TheRetroArcade
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Posts: 1,989
Joined: Feb 2026
Joined: Feb 2026
The Early Access release is a little too nostalgic.
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Slay the Spire 2 has some big shoes to fill. The original was a truly foundational game, setting so much of the template of the modern roguelike and spawning an army of deckbuilder imitators in its wake. The question is, can its long-awaited sequel live up to that legacy? Hmm. You know what, it might be living up to it a little too much.
Loading up the Early Access release for the first time, the wave of nostalgia is potent. Though the first game has never really left my hard drive for any length of time, it's been years now since I last played it regularly. Seeing the Ironclad, the Silent, and the Defect again is like hanging out with old friends.
But during my first run, that nostalgia starts to give way to a feeling more like déjà vu. The three returning characters (of five total) begin play with the same starting decks and relics as they ever did, with their card pools largely familiar as well. Progressing across a familiar map, I find myself picking up more and more cards I recognise, supplemented by returning relics and potions.
Before I know it, I've beaten Slay the Spire 2 on my first run… using a deck and build pretty much exactly like one I used to beat the first game eight years ago.
Then I did it again, and again, and again, dredging all the old archetypes out of my brain and finding them hardly touched by time. Shiv Silent, Powers Defect, Self-Damage Ironclad, and more. A new card here, a new relic there, and new bosses to beat them with, but they're just little riffs on strategies practically etched into my soul by hundreds of hours in the first game.
Don't get me wrong, I'm having fun—the core formula of Slay the Spire remains great, a whip-smart deckbuilder that demands both precision play and the will to create combos so abominable they practically break the game. There's a reason it's still number 38 in our list of the Top 100 PC games we recommend readers play today.
But a lot has happened in the time since Slay the Spire first launched back in 2017. The genre has rapidly evolved and changed. Hades reimagined how storytelling could be woven into a roguelike. Balatro found a totally fresh take on the quest for ever-growing numbers. Just this year, Mewgenics embraced emergent storytelling and systems-driven chaos to a whole new degree.
Keep up to date with the most import...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
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Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Slay the Spire 2 has some big shoes to fill. The original was a truly foundational game, setting so much of the template of the modern roguelike and spawning an army of deckbuilder imitators in its wake. The question is, can its long-awaited sequel live up to that legacy? Hmm. You know what, it might be living up to it a little too much.
Loading up the Early Access release for the first time, the wave of nostalgia is potent. Though the first game has never really left my hard drive for any length of time, it's been years now since I last played it regularly. Seeing the Ironclad, the Silent, and the Defect again is like hanging out with old friends.
But during my first run, that nostalgia starts to give way to a feeling more like déjà vu. The three returning characters (of five total) begin play with the same starting decks and relics as they ever did, with their card pools largely familiar as well. Progressing across a familiar map, I find myself picking up more and more cards I recognise, supplemented by returning relics and potions.
Before I know it, I've beaten Slay the Spire 2 on my first run… using a deck and build pretty much exactly like one I used to beat the first game eight years ago.
Then I did it again, and again, and again, dredging all the old archetypes out of my brain and finding them hardly touched by time. Shiv Silent, Powers Defect, Self-Damage Ironclad, and more. A new card here, a new relic there, and new bosses to beat them with, but they're just little riffs on strategies practically etched into my soul by hundreds of hours in the first game.
Don't get me wrong, I'm having fun—the core formula of Slay the Spire remains great, a whip-smart deckbuilder that demands both precision play and the will to create combos so abominable they practically break the game. There's a reason it's still number 38 in our list of the Top 100 PC games we recommend readers play today.
But a lot has happened in the time since Slay the Spire first launched back in 2017. The genre has rapidly evolved and changed. Hades reimagined how storytelling could be woven into a roguelike. Balatro found a totally fresh take on the quest for ever-growing numbers. Just this year, Mewgenics embraced emergent storytelling and systems-driven chaos to a whole new degree.
Keep up to date with the most import...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
What do you think about this?