Slay the Spire 2 forces some deckbuilders to delay, others to stand firm

In mid-February, Mega Crit announced a sequel to Slay the Spire, which will hit early access on Steam on March 5. Fans of the original are thrilled, and studios crafting Spire-like games have reason to feel anxious. Handmancers, a first-person roguelike deckbuilder built on a rock-paper-scissors design, had aimed for a release in the first week of March.

Developers 58Blades decided to push the launch back to an undetermined date, fearing the game would "get absolutely crushed." On X the studio summed up the problem bluntly: "Buying two deckbuilders in the same week? In this economy? Not happening." By contrast, ThunderRam Studios says it will not move Grimslair, a deckbuilder where you play as the reaper's son.

The studio had announced a March 6 release and posted that stance on X: "I ain't no bitch," it said, reiterating the March 6 date. "No delay. No 'TBA.' No hiding in the bushes until the hype train passes.

spire 2, mega crit, steam, early access, deckbuilder, roguelike, handmancers, 58blades, thunderram studios, grimslair