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Early Access impressions: New characters shine, but it feels like we’ve done this before.
Game details
- Developer: Mega Crit
- Publisher: Mega Crit
- Platform: Windows (reviewed), Mac, Linux
- Release Date: March 5, 2026 (Early Access)
- Price: $25
- Links: Steam | Official Website
Do you remember the joyful satisfaction you felt when you really started to understand Slay the Spire?
If you’re reading this review of Slay the Spire 2, I have to assume you’ve put in dozens—if not hundreds—of hours into the original. After years of waiting, I was hoping the sequel could bring back that sense of discovery. But after a week with the Early Access build, it’s hard to shake the feeling that, despite all the changes, Slay the Spire 2 is just a little too similar to the well-worn original .
Welcome to the (Very Familiar) Party
The most promising additions are the two new characters. The Necrobinder has become an instant favorite, thanks to Osty, the ambulatory skeletal hand that fights alongside him. Osty acts as a secondary health bar, absorbing unblocked damage and getting resummoned after death . The Doom mechanic is also a highlight, letting you build up a death-mark on enemies that executes them when their HP drops low enough .
The Regent is more complicated, relying on a second resource called Stars. You can save them across turns to fuel devastating attacks. When it clicks, you can set up delightful single-turn flurries .
Don’t Get Comfortable
Learning these new characters brought back some joy—for about a run or two. After that, my thousands of hours of Spire experience kicked back in. I was quickly falling into ultra-powerful builds and cutting through Act 3 without breaking a sweat .
The sense of comfort is even stronger with the returning characters: The Ironclad, The Silent, and The Defect. They feel overwhelmingly familiar. There are some tweaks—like The Silent’s new “Sly” keyword—but not enough has changed to refresh the experience . The same goes for enemies and relics; many are carried over wholesale.
The Co-op Wildcard
The big new feature is 4-player online co-op. It’s chaotic and fun with friends, as you coordinate paths and share relics. However, without matchmaking, you’ll need your own team to enjoy it .
A New Engine, A New Look
Mega Crit migrated to the Godot engine after the Unity controversy, and the game runs smoothly with native Steam Deck support . The new art style features fluid Spine2D animations, making it feel more premium than the original .
Early Access Caveats
- The Watcher character isn’t in the build yet (confirmed for later)
- Some placeholder MS Paint-style art remains
- Balance is actively changing
Final Thoughts
Slay the Spire 2 builds on the essential skeleton of its predecessor, and there’s enough here to keep aficionados playing for hundreds more hours. But if you’ve reached the burnout point with the original, this sequel might not be new enough to rekindle the flame .
