Last updated: March 12, 2026
Why Monster Train 2 Is Trending Right Now
Still dominating two weeks after launch. Monster Train 2 launched February 10, 2026 after a 7-year development cycle from Shiny Shoe — creator of The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy. It peaked at 115,428 concurrent players on launch day, and rather than collapsing, it has settled into a remarkably high floor: 3,113 players at 24-hour peak with a 7-day average over 80,000.
That retention curve is the story. Most games lose 60–70% of their peak within the first week. Monster Train 2 is holding above 90% of its launch peak into week two — a signal of genuine deep engagement, not just launch curiosity. With Very Positive reviews from 4,621 Steam users and a ~90 Metascore, it's earned its position as the breakout game of early 2026.
Key Stats
With 104,136 players at 24-hour peak, Is Monster Train 2 Worth Playing in 2026? | TrendingGames.gg is one of Steam's most-played Roguelite games this week. 92% of 15,965 players recommend it.
What the Community Is Saying
Players describe Monster Train 2 as mechanically rich and deeply replayable, frequently comparing it to Final Fantasy Tactics and The Binding of Isaac. The most common praise centres on the genetics system creating genuinely emergent stories — cats evolving cancer, cannibalising teammates, and becoming inbred fireballing archmages. The most common criticism is UI/UX roughness — ability descriptions are inconsistent and some quality-of-life features are missing at launch.
I thought my tank having the "automatically eat corpses and heal" trait was a slam dunk. Turns out it means all corpses — teammates included. He ate his entire squad then died of exhaustion. Wonderful little game.
250+ hours of testing — the game is incredible, and I didn't even see half of it. It's Final Fantasy Tactics mixed with Magic: The Gathering. I have been playtesting for about 2 years and I am thrilled to finally talk about how amazing this is.
Like all of Edmund's games, the aesthetics make it seem like it was made by a 14-year-old that huffs glue — until you realise it is so mechanically rich it must have been made by a truly motivated genius. And then you realise those two things are deeply intertwined.
I'm having enough fun but definitely haven't been recommending it to friends. At the core, the game is a QoL nightmare on every front. Basic things like "check which units are deployable" requires clicking things one by one.
I had a cat that got cancer and then became a mutant with almost all stats in negative. It survived the entire run. Now I have a genetic epidemic in my house. 10/10 game.
I hate this game. The graphics are ugly. It's about doing horrible things to cats. And the music is so dang catchy it got stuck in my head all day at work. Honestly, my favourite game of all time.
Should You Play It? Pros & Cons
✅ Reasons to Play
- ~90 Metascore — one of the highest-rated games of 2026
- Very Positive from 4,621 Steam reviews — rare for a paid roguelite
- Deep cat genetics and breeding create genuinely unique runs every time
- From Shiny Shoe — creator of The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy
- Strong retention: 80,000+ average players two weeks post-launch
- Recouped its 7-year development budget in 3 hours of sales
❌ Things to Consider
- Steep learning curve — the genetics system takes time to understand
- Roguelite structure means repeated restarts; not for everyone
- Single-player only — no co-op or multiplayer modes
- Dark humor and macabre themes may not suit all players
Should You Play Monster Train 2?
Monster Train 2 has very positive reviews on Steam, with 92% of 15,965 players recommending it — making it well-received by the Steam community on the platform. It attracts a massive player base of 104,136 concurrent players, showing strong player retention for a Roguelite title. Consistent updates and active developer engagement have maintained its strong reputation.
Monster Train 2 is mid-range priced at $26.99 on Steam, developed by Shiny Shoe. Fans of roguelike games who enjoy high replayability and procedural challenge will feel right at home. If you like games such as Hades, Dead Cells, or Slay the Spire, Monster Train 2 is worth adding to your wishlist.
Should You Play Monster Train 2?
Monster Train 2 has very positive reviews on Steam, with 92% of 15,965 players recommending it — making it well-received by the Steam community on the platform. It attracts a massive player base of 104,136 concurrent players, showing strong player retention for a game title. Consistent updates and active developer engagement have maintained its strong reputation.
Monster Train 2 is mid-range priced at $26.99 on Steam, developed by Shiny Shoe. Players who enjoy the game genre and want something currently trending on Steam will find Monster Train 2 worth checking out.
Common Questions About Monster Train 2
Is Monster Train 2 worth playing in 2026?
Yes — Monster Train 2 is one of the strongest releases of early 2026. It peaked at 104,136 concurrent players on Steam, earned Very Positive reviews from over 4,621 users, and recouped Shiny Shoe's entire 7-year development budget within 3 hours of launch. If you enjoy deep roguelites or creature-breeding mechanics, it's a must-play.
Is Monster Train 2 free to play?
No. Monster Train 2 is a paid game on Steam priced at $26.99 USD. Check the Steam store page for pricing in your region.
Is Monster Train 2 like The Binding of Isaac?
Both are roguelites by Shiny Shoe with dark humor and deep systems, but the gameplay is quite different. Monster Train 2 is turn-based and centres on cat breeding and genetics rather than twin-stick shooter combat. It's slower-paced and more strategic than Isaac, but equally — if not more — deep in its systems.
How many people are playing Monster Train 2?
Monster Train 2 reached a 24-hour peak of 104,136 concurrent players on Steam as of February 22, 2026 — with a 7-day average over 80,000. That puts it among the most-played paid PC games right now. It has Very Positive reviews from 4,621 Steam users, with strong player retention well into its second week.
Is it free to play?
No, Monster Train 2 costs $26.99 on Steam. It is not a free-to-play game, though Steam sales occasionally offer discounts.
How many people play Monster Train 2?
Monster Train 2 has reached 104,136 players at its 24-hour peak. Player counts vary with updates and sales — check SteamDB for live data.