This Roguelike Deckbuilding Game

While Inscryption only has players controlling one character at a time, Trials of Fire is a tactical game that has users control three heroes of their choosing. This deck-building roguelite has players going on an adventure through the Ashe wastelands.

The game involves exploring a world while not in combat and hunkering players down to wield three players in battle. Each hero has their own deck, so it creates unique opportunities to strategize specific outcomes. There is both base game content and seasonal campaigns that the player can go on.

9 Black Book

A Fun RPG Based On Slavic Mythology

Returning to the card-based RPG format, another great story-driven narrative to try out is a game called Black Book. Based on Slavic mythology, players take on the role of Vasilisa, a young sorceress who is serving those in the "dark forces."

After she gives up everything to marry the person she loves most, they mysteriously die and leave Vasilisa heartbroken. Because of this, she decides to set off on a journey to find an artifact that can grant any wish called the Black Book. The gameplay revolves around fighting demons, performing exorcisms, and helping people along the way.

10 Fran Bow

Dark Aesthetics Run Amok In This Psychological Horror Title

There are some psychological horror elements to Inscryption, so if players are looking for an indie gem that spooks them, Fran Bow is worth giving a try. Another point-and-click adventure game, the story follows a young girl named Fran who has had to deal with the trauma of seeing the gruesome death of her parents.

Fran winds up in an asylum where she tries to escape to find Mr. Midnight, her black cat that was given to her by her parents. This 2D-animated game has a plethora of puzzles to solve as players go through it with the occasional mini-game to help pick up the action.

11 Iris And The Giant

Explore Iris' Mind And Face Her Inner Demons In A Fun Deckbuilding Roguelike

While most video game adventures take place in vast worlds, some take place only in the mind. That is the case with Iris and the Giant. In another game that blends card collecting and a roguelike role-playing experience, players are tasked with exploring Iris' imaginary world as she faces the fears and demons that have overwhelmed her in reality.

Players can customize their decks and build their character in whatever way they see fit. After every turn, Iris can earn more cards in her deck and earn experience points that can make her stronger in fights.

12 Pawnbarian

Combining Roguelike Gameplay With The Rules Of Chess Makes For A Fun Time

What made Inscryption stand out is the way it combines elements from different video games into one package. Similarly, Pawnbarian combines the thrills of a roguelike dungeon crawler with the classic strategy board game, chess.

Players can move their figure around the board depending on what cards they decide to pull, with each card representing a chess piece that has a specific moveset. The goal is to take out all the enemies on the board before advancing to the next level.

13 Marvel Snap

A Surprisingly Fun Card Game That Utilizes The Marvel IP

Many card games have been able to build a fanbase around original characters and world elements. Marvel Snap, meanwhile, was able to take one of the most popular properties out there and make an incredibly fun, addicting card game for mobile and eventually PC.

The gameplay loop involves having a deck of 12 cards and using those in a battle. The goal is to claim locations by having a higher power than the opponent. Unlike other card games, Marvel Snap is relatively short, with battles lasting around six rounds and being done in less than 10 minutes.

14 Rounds

A Shooter Where Players Who Lose Can Pick A Card To Gain An Upgrade

Those who are into action-packed multiplayer games that enjoy the roguelite elements of Inscryption may appreciate the absurd shooter that is Rounds. Players can be matched up locally or online with one other player as they fight to the death in a round-based match-up.

However, the twist is that the losing player of each round can pick from a set of cards that can give them a unique upgrade that can help them in the next round. There are over 65 powerups that people can discover while playing the game and over 70 maps that they can do battle on.

15 Griftlands

A Unique Deckbuilding Game Where Players Can Either Fight Or Negotiate Using The Cards At Their Disposal

It is common in video games that the resolution to a conflict is a fight to the death. But sometimes, certain situations may not warrant that result. That is what players have to think about as they get through Griftlands.

While players can choose to fight, they also will have to think about whether they can negotiate with the aggressor. There are three playable characters in the game, each with their own story and setting that can be experienced. They also have their own combat and negotiation decks that broaden the different approaches that can be made during an altercation.

16 Pony Island

A Psychological Horror Puzzle Game Made By The Developer Of Inscryption

Those looking for another psychological horror puzzle game should not look beyond Mullins' other work. The first game he ever released on Steam was a suspenseful experience titled Pony Island.

The story takes place entirely in front of an arcade machine that seems to be completely broken, but players will need to think about everything that is in front of them to solve each of the puzzles that stand in their way. Meanwhile, the devil will be in the background watching the player's every move, commentating and insulting them along the way.

17 Dicey Dungeons

Players Control Sentient Dice In A Unique Deckbuilding Roguelike

When looking at games like Inscryption, players may be searching for something that has the same haunting edge as the indie hit. However, players should not look past a more colorful game in Dicey Dungeons, a deck-building roguelike about characters that have been turned to dice by Lady Luck.

She forces players to complete dungeons to be freed from their cubic appearances. Players can select a di in the beginning, with each having its own starting equipment and unique characteristics. Each dungeon requires players to get through each layer until they reach the bottom, where they fight a boss to escape.

18 Dream Quest

Short Play Sessions Where Achievements In One Run Make Later Ones Easier To Play Through

There are a few games that have inspired the deck-building roguelike genre over the years. One game that went on to inspire some recent games like Inscryption is Dream Quest. While the art may seem simple, the gameplay itself has a ton of depth.

After choosing from a list of 13 different classes, players will explore randomly generated levels where they can face more than 70 different monsters along their journey. The unique aspect of the RPG is that each session is meant to be about 30 minutes, but achievements earned on previous runs will make the player better for future runs.

19 Slay The Spire

A Deckbuilding Roguelike That Blew Everything Out Of The Water When It Came Out

Speaking of classics, one of the most popular games in the last decade is a card battler that goes by the name of Slay the Spire. Players choose from a set of four characters, each with a set of starter cards that are unique to them. The characters are used for climbing the Spire to make it to the top without dying.

There are different paths that players can choose to go down to get there, but there will be bad guys in their way that they must use their decks to take on. The game is also very replayable with daily challenges offered each day for those who can't get enough of the Slay the Spire world. Players looking for mobile games like Inscryption should check this one out first.