Slay the Spire 2: a critical look at the reviews

Slay the Spire 2, developed by Mega Crit Games, launched on Steam on 5 March 2026. The sequel to the beloved original has drawn the attention of critics and players alike, with a mix of praise and controversy surrounding its mechanics and design choices. With thousands of hours invested by fans, it’s worth taking a closer look at the community feedback.

Successful launch

At launch on 5 March 2026, Slay the Spire 2 quickly received positive reactions. Players said the game showed real promise and included improvements over the original. The game reached a 94 percent 'Very Positive' rating when reviews were filtered by language, showing that many players are enjoying it.

Controversial reviews

While the game is broadly praised, it has also sparked backlash. With review filtering enabled, the score reportedly dropped sharply to 56 percent 'Mixed'. That decline is partly attributed to the game being 'review-bombed' three times.

Reasons for review bombing

• The first wave of review bombing happened when Doormaker, a major final boss, was buffed, which discouraged many players.

• The second wave of negative reviews came from players who felt Doormaker had not been nerfed enough.

• The third wave stemmed from frustration over Anita Sarkeesian being listed in the credits, which led to a number of inappropriate reactions.

Gameplay and mechanics

According to players who have put hundreds of hours into Slay the Spire 2, the gameplay is challenging and offers plenty of ways to adapt your strategy. Reactions range from players who find the game brutally difficult to others who appreciate the challenge and say a guide is helpful for getting past certain obstacles.

With an impressive 267 hours of playtime shown by dedicated players, Slay the Spire 2 remains a topic of both praise and debate within the gaming community. The mix of positive and negative feedback is likely to shape future updates and expansions.