On February 19, Mega Crit shared exciting news: the much-anticipated Slay the Spire 2 is set to hit early access on March 5. Fans eagerly awaiting the sequel to the acclaimed roguelike deckbuilder may revel in this announcement. However, for indie developers inspired by its success, the release date poses significant challenges, as it lands amidst a crowded launch period packed with competing titles. This scenario forces smaller studios to reassess their plans.
The most notable adjustment comes from the team behind Handmancers, a roguelike deckbuilder created by 58BLADES. They made a strategic decision to delay their game from its planned release during the Turn-Based Thursday Fest, which kicks off a day after Slay the Spire 2. “Yea…we’d get absolutely crushed,” the developers remarked in a social media post. Timing is key in the gaming landscape, and they clearly recognized the potential overshadowing by the sequel.
Meanwhile, the developers of Mini Tank Mayhem, a strategy title from Algorocks, have not disclosed their reasons for postponing their launch. However, an enthusiastic tester suggested that the announcement of Slay the Spire 2 influenced their decision. The timing of the delay—from a March 3 release to April 29—was notably close to the trailer drop for Slay the Spire 2, raising eyebrows in the gaming community.
In contrast, Omelet You Cook, a whimsical cooking roguelike by SchuBox Games, was proactive. The two-person team moved their launch date to January, aiming to avoid the intense competition they feared would accompany Slay the Spire 2’s reveal. “Even I’ll be playing so much that I won’t have time to finish our game!” said a co-developer, illustrating the challenge smaller games face in this market.
While only a few developers have vocalized their concerns, the buzz around Slay the Spire 2 is palpable among indie studios. For instance, creators of the hack-and-slash roguelite Trials of Valor mentioned that their initial plans have been affected by the same release date shared with Slay the Spire 2.
On a lighter note, some indie creators are opting to embrace the playful competition. ThunderRam Studios, behind Grimslair, affirmed their commitment to a March 6 release, vowing not to shy away from the hype. Similarly, the team at Fishagon, working on the party card game Vice Versa, humorously co-opted 58BLADES’ announcement format—underscoring the creativity that can emerge even in the face of competition.
Many games previously launched have faced similar hurdles, often to less-than-ideal results. For example, the developers of Adventure of Samsara launched on the same day as Silksong, which did not end well for them. However, some developers have been spared from such clashes entirely. A card game roguelike won’t be ready in time, marking it as a non-issue in this competitive landscape.