Hades II vs Slay the Spire 2
Two acclaimed roguelikes, but Hades II is a slower, deeper lore dump while Slay the Spire 2 is a fast, co-op card fix — pick by pace.
Updated 27d ago
Supergiant's hardest swing in years — Hades II isn't a remix, it's a deeper, weirder game that still respects the original's perfect run-based loop.
Still the best in its genre — the new multiplayer co-op alone justifies the buy even in early access.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 7.
| Measure | Hades II | Slay the Spire 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Too close to call | ||
| Price now | $29.99 Microsoft Store | $24.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $20.99 | $24.99 |
| Cost / hour | $0.98/hr $29.99 · 31 h main story | $2.61/hr $24.99 · 10 h main story |
| Off its low | +43% low was Jun 2026 | At its low low was Mar 2026 |
| Main story | 31 h | 10 h |
| Health Hades II wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 96% 123k reviews | 61% 202k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 95% 963 votes · vs 96% lifetime | 73% 4k votes · vs 61% lifetime · improving |
| Peak players | 7,334 Aug 2026 · ↓ 19% MoM | 105,197 Aug 2026 · ↓ 16% MoM |
| Launch peak | 7% of Sep 2025 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | 18% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 112,300 Sep 2025 | 574,638 Mar 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 8 weeks ago | 6 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 1 in last 90 days | 5 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Hades II
The sheer variety of weapon builds, boon combinations, and engaging narrative drive players to return for hundreds of hours.
from our May 2026 verdict
Slay the Spire 2
The new four-player co-op hooks even skeptical friends, and regular updates keep the card pool evolving
Ascension 10 balancing draws consistent frustration — brutal enemy scaling and RNG-heavy bosses feel unfair to many
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Hades II if
- You want a 30+ hour narrative with deep mythology and character arcs
- You enjoyed Hades' loop and want a slower, more tactical combat rhythm
- You're fine with a longer onboarding before the game clicks
Pick Slay the Spire 2 if
- You prefer a quick, math-driven deckbuilder you can play in short bursts
- You want co-op play with friends over a solo campaign
- You're okay with early access balance changes and a 61% review score
Bottom line
Hades II is the pick for solo players who want a lengthy, polished campaign; Slay the Spire 2 suits co-op fans willing to ride out early access turbulence.