Hades II vs Slay the Spire 2
One asks you to master a deep, slow-burn loop over 31 hours; the other gives you a quick co-op deckbuilder that may keep shifting under your feet.
Updated 15d ago
Supergiant's hardest swing in years — Hades II isn't a remix, it's a deeper, weirder game that still respects the original's perfect run-based loop.
Still the best in its genre — the new multiplayer co-op alone justifies the buy even in early access.
By the numbers
Prices checked Oct 8; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Oct 8.
| Measure | Hades II | Slay the Spire 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Too close to call | ||
| Price now | $29.99 Microsoft Store | $24.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $20.99 | $24.99 |
| Cost / hour | $0.98/hr $29.99 · 31 h main story | $2.61/hr $24.99 · 10 h main story |
| Off its low | +43% low was Jun 2026 | At its low low was Mar 2026 |
| Main story | 31 h | 10 h |
| Health Hades II wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 96% 124k reviews | 61% 204k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 93% 860 votes · vs 96% lifetime | 72% 4k votes · vs 61% lifetime · improving |
| Peak players | 6,301 Sep 2026 · ↓ 14% MoM | 101,134 Sep 2026 · ↓ 4% MoM |
| Launch peak | 6% of Sep 2025 launch peak · as of Sep 2026 | 18% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Sep 2026 |
| All-time peak | 112,300 Sep 2025 | 574,638 Mar 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 3 months ago | 8 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 1 in last 90 days | 4 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Hades II
The sheer variety of weapon builds, boon combinations, and engaging narrative drive players to return for hundreds of hours.
from our May 2026 verdict
Slay the Spire 2
The new four-player co-op hooks even skeptical friends, and regular updates keep the card pool evolving
Ascension 10 balancing draws consistent frustration — brutal enemy scaling and RNG-heavy bosses feel unfair to many
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Hades II if
- You put 64+ heat runs into Hades and want more systems, not a remix.
- You have 31 hours for a main story and enjoy resource gathering between fights.
- You prefer a slower, stance-based combat rhythm over blink-and-strike dodging.
Pick Slay the Spire 2 if
- You want co-op deck-building with friends more than solo runs.
- You have only a weekend and want a 10-hour main story.
- You enjoy frequent balance patches and early-access iteration.
Bottom line
Pick Hades II if you want a polished, 31-hour roguelike with a high 96% review score; pick Slay the Spire 2 only if co-op deckbuilding outweighs its 61% positive reviews and 10-hour story.