Slay the Spire 2: Biggest Steam Launch of 2026, 557K Concurrent Players, and Why It Crushed Marathon
Slay the Spire 2 is officially out and it is breaking the internet. Mega Crit's long-awaited roguelike deckbuilder sequel launched into Steam Early Access on March 5, 2026, and has since become the single biggest game launch on Steam this year — and it is not particularly close.
Slay the Spire 2 Steam Charts — Half a Million Players and Counting
The numbers are staggering for a $24.99 indie Early Access title.
Slay the Spire 2 peaked at 557,054 concurrent players on Steam on March 8, 2026, within its launch week.
That figure makes it the biggest Steam launch of 2026 so far, handily eclipsing other major releases. The game currently sits at the top of Steam's best sellers chart, outperforming Resident Evil Requiem, Marathon, and Counter-Strike 2. Some of the biggest Steam launches of the year before it include Resident Evil Requiem at 344,214, Mewgenics at 115,428, and Marathon at 88,337.
The game holds a Steambase Player Score of 97 out of 100, based on over 15,000 reviews — earning an Overwhelmingly Positive rating.
Slay the Spire 2 vs. Marathon on Steam Charts — It Was Not Close
Both Slay the Spire 2 and Bungie's Marathon launched on the same day, March 5. Marathon peaked at 86,718 concurrent players on Steam. Slay the Spire 2 reached more than double that figure within hours of going live, and Mega Crit playfully threw shade at Bungie on launch day, writing on social media: "Congratulations to the Marathon team on their launch! Don't let small indie passion projects like this pass you by."
The trend lines tell the fuller story. Slay the Spire 2 grew every single day after launch, nearly doubling its peak from day one by the following morning. Marathon, by contrast, dropped from 88,337 peak players on launch to 32,042 active players the very next day.
What Is Slay the Spire 2? New Features Explained
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, devouring all who dare to ascend. The sequel features new and returning characters, all-new environments, formidable new foes, and fragments of the Spire's past to uncover across runs.
At Early Access launch, the game includes five playable characters: returning favorites Ironclad, Silent, and Defect, plus two brand-new additions in the Necrobinder and the Regent. Each character brings unique cards, abilities, and playstyle. New mechanics introduced in the sequel include Doom, Stars, Forge, Enchantments, Quests, and Afflictions.
The biggest addition is four-player online co-op mode, featuring multiplayer-specific cards and team synergies — a first for the franchise. The game also introduces an alternate acts system, splitting each act into two distinct zones with different content.
Slay the Spire 2 Price and Release Time
Slay the Spire 2 launched at 12 p.m. ET on March 5, 2026. It is priced at $24.99 during Early Access and is available on PC via Steam for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The game is confirmed Steam Deck Ready on day one. Console players on PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch will have to wait for the full 1.0 release, currently estimated for 2027.
How Long Will Slay the Spire 2 Stay in Early Access?
The original Slay the Spire launched at a similar price point during its own Early Access run and spent roughly one and a half years before its full 1.0 release. Mega Crit expects Slay the Spire 2 to follow a similar timeline, with the full release most likely arriving in 2027.
Mega Crit has already issued two post-launch hotfixes addressing softlocks and multiplayer bugs reported by the community. Players can submit in-game feedback directly by pressing F2 or through the settings menu.
