Disclosure: This review is based on public Steam and Mega Crit information, including the April 2026 Neowsletter. No review code was provided.
Quick verdict: Slay the Spire 2 is already worth playing if you loved the original or want a living Early Access deckbuilder. The better framing now is not “is it out?” but “are you comfortable with an evolving game whose roadmap still has major content ahead?”
What changed after launch?
Mega Crit’s April 17, 2026 Neowsletter is the key update. The studio says Slay the Spire 2 had been out for about a month and that most of its recent work had focused on fixing major issues, improving feedback systems, polishing visuals, and reworking or balancing content so cards and items feel interesting and viable.
That changes the tone of the review. This is not a preview of a game about to arrive. It is a post-launch Early Access check-in on a game that already has a large player base, live feedback loops, and a visible development path toward 1.0.
Score breakdown
| Category | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core deckbuilding loop | 9/10 | Still the main strength: tactical card choices, relic decisions, and run-to-run tension. |
| Early Access value | 8.5/10 | Strong for engaged players, with content and balance still moving. |
| Co-op potential | 8/10 | A meaningful new direction, especially for friend groups; no matchmaking at launch. |
| Roadmap confidence | 8.5/10 | April roadmap names Workshop support, more languages, Bestiary, experimental modes, alternate acts, a new character, and more cards/events/relics/potions. |
| Overall | 8.6/10 | Excellent Early Access foundation, not a final-release score. |
What is Slay the Spire 2?
Slay the Spire 2 is Mega Crit’s sequel to the genre-defining roguelike deckbuilder. You build a deck, fight strange enemies, choose risky paths, discover relics, and try to convert imperfect card rewards into a coherent run. The sequel is available through Steam Early Access on PC, macOS, and Linux, with Steam Deck compatibility confirmed in Mega Crit’s FAQ.
The roadmap now matters more than the launch date
The April Neowsletter lists several planned systems and content areas: Steam Workshop support, more languages, a Bestiary, experimental game modes, alternate Act 2, a new character, alternate Act 3, and more cards, events, relics, and potions. Further-out plans include ports to other platforms, Steam achievements and trading cards, and “True Victory” content.
That roadmap is good news, but it is also a caveat. If you want the final form of the game, you should wait. If you want to follow how a top-tier deckbuilder is shaped by feedback, now is a strong time to play.
Player activity is already huge
Mega Crit also shared that players had already embarked on about 145 million runs a little over a month after launch. That number matters because roguelike deckbuilders improve when the community stress-tests cards, encounters, events, and edge cases at scale.
How important is co-op?
Co-op remains the sequel’s clearest new hook. Mega Crit’s FAQ says Slay the Spire 2 has online co-op multiplayer through Steam friends, with no matchmaking system at launch. For a genre built around solo optimization, co-op turns deckbuilding into a shared discussion about tempo, role coverage, greed, and survival.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Strong core deckbuilding loop
- Already live and actively iterated after launch
- Clear April roadmap with major systems and content planned
- Online co-op gives the sequel a fresh reason to exist
- Steam Deck compatibility confirmed by Mega Crit
Cons
- Still Early Access, so balance and content will keep changing
- No co-op matchmaking at launch, according to the FAQ
- Some roadmap items have no firm dates
- Players wanting a final 1.0 package should wait
Should you buy it now?
Buy now if you are comfortable with Early Access and want to play a major deckbuilder while it is actively changing. Wait if you prefer final balance, more complete content, achievements, Workshop support, or console/mobile versions.
FAQ
Is Slay the Spire 2 still in Early Access?
Yes. Mega Crit’s FAQ describes the Early Access period as lasting until the game feels great, possibly in a one-to-two-year range based on the first game.
What did Mega Crit say after launch?
In the April 2026 Neowsletter, Mega Crit said the game had been out for about a month and that the team had been fixing issues, improving feedback systems, polishing visuals, and balancing content.
How active is Slay the Spire 2 after launch?
Mega Crit reported about 145 million runs a little over a month after launch.
Does Slay the Spire 2 have online co-op?
Yes. The official FAQ says it has online co-op multiplayer through Steam friends, with no matchmaking system at launch.