An indie deckbuilder sequel has dethroned one of gaming's biggest franchises on Steam less than a day after its early access launch. Slay the Spire 2 reached 414,218 peak concurrent players, surpassing FromSoftware's Elden Ring Nightreign which previously held the platform's roguelike crown at 313,593 players.
The sequel achieved nearly triple the lifetime peak of its predecessor within hours of release. Developer Mega Crit's follow-up to the cult classic card battler now stands as Steam's most successful roguelike launch ever recorded.
Slay the Spire 2's explosive debut represents a staggering growth trajectory for the franchise. The original game launched in 2017 with just 193 concurrent players, while the sequel attracted over a quarter million users within its first day. That translates to a 162,914 percent increase from the series' humble beginnings.
Despite being in early access with plans to remain there for one to two years, Slay the Spire 2 has already outperformed established titles like Hades 2 (112,947 peak), Don't Starve Together (115,925), and Megabonk (117,336). The game maintains its position as an early access title while delivering player counts that rival full releases.
Console and mobile versions will follow after what developers anticipate will be a successful PC early access period lasting approximately one year. The original Slay the Spire spent 18 months in early access before reaching its full potential across multiple platforms.
The sequel introduces two new playable characters alongside three returning favorites from the original roster. Five total characters are available at launch through procedurally generated runs where players build decks to conquer increasingly difficult challenges.
Four-player cooperative support expands gameplay options beyond solo adventures.
Slay the Spire established itself as a commercial success with over 1.5 million copies sold months after its official release. The sequel's immediate player count dominance suggests even stronger commercial performance ahead despite its unfinished state.
Mega Crit continues development on Slay the Spire 2 with regular updates planned throughout its early access phase. The game remains exclusive to PC via Steam Early Access where it launched earlier this week.
