Slay the Spire 2 is now available in Early Access on Steam. The deckbuilding roguelike sequel arrived with a surprisingly complete build that includes five playable characters and a new co-op multiplayer mode.
Some buyers hit snags during the launch rush. Steam’s checkout system threw errors for multiple users attempting to purchase the game. The message claimed purchases hadn’t gone through, but several discovered their transactions actually completed despite the error. The issue resolved itself after Steam handled the traffic surge.
Players who own the original Slay the Spire can grab a discount through the “Slay the Spire Collection” bundle. Steam’s bundle pricing subtracts the value of games you already own, effectively giving returning players around 10% off the sequel.
The Early Access build is far from barebones. All acts are included along with the five characters, though some alternate versions of acts and additional cards will arrive during development. A startup message confirms the developers plan to add new cards and features while balancing the game based on player data. Some placeholder art exists in lore unlocks, but players report the core cards and enemies look finished.
Co-op represents the biggest departure from the original game’s single-player focus. The mode supports multiple players taking simultaneous turns. Cards enter a queue and resolve one by one, requiring teams to coordinate timing for effects like applying Vulnerable before launching attacks.
Players vote on map paths when they disagree on routes. If someone dies, they can respawn with one HP as long as one teammate survives. The mode includes multiplayer-exclusive cards designed specifically for team play. Rewards are mostly separate, though some artifact selections involve chance-based distribution among the group.
The sequel follows the same Early Access strategy as the original. Slay the Spire spent months in Early Access for balance tuning and iteration, a process many credit for the game’s lasting competitive depth. The developers appear to be treating the sequel’s EA period similarly.
The game runs smoothly on Steam Deck with a setting for full aspect ratio support. Players report hitting 90 FPS on the OLED model with readable text at 720p, though one user noted needing touch input for certain UI elements.
