Slay the Spire 2 vs Star Wars Zero Company
One is a proven co-op roguelike with a low buy-in; the other is a story-rich tactics game that asks you to tolerate its rough edges.
Updated 22d ago
Still the best in its genre — the new multiplayer co-op alone justifies the buy even in early access.
The best Star Wars tactics game since the IP went AAA — buy, but wait a patch for the save corruption.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 21; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 21.
| Measure | Slay the Spire 2 | Star Wars Zero Company |
|---|---|---|
| Value Slay the Spire 2 wins on value | ||
| Price now | $24.99 Steam | $49.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $24.99 | $49.99 |
| Cost / hour | $2.61/hr $24.99 · 10 h main story | — |
| Off its low | At its low low was Mar 2026 | At its low low was Jun 2026 |
| Main story | 10 h | — |
| Health Star Wars Zero Company wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 61% 202k reviews | 83% 21k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 73% 4k votes · vs 61% lifetime · improving | 82% 21k votes · vs 83% lifetime |
| Peak players | 105,197 Aug 2026 · ↓ 16% MoM | — Not yet charted |
| Launch peak | 18% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 574,638 Mar 2026 | — |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 6 weeks ago | 13 days ago |
| Patch cadence | 5 in last 90 days | 1 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Platinum |
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
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
Star Wars Zero Company
Unit synergy built around support and intra-squad combos is what 50-hour fans keep replaying, not raw firepower.
Save-file loss on crashes, UE5 smear, and an in-game economy long-haul reviewers call slack for a $50 buy.
from our September 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Slay the Spire 2 if
- You want a cheaper co-op game to play with friends right now
- You loved the original Slay the Spire and want an evolved card pool
- You enjoy iterative balance changes and active developer feedback
Pick Star Wars Zero Company if
- You crave XCOM-style tactical depth with a strong Star Wars story
- You can tolerate performance jank and slow, deliberate combat
- You're willing to pay more for a narrative-driven solo campaign
Bottom line
Pick Slay the Spire 2 for budget co-op fun, but if you want a gripping Star Wars tactics story and can wait for patches, Zero Company still wins on narrative weight.