Slay the Spire
GENRE-DEFINING ROGUELIKE DECKBUILDER VIDEO GAME (2019) by MEGACRIT — 5M+ copies sold; established 'ROGUELIKE DECKBUILDER' as major indie genre. Signature: CLIMB the SPIRE (3 acts + bonus 4th) via CARD-BASED TURN-BASED combat; each fight adds cards to your deck (which you can DECLINE or upgrade at REST SITES); RELICS provide permanent buffs. 4 UNIQUE CHARACTERS: IRONCLAD (strength + block), SILENT (poison + shivs), DEFECT (orbs), WATCHER (stances + mantra). ASCENSION difficulty levels (0-20, adding modifier per level). RUN-BASED — permadeath but PERMANENT unlocks. Slay the Spire 2 announced 2024.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–1
Duration
~90 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
Early access 2017; full release Jan 23, 2019 by MegaCrit; 5M+ copies sold; StS 2 announced 2024
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Climb the SPIRE — beat all 3 acts (4 with True End) via card-combat.
Rules
Basic rules
Pick a CHARACTER (Ironclad, Silent, Defect, Watcher); each has UNIQUE STARTING DECK + card pool
Signature 4 characters.
PROGRESS through map with BRANCHING NODES: monster combat, elite, event, rest, shop, boss
Signature branching map.
COMBAT: play cards from hand each turn, using ENERGY (3/turn base)
Signature card+energy combat.
Cards deal DAMAGE, BLOCK, apply DEBUFFS + BUFFS; enemies have TELEGRAPHED intents
Signature intent-based combat.
AFTER FIGHTS: choose 1 of 3 CARD REWARDS (or SKIP); shops offer cards + relics + potions
Signature card reward + skip choice.
RELICS provide permanent RUN-LONG buffs (some game-changing)
Signature relic upgrades.
REST SITES: heal or upgrade a card (+ level up)
Signature rest-site choice.
3 ACTS + boss each; ACT 4 (True End) unlocked by beating 3 keys' bosses
Signature 3-4 act structure.
ASCENSION 0-20: post-first-win difficulty modifiers stack per level
Signature Ascension.
Scoring
Run-based; scoring = final score at end of run (higher for higher Ascension + more efficient); mostly self-improvement.
Win condition · Climb to top of Spire (Act 3 or True End Act 4); high Ascension levels for elite players.
Equipment
PC (Steam), PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS, Android
Signature multi-platform release
Base price ~$25 USD
Signature pricing
Terminology
- Deck thinning
- Removing cards from deck at shops or events — often key strategy.
- Ascension
- Difficulty modifier levels 0-20 unlocked by winning runs.
- Intent
- Enemies show telegraphed next action (attack, buff, etc.).
- Relic
- Permanent run-long passive item.
- Elite
- Optional harder combat with better rewards.
- Neow
- Deep-sea shark deity encountered at start of run; grants bonus.
- A20 Heart
- Ascension 20 with True End Act 4 Corrupt Heart boss — pinnacle challenge.
Major competitions
BAFTA Games Award for Debut Game 2019 (nominated)
annual · Global · since 2019
Where it is played
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Slay the Spire— Wikipedia
- MegaCrit — Slay the Spire— MegaCrit