SLAY THE SPIRE 2: THE SAME CLIMB, SHARPER IN EVERY DIRECTION
8.5 of 10 bananas. Mega Crit's sequel is still in Steam Early Access, and it plays like the original sharpened in every direction: new characters, new cards, co-op for up to four, and a big visual upgrade. Balance is still rough, and some call it DLC in sequel clothing.
By the Alpha. Early Access review. Updated Nov 13 2026.
Honest note: This is not a fresh hands-on playtest. I built this verdict from critic reviews, player reviews, the store listing, and the official game pages linked below. The game is still in Early Access and changes with every patch. If I put real hours in on stream, I will update the score and say so.
Platforms: PC via Steam, in Early Access since March 5 2026, with Windows, Mac, and Linux listed. Developed and published by Mega Crit. No console version is on sale, and I found no Amazon listing for it, so the button goes to Steam. At my Nov 13 2026 check Steam listed it at 19.99 dollars, 20 percent off its 24.99 dollar price.
Get Slay the Spire 2 on SteamStore check, Nov 13 2026: Steam listed it at 19.99 dollars, 20 percent off 24.99, in Early Access. This is not an affiliate link. Prices change, so look before you pay.
Sit with me a moment. I have lost more nights to the first Slay the Spire than to any monster in any jungle. One more run, I would say, and the sun would come up over the canopy. So when the sequel landed, I knew the only question: is it more of that, or something new?
What It Wants To Be
A roguelike deckbuilder. You pick a hero, climb a branching map of fights, shops, rests, and strange events, and build a deck one card at a time, adding relics and potions as you go. Die, and you start over with what you learned. The sequel brings back The Ironclad, The Silent, and The Defect, adds new heroes like the Regent and the Necrobinder, and adds online co-op for up to four players.
What Works
Players are loud about it: 92 percent of 72,604 English Steam reviews are positive. Polygon called it a deluxe replacement in every way, praised the new characters and the remastered look, and said it feels 90 percent complete. Gamersky gave the Early Access build 90 and said its framework already nearly surpasses the original. PC Gamer reports 574,638 players at once on Steam at launch, a record for the genre. Mega Crit keeps updating it: on Nov 12, GamesRadar reported its biggest update yet going into beta, with The Fool, the first new character of Early Access, and two new modes, Blitz and Dread.
What Breaks
Listen well. This is Early Access. Polygon and Gamersky both say balance is still rough, PC Gamer's editors, after hundreds of hours, call Act 1 too punishing and too boring and want more multiplayer content, and Polygon saw placeholder art in places. Some players call it a big DLC in sequel clothing, and Polygon admits it plays a lot like the original. Recent reviews are cooler, 77 percent positive in the last 30 days. Mega Crit's roadmap has no dates.
Who Should Play
Play it if you loved the first game, or if you want the best deckbuilder to share with friends in co-op. Wait for 1.0 if you hate balance patches changing your favorite builds, or if you want a finished game for your money.
STRENGTHS
- New heroes and cards
- Co-op for up to four
- Big visual upgrade
- Cheap at my check, 19.99 dollars
HONEST COSTS
- Still Early Access
- Rough balance, harsh Act 1
- Feels close to the original
- Roadmap has no dates
Store note: this is a Steam PC game link. The troop still needs an Amazon referral for this one, so this store button is the only link until a fair new Amazon listing is verified. This is not an affiliate link.