MARLVEL

Slay the Spire vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Slay the Spire's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Slay the Spire
This App
GameVelvet: Dominoes, Spades
Nemesis
Baraja de Lotería Mexicana
Contender
Go Quest
Contender
Codenames
Contender
Gloomhaven Campaign Tracker
Contender
Farkle Scorekeeper
Peer
Terraforming Mars
Peer
Taboo
Peer
VoxParty: Sesli Tabu Okey
Peer
Core Identity
DeveloperHumble BundleMegaJogosJose Gustavo Zimbron LaraMindwalk Corp.CGE Digital s.r.o.Grzegorz DziembowskiNieStudio Creative LLCTwin Sails InteractiveMarmalade Game StudioThor Teknoloji Dis Ticaret Ltd Sti
CategoryGamesCardGamesBoardGamesGamesGamesGamesGamesBoard
PlatformiOS, AndroidAndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidAndroid
Store Metrics
Rating4.2 / 54.7 / 53.9 / 54.5 / 54.7 / 54.8 / 54.8 / 54.5 / 54.9 / 53.9 / 5
Ratings Count3,130147,8981569,1791,0291,8142,3437,3524,5931,122
PriceUSD9.99FreeFreeFree$4.99FreeFree$8.99$1.99Free
Release DateJun 13, 2020Sep 27, 2012Mar 21, 2019Mar 21, 2014Sep 11, 2024Dec 1, 2017Dec 6, 2018Dec 3, 2019Nov 10, 2021Apr 28, 2020
Last UpdatedAug 5, 2025May 13, 2026May 18, 2026Apr 14, 2026Apr 29, 2026May 4, 2026Aug 10, 2023Apr 7, 2026May 19, 2026May 19, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentmixed---mixedpositivemixednegativemixed-
Score45/100---45/10085/10065/10025/10065/100-
Praises
  • Deep strategic deck building mechanics provide hundreds of hours of replay value for dedicated players
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  • Adaptation of the physical board game mechanics provides a refreshing and engaging digital experience
  • Deep, specialized support for complex Gloomhaven campaign tracking that generic dice games cannot replicate.
  • Simplified scorekeeping mechanics remove the need for manual math during casual game nights
  • Core board game mechanics provide deep strategic satisfaction for long-term hobbyist players
  • Core party game mechanics provide high entertainment value for diverse age groups during social gatherings
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Complaints
  • Inaccurate touch controls lead to accidental card plays and lost runs during intense combat encounters
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  • Frequent server connectivity issues and maintenance downtime disrupt active matches and daily challenge progress
  • Manual entry requirements for complex Frosthaven rulesets create administrative friction.
  • Frequent application crashes during gameplay sessions cause significant loss of progress
  • Frequent application crashes and game state corruption occur during online multiplayer sessions
  • Limited card variety in the base version forces repetitive gameplay after only a few short rounds
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Requests
  • Dedicated mobile-first interface overhaul to improve readability and prevent accidental inputs during gameplay
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  • Implementation of a turn timer would prevent excessive waiting and improve the pace of matches
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  • Manual score editing and turn management features to handle real-world game scenarios
  • Implementation of an undo button to correct accidental inputs during complex card actions
  • Customizable house rules and manual score editing features to better match traditional physical board game experiences
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Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Official brand integration provides high trust for physical game owners
  • Multi-slot save state enables complex, long-form tabletop sessions
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  • Faithful tabletop-to-digital translation sustains core engagement
  • One-time purchase model creates a clean, ad-free environment
  • Dual-role mechanics differentiate the title from generic word puzzles
  • Specialized campaign-tracking logic for complex tabletop titles
  • Cross-platform server synchronization for persistent party data
  • Specialized scoring logic for Farkle variants
  • Wireless 10-key hardware integration
  • Persistent player directory for historical tracking
  • Faithful board game adaptation sustains organic install velocity
  • Modular DLC strategy increases lifetime value per user
  • In-app video chat enables remote social play
  • Multi-language support facilitates global B2B distribution
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Weaknesses
  • Finicky touch controls lead to accidental inputs
  • Persistent black screen crashes in the progress menu
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  • Frequent server downtime disrupts daily challenges
  • Forced landscape orientation limits accessibility
  • Lack of offline or AI-based play modes
  • Manual data-entry overhead for complex scenarios
  • Lack of social features to drive daily active usage
  • Frequent crashes causing data loss
  • Aggressive ad-gating for free users
  • Lack of feature parity between Android and iOS
  • Premium $8.99 entry barrier limits casual funnel
  • 0-rating Android base indicates critical platform-specific instability
  • Shallow base card pool triggers repetition
  • $1.99 iOS price creates entry friction
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Pricingfreefreemiumfreemiumfreepaidfreemiumfreemiumpaidfreemiumfree
MomentumMaintenance-IntenseActiveMaintenanceZombieZombieActiveMaintenance-
Update Cadence2 versions, ~176d avg-5 versions5 versions5 versions, ~10d avg2 versions, ~974d avg2 versions, 2 majors/6mo, ~263d avg5 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~15d avg5 versions, 4 majors/6mo, ~38d avg-

Compare Slay the Spire head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Slay the Spire, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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