Team Up for an Enhanced Experience in Slay the Spire II
Slay the Spire II hit early access last week, and it’s shaping up to be a fantastic follow-up to one of the greatest roguelikes ever made. It retains much of what made the original so beloved, similar to how Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong build on their predecessors. However, it introduces online co-op for up to four players. While this multiplayer aspect slightly alters the familiar gameplay dynamics, it offers a fresh way to tackle the challenging ascent of the spire.
Each run in Slay the Spire II mirrors the original: you traverse three distinct acts on a winding map, gradually building your deck and collecting various relics that grant perks, all while battling enemies, elites, and bosses. The game keeps the methodical, turn-based mechanics, allowing you to take your time during your turn to strategize. You can see your enemies’ planned moves, adding layers of strategy as you decide how much damage to inflict and what defenses to set up. The multiplayer twist allows everyone to play simultaneously during turns, creating new strategic possibilities but also necessitating good communication to ensure effective card usage.
My multiplayer partner was my wife, a huge Slay the Spire enthusiast, and during our second run, we scored an exhilarating victory. I chose the new Necrobinder character, a necromancer, while she played as the returning Silent, who excels at creating decks centered around shiv flurries. Throughout our run, we unintentionally developed a strategy where I focused on applying the Vulnerable status to enemies, setting the stage for my wife to unleash a barrage of shivs.
Co-op in Slay the Spire II goes beyond just combat. At campfire rest stops, you can choose to heal a teammate, which is a lifesaver against some of the tougher new enemies. You also get to vote on the next path to take on the map, and everyone can draw on it, which I learned the hard way after noticing my wife’s doodles while I spent too long in the shop.
Our winning run took about an hour and a half, slower than my usual pace in the first game due to the need for constant communication. However, defeating the Act 3 boss together felt even more rewarding than most of my solo victories. My only gripe is that co-op requires each player to have their own copy of the game online, meaning we had to play on separate devices despite sitting right next to each other on the couch.
These minor inconveniences aside, the multiplayer feature is such a delightful addition to Slay the Spire that I’m eager for our next run and curious about the challenges — and doodles — that await us.
