After 894 hours in Slay the Spire 2, these are our 12 strongest opinions
Slay the Spire 2 has established itself as the most popular deckbuilding game ever released, setting new records for the genre immediately upon launch. The game attracted 574,638 concurrent players at release—a figure that shatters the previous peak for deckbuilders on Steam—and maintains the highest average player count for any card game on the platform, significantly outpacing Magic: The Gathering Arena, which averages roughly one-seventh of the players.
The sequel represents a landmark moment for deckbuilders as a genre, marking the first time a game in this niche category has achieved mainstream popularity at scale. As one of 2026’s most successful new releases, Slay the Spire 2 has dominated player attention throughout its early access period and beyond.
PC Gamer assembled a panel of editors to evaluate the game’s design philosophy, card balance, standout features, and potential shortcomings following months of extensive playtime during early access. The editorial team brings diverse perspectives shaped by hundreds of hours invested—with experience ranging from rapid speedruns to methodical strategic approaches—offering informed analysis of what makes Slay the Spire 2 successful and where it could improve.