"More Spire, Sharper Spire, Still Unfinished Spire"
About
Slay the Spire 2 is a roguelike deckbuilding game where you ascend a procedurally generated spire by engaging in turn-based card battles against progressively challenging enemies. Each run, you build a deck from scratch by selecting cards and relics after combat encounters, with the goal of reaching the top of the spire before your health is depleted. Combat relies on playing cards to deal damage, block incoming attacks, and trigger special effects, with each decision shaping your deck's strategy and survivability for future fights.
Verdict
Mega Crit rebuilt the best deckbuilder ever made and made it heavier, prettier and four-player co-op without breaking the one-more-run spell.
You'll like it if …
- +you relish turning a single turn into a multi-minute math puzzle
- +you want a deckbuilder you can plan around with up to three friends
- +the instant restart after a death keeps pulling you back
You'll dislike it if …
- −you want a settled, finished balance rather than weekly shifting patches
- −you came looking for story over pure card combat
Breakdown
Gameplay
- +The Regent turns single turns into multi-minute math problems, and it's glorious
- +Co-op genuinely changes the game, with cards designed specifically for it
- +The negative-space between dying and starting another run is measured in seconds, sustaining the one-more-run loop
- −Act 1 currently spikes harder than Act 3, inverting the original's curve
- −Some co-op cards trivialize fights, breaking intended challenge
Depth
- +Enchantment system and meatier boon encounters give old skip-fodder real weight
- +New mechanics add real decisions rather than noise to the deckbuilding skeleton
- +Around twenty dollars for something players are sinking hundreds of hours into before 1.0
- −Balance is in flux with patches shifting weekly
- −Several elites and bosses need tuning
Atmosphere
- +Growing lore compendium and stronger cast of characters
- −This was never a narrative game and isn't pretending to be one
Presentation
- +The visual jump is the most immediately obvious upgrade, with cleaner and more expressive animations and card art
- +A solid soundtrack that does its job without demanding attention, in line with the original's understated audio identity
Polish
- +Remarkably stable for a first early-access build, with smooth multiplayer and few bugs
90 / 100
Atlas
score
score
Steam
94.1%
positive
Similar games
