Slay the Spire 2

A strategy card roguelite where you draft cards and relics each run, facing unique events and bosses in a 30-minute spire climb, now with co-op.

Last reviewed: May 4, 2026
Released Mar 2026 Roguelike

Still the best deckbuilder roguelite — Mega Crit's sequel deepens the relics and events without breaking the original's perfect 30-min run-shape, on co-op now too.

For you if

  • You sunk 200+ hours into Slay the Spire 1 and want fresh relic combos
  • You're new to deckbuilders and want a 30-min-per-run entry point
  • You want a co-op deckbuilder that doesn't break asynchronous solo runs

Not for you if

  • You hate roguelite repetition and want a one-and-done deckbuilder narrative
  • You bounce off RNG-driven game design and want set-piece encounters
  • You don't have a PC or Steam Deck — Slay 2 is PC-only at launch
What players love

New synergies and fresh gameplay loops keep 100-hour fans coming back, feeling both familiar and new.

What frustrates them

The Doormaker boss fight as of May 2026 is a major friction point, considered unbalanced and unfun.

See the reviews behind this →

Media

What critics say

  1. 10/10PCGamesN
    By honing in on the elements that made the first game so addictive, Mega Crit has elevated the deck-building experience.
    Christian Vaz Read review →
  2. 95/100Nerdelandslaget
    Clear your calendar and play Slay The Spire 2 immediately. There's a reason the original Slay The Spire is our benchmark for roguelite deckbuilders.
    Andreas Solberg HedemannMar 2026 Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly
How does Slay the Spire 2 differ from the first game?

Mega Crit kept the 30-min-per-run shape and the same Act-3 boss spike, but added new relics, fresh card synergies, and full asynchronous co-op (your friend draws cards in parallel, not turn-based shared). Critics describe it as deepening rather than rewriting the formula. Pick it up if you want fresh relics on the same proven engine.

Source: PCGamesN review

How long is a typical Slay the Spire 2 run?

Roughly 30-45 minutes for a successful run; 15-20 minutes for an early death. The Act-3 final boss spike still gates most early players. With 100+ hours expected for full ascension and character mastery, the per-hour cost is favorable at $25.

Source: PCGamesN review

Should new players start with Slay the Spire 1 or 2?

Either works — no narrative continuity. Slay the Spire 1 is cheaper ($15-25) and the established benchmark of the genre; Slay the Spire 2 has fresher mechanics and co-op. Most reviewers recommend the original first if you've never deckbuilt, or jump to 2 if you want the latest content. PCGamesN explicitly calls the sequel an elevation of the first.

Source: PCGamesN review

Is Slay the Spire 2 too RNG-dependent?

RNG-driven by design — every run shuffles relic offers and card pools. Mega Crit balances this with deck-shaping mechanics (transform, upgrade, remove cards) so skilled players consistently progress. If you bounce off Hearthstone's draw-luck swings, Spire 2's curated card pools will feel less arbitrary in practice.

Source: PCGamesN review

Does Slay the Spire 2 have co-op?

Yes — it shipped with 1.0. Two players draw separate decks and run parallel paths through the same Act, each making independent card choices but sharing some boss encounters. The mode is async-friendly: you can't directly share cards. Nerdelandslaget specifically calls out the co-op alongside solo as worth the time.

Source: Nerdelandslaget review

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