I've been obsessed with Slay the Spire on PC but want something similar I can play on my phone during my commute. Preferably something that's not too grindy or full of ads. Does anyone have recommendations?
Seconding Inscryption - that one's genuinely solid on mobile and doesn't feel compromised like some ports do. If you want something lighter and less puzzle-heavy, Monster Train is worth checking out; it's got that same "build weird synergies and hope they work" vibe but with a bit more breathing room and way less of the grindy feeling. Both are paid games with no ad nonsense, which honestly seems to be what separates the tolerable mobile deck builders from the ones that'll drive you up the wall.
I've been playing deck builders on mobile for ages now, and the jump from desktop to phone can be tricky - not everything translates well to a smaller screen. Inscryption is probably your closest match if you haven't tried it; it's got that same roguelike deckbuilding DNA but with a darker, more puzzle-heavy vibe. The game runs solid on Android and doesn't have ads or energy systems grinding you down. Monster Train is another solid pick - it's less about reflex timing than Slay the Spire and more about combos, but that actually works better on mobile since you're not rushing through turns on a commute.
Beyond those two, there's Peglin which mixes deck mechanics with pachinko-style physics (weird combo but it works), and Darkest Dungeon II has roguelike elements though it's more party management than pure deckbuilding. Both are on Android without ad nonsense.
The catch is most of these cost money upfront rather than being free-to-play, but honestly that's kind of the point - no ads means they're just better experiences. If you want something free that's actually decent, Slay the Spire itself is cheaper on mobile than you'd expect, or you could look at older stuff like Dominion which invented the genre. Just avoid anything with a stamina bar or constant ads - those will kill the experience you're chasing.
The real trap with deck builders on mobile is that a lot of them feel designed to drain your wallet - so check the reviews specifically about whether progression gets annoyingly slow without spending. Inscryption is solid if you haven't tried it, though fair warning: it's more puzzle-heavy and weird than Slay the Spire, less about pure strategy and more about figuring out what's going on. That said, it absolutely plays great on a phone and has no ads or energy systems messing with you.
Monster Train is probably closer to what you're after if you want that straight deckbuilding dopamine. It's got a similar run structure, you're building synergies between cards, and the screen real estate works well enough. Downside is it can feel a bit repetitive after you've won a bunch, but that's true of most roguelikes anyway. Neither of these will hit exactly the same as Slay the Spire - that game's just weirdly perfect - but they're the best alternatives I've found that don't make you feel like you're being squeezed for money.
If you're desperate and don't mind something totally different, Dominion has a decent app version too, though it's more traditional card game than roguelike. The ones to avoid are the ones with energy timers or battle passes; you'll get bored of watching a clock more than playing cards.
Both Inscryption and Monster Train are solid picks, and the warning about monetization is real. One thing worth trying: grab a couple of these games during sales (they go on discount pretty regularly) and compare how they feel on your specific phone before committing to one. The UI scaling can actually matter more than you'd think on smaller screens - what works great on a tablet might feel cramped on a 6-inch phone. FrostPunk: Beyond the Ice also scratches that strategic deckbuilding itch if you want something with a different flavor, though it's less combat-focused.
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