Slay the Spire 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the original hit game released in 2019, is set to be launched next year via Steam Early Access. The announcement was made during the Triple-i Initiative Showcase, a livestreamed event that showcased various indie video game projects. The original Slay the Spire has become one of the most influential computer games of the last decade, combining collectible deck-building card games with a “roguelike” dungeon crawler gameplay in a dark fantasy world. Players must strategically play cards in battle to defeat enemies and progress through a randomized dungeon.
Originally released for PCs in 2017, Slay the Spire spent two years in Early Access on Steam before its full release in January 2019. Despite a slow start, the game sold over 1.5 million copies by March of the same year. Co-creator Casey Yano, a former Amazon employee, and Anthony Giovannetti, his co-founder at Mega Crit who previously worked at Cequint and Ernie’s Games, both University of Washington-Bothell graduates, left their jobs in 2015 to start working on the project that became Slay the Spire. The game has since been ported to mobile devices and all major consoles, further solidifying its success.
CCG-based games have become a popular sub-genre in the indie-game scene following the success of Slay the Spire, with releases like Deck of Ashes, Monster Train, Griftlands, Throne of Bone, Rogue Lords, and Roguebook. With the announcement of Slay the Spire 2, Mega Crit has the opportunity to continue pushing the envelope and defining the sub-genre they helped to popularize. While no specific details about the sequel have been revealed yet, the studio promises more information will be shared throughout the year.
Other Pacific Northwest game news from the Triple-i Initiative Showcase included updates on Red Hook Games’ Darkest Dungeon 2, which will receive a free content update introducing a new standalone campaign mode called Kingdoms. Vancouver, B.C.-based Thorium Entertainment released UnderMine in 2019 and is now working on UnderMine 2, which will feature 2-player co-op in its dungeon-delving roguelike gameplay. Bellevue, Wash.-based tinyBuild showcased a new trailer for Streets of Rogue 2, an open-world game with a satirical take on overthrowing a corrupt mayor, and promoted Broken Roads, an RPG set in post-apocalyptic Australia that was released for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms.
Overall, Slay the Spire 2 is a highly anticipated sequel to a game that redefined the genre with its innovative gameplay mechanics. The success of the original game has paved the way for a resurgence of CCG-based indie games, with Slay the Spire acting as a trailblazer in the sub-genre. Mega Crit’s announcement of the sequel has generated excitement among fans of the original game, and with more information expected to be released over the coming year, anticipation for Slay the Spire 2 is only set to grow. With other indie game developers in the Pacific Northwest also showcasing their projects at the Triple-i Initiative Showcase, the region continues to be a hub of creativity and innovation in the gaming industry.
