Slay the Spire 2 storms Steam with 566K players in one day

Slay the Spire 2 has launched in Early Access to widespread acclaim. The roguelike deckbuilder, priced at around €23, is already one of Steam's most-played games, attracting nearly 566,000 concurrent players in its first day. Players have left nearly 19,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews since release.

The sequel expands on the original with major new features. For the first time, the game includes a co-op mode for up to four players, complete with multiplayer-specific cards and team synergies. Other additions include card enchantments that modify abilities, alternate act versions (such as Act 1A with plant enemies and Act 1B with mutant sea creatures), and a new 'ancients' blessing system replacing the original Neo's blessing mechanic.

Players can also rely on companion mechanics for support during runs and a new resource called 'stars,' used by the Regent character alongside traditional energy. The game retains the core experience of conquering the procedurally generated Spire with five unique characters, using cards, relics, and potions in turn-based combat. The developers plan to spend one to two years in Early Access, refining gameplay based on feedback and testing new ideas. Despite its depth, the game runs smoothly on almost any machine, requiring just two CPU cores and 4GB of RAM. It is also officially verified for the Steam Deck.

Slay the Spire 2 is currently exclusive to Early Access but has already made a strong impact. Its mix of cooperative play, new mechanics, and low system requirements has drawn a massive player base. The team behind it will continue polishing the game before its full release.