Hades II vs Slay the Spire 2
Hades II layers slower, weirder combat over a longer loop; Slay the Spire 2 sharpens its 30-minute deckbuilder for co-op.
Updated 12d 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 Aug 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 Aug 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% 122k reviews | 61% 194k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 95% 1k votes · vs 96% lifetime | 67% 6k votes · vs 61% lifetime · improving |
| Peak players | 9,038 Jul 2026 · ↑ 13% MoM | 124,547 Jul 2026 · ↓ 18% MoM |
| Launch peak | 8% of Sep 2025 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | 22% of Mar 2026 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 112,300 Sep 2025 | 574,638 Mar 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 11 days ago | 8 days ago |
| Patch cadence | 3 in last 90 days | 9 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 enjoyed 64+ heat runs in Hades and want deeper systems.
- You like Greek myth writing where NPC arcs reward long investment.
- You don't mind a slower, stance-based combat style.
Pick Slay the Spire 2 if
- You want a deckbuilder with 30-minute runs for quick sessions.
- You want co-op but still want asynchronous solo runs.
- You're new to deckbuilders and want a clear entry point.
Bottom line
Hades II suits players who invest in lengthy action runs; Slay the Spire 2 fits those wanting fast deckbuilding and co-op.