Slay the Spire 2 has emerged as the runaway hit of the week on Steam, dwarfing every other new release — including Bungie’s highly anticipated Marathon — with a staggering peak of over 350,000 concurrent players. The early access launch of MegaCrit’s roguelike deckbuilder sequel has not only dominated the platform’s top sellers chart but also claimed the third-highest spot on Steam’s concurrent players list, trailing only perennial heavyweights PUBG, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2.
The indie sequel’s massive debut made waves beyond just the player charts. A post from MegaCrit’s official account congratulating the Marathon team on their launch — while playfully describing Slay the Spire 2 as a “small indie passion project” — quickly went viral, racking up over half a million views. Many interpreted the message as a pointed jab at Bungie’s struggling extraction shooter, which peaked at roughly 88,000 concurrent players on launch day, as reported by IGN.
MegaCrit co-founder Casey Yano was quick to walk things back, explaining on social media that the post came across harsher than intended. “To be fair I didn’t think we’d actually pass Marathon in concurrent users,” Yano admitted. The studio’s official account echoed the sentiment, clarifying that the remark was meant as self-deprecating sarcasm rather than shade. Bungie community manager Cozmo appeared to take it in stride, replying with his own congratulations to the Slay the Spire team.
The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to genre records. According to GameSpot, Slay the Spire 2 has shattered the all-time Steam concurrent peaks of beloved titles like Hades 2, Balatro, Vampire Survivors, and Mewgenics, claiming the crown for the highest peak concurrents of any deckbuilder on Valve’s platform. Its performance places it among the top roguelikes in Steam history, rivaling even Elden Ring Nightreign in that broader category.
The sequel launched into a crowded field that also included Pokemon Pokopia, Resident Evil Requiem, and Arc Raiders, yet it outpaced them all on PC. A new four-player cooperative mode is believed to be a significant factor driving the influx of players, broadening the appeal of a franchise already celebrated for its addictive blend of deckbuilding and dungeon crawling. MegaCrit has indicated that the early access period will last one to two years before a full release.
Slay the Spire 2’s explosive arrival underscores a growing trend: roguelikes and indie titles can compete with — and even dominate — big-budget AAA launches. While Marathon still has time to build its audience heading into its first weekend, MegaCrit’s surprise triumph is a powerful reminder that compelling gameplay and a passionate community can outweigh blockbuster marketing budgets.