The roguelike deck-builder 'Slay the Spire 2' has become an instant sensation. Upon its launch, it soared straight to the number one spot for global top-selling games, smashing past 280,000 concurrent players. The game's Steam user rating is also currently sitting at 'Overwhelmingly Positive'.

Nine years after the original, the sequel has finally arrived. The developers have completely overhauled their foundation, ditching Unity for the Godot engine. While there was some concern that the beloved Defect might get the boot, the final pre-launch trailer confirmed the character’s return, leaning into the memes quite nicely. The numbers don't lie; the game hit a peak of 282,314 concurrent players on its very first day, set 1,000 years after the events of its predecessor.

While the core gameplay remains familiar, the graphical and systemic polish is palpable. Thanks to the engine swap, the artwork and animation details have seen a proper upgrade. There's a new branching route system, meaning that even if you enter the same act, the environments, enemies, and bosses will shift, keeping your runs unpredictable. We also have new characters like the Necrobinder and the Regent, alongside rebalanced card pools and starting relics. For the first time in the series, you can even bring up to four players along for online co-op.

Slay the Spire 2 has launched to an 'Overwhelmingly Positive' reception (4,692 reviews, 96% positive). Players are largely delighted by the improved visuals and the expanded content pool. The co-op mode has also proven to be a solid choice for those who prefer company. Furthermore, the Steam Deck compatibility and the loyalty discount for owners of the original have won over the crowd. That said, a few users have noted that it feels more like a massive DLC expansion than a completely transformative sequel.