There have been many challengers to Slay the Spire’s throne, and my favourite amongst them has simply made a return. Monster Prepare 2 is the successor to a beloved roguelike that earned itself an ‘overwhelmingly constructive’ lifetime Steam score from gamers. Placing apart the extra divergent deckbuilders akin to Balatro, the primary Monster Prepare stays my most-loved entry within the style. It isn’t definitively higher than Slay the Spire, however I prefer it extra; its pacing, fashion, and extra focused counterplay utterly received my coronary heart. Now, it is again, and the sequel is off to an exceptional begin, already outpacing its predecessor on Steam regardless of a simultaneous PC Recreation Cross launch.
Emboldened by their profitable protection, your forces of Hell take their struggle on the offensive in direction of Heaven, solely to search out that highly effective Titans have emerged to take management of the area. Confronted with this widespread enemy, the angels and demons be part of forces for the roguelike sequel. Numerous the basics of Monster Prepare 2 are the identical – every stage sees you taking part in playing cards to put out items throughout three flooring of your carriage, finally defending the Pyre Coronary heart that sits on the prime.
For the sequel, there are 5 brand-new clans to select from, increasing the technique at your disposal. As earlier than, you may select a mixture of two factions to enter battle, selecting one in every of two champions out of your main roster (every of whom has branching upgrades that dramatically change their results). Moreover, you may change your Pyre Coronary heart to customise your construct additional.
On prime of the primary development, Monster Prepare 2 additionally gives an countless mode that lets you see how lengthy you may survive towards ever extra harmful opponents. There are additionally Dimensional Challenges, which characteristic handcrafted checks together with particular mutators, with cosmetics out there for his or her completion, and a Day by day Problem mode with a leaderboard to see the way you stack up towards your pals and different gamers.
Up to now, the response to Monster Prepare 2 has been distinctive. Its Metacritic score sits at an 89 common, whereas Steam consumer evaluations place it within the ‘overwhelmingly constructive’ tier with 95% of respondents recommending it. It is already managed to surpass the primary recreation’s lifetime participant rely peak, reaching a excessive of 17,914 energetic customers on Saturday Could 24 (in comparison with the unique’s file of 14,073). An much more spectacular feat when you think about it is out there without spending a dime to subscribers of Microsoft’s PC Recreation Cross service.
Monster Prepare 2 is out now, priced at $24.99 / £20.99. You can too play it as a part of the PC Recreation Cross library should you’re an energetic subscriber. Discover it on Steam right here should you’re able to tackle the Titans.
For extra scrumptious deckbuilding choices, we have dealt out one of the best card video games on PC proper now. Or tickle your tactical tastebuds with our choose of one of the best technique video games in 2025.
You possibly can comply with us on Google Information for each day PC video games information, evaluations, and guides. We have additionally received a vibrant neighborhood Discord server, the place you may chat about this story with members of the group and fellow readers.