Developer Mega Crit has published a new animated trailer, revealing that the beloved roguelike deckbuilder debuts in Steam Early Access in just two weeks, on March 5, 2026. The trailer confirms 4-player co-op mode with dedicated team-based cards and synergies.
Animated Trailer Sets a Darker Tone
The sequel reappeared with a two-and-a-half-minute trailer. Alongside the promise of new features, the footage comes mixed with atmospheric animation, setting the tone for the dark fantasy world. As the teaser’s hero falls in battle, we see others come to their aid, revealing that players won’t have to push through the Spire alone.
Four-Player Co-Op Changes the Core Gameplay
Gameplay featured in the footage highlights combat for up to four players, with developer Mega Crit confirming in a blog post that the mode will come with its own special cards and synergies.
This transforms the traditional risk-reward structure, as players will now have to consider additional variables, making it more about teamwork.
Co-op could introduce entirely new deck archetypes, including support-focused builds and synergy-driven team compositions.
Early Access Content Confirmed
Trailer confirms many of the changes coming to the game:
- New playable characters
- New cards
- New relics, potions and abilities
- Additional events
- Alternate acts
- Teaser of an unrevealed character
It even highlights the ability to draw on the map – a feature that was long-awaited.
A Short Delay – and a Bigger Vision
Originally planned for late 2025, the Early Access release was pushed to March 2026. The new reveal positions that delay as relatively minor – especially given the scale of the project.
As described on the Steam page:
“For 1,000 years, the Spire lay dormant, its secrets buried and its horrors forgotten. Now, it has reopened, hungrier and more dangerous than ever…”
The sequel takes place a century after the first game, suggesting narrative escalation and change in the environment known from the first title.
How Co-Op Could Redefine Strategy
The original Slay the Spire thrived on optimized gameplay – long-term synergy planning, calculating risk and perfecting the build.
Multiplayer shifts the focus towards teamwork, inter-player synergies could potentially outweigh the influence of the solo optimization.
What’s more, well-implemented multiplayer always extends the lifespan of a title, so we might be looking at the game strongly supported by the community.
Cooperative runs may also boost the game’s visibility potential on streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
From Deckbuilding Pioneer to Multiplayer Evolution
When it launched in 2019, the original Slay the Spire helped define the roguelike deckbuilder genre, becoming one of the most influential indie titles and opening the market for a wide variety of inspired titles. The game achieved critical acclaim and long-term player engagement thanks to its deep replayability.
Now, Mega Crit aims to build on the previous installment, making it bigger, better and more community-driven.
Community Discussion
Fans are already debating co-op, discussing the difficulty of balancing the game, and whether the solo will remain the “pure” experience. The community reception has been very optimistic so far, with fans impatiently awaiting release.
You can wishlist the game now on Steam.
Slay the Spire
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, Indie, Card & Board Game