Slay the Spire
- Platforms: PC
- Developer: Mega Crit
- Year: 2019
- Genres: Indie, Strategy
- Tags: Single-player, Steam Achievements, Full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, Steam Workshop, Adjustable Text Size
- Operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price comparison
Prices as listed by the stores, updated 2026-10-26. The store price is final.
Build a deck, climb a shifting tower, and fight strange enemies in this roguelike strategy game from Mega Crit.
Overview
2019 marks the year Slay the Spire turned card battles into a climb up a dangerous, changing tower. It is a roguelike deck-builder where every run asks you to shape a deck, pick a route, and survive whatever waits above. One bad draw can sting; one smart card pick can change the whole run.
You move through the Spire floor by floor, facing monsters, bosses, relics, and odd events that can help or punish you. Each run is different, with branching paths, fresh enemy combinations, and new chances to trim weak cards or chase powerful synergies. The appeal is in the pressure: every choice matters, and the game keeps handing you just enough tools to get greedy.
Slay the Spire includes four characters, 350+ fully implemented cards, and 200+ different items to find. It also folds in Daily Climbs and a Custom mode with wild modifiers, so the climb does not stop when you clear a run. The result is a strategy game that keeps asking the same dangerous question: what if this card makes the whole deck sing?
Why play it
- Deck-building that changes every run
- Four characters with distinct card sets
- Branching paths and different bosses
- Relics and events can reshape a run
Quick facts
| Developer | Mega Crit |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Mega Crit |
| Release year | 2019 |
| Genres | Indie, Strategy |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam release date | 23 Jan, 2019 |
| Steam categories | Single-player, Steam Achievements, Full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, Steam Workshop, Adjustable Text Size, Custom Volume Controls, Mouse Only Option, Playable without Timed Input, Save Anytime |
| Languages | English, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Korean, Russian, Japanese, Polish, Ukrainian, Spanish - Spain, Italian, Dutch, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Thai, Portuguese - Brazil, Vietnamese |
| Minimum requirements | OS *: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1, 10; Processor: 2.0 Ghz; Memory: 2 GB RAM; Graphics: 1Gb Video Memory, capable of OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable); Storage: 1 GB available space |
Beginner walkthrough
Pick a character, then build as you go
Each run starts with one of four characters, and each character comes with its own starting deck and cards. From there, you grow your deck through rewards, relics, and other finds. The important bit is simple: do not hoard every card just because it is shiny. Strong decks come from cards that work together, not from accidentally becoming a museum.
Choose routes with care
The Spire changes layout every time you enter it. You choose between safer and riskier paths, and those routes lead to different enemies, cards, relics, and bosses. Campfires can heal or upgrade cards, shops let you buy or remove cards, and chests or events can swing a run in a hurry. The tower likes to keep you guessing.
Fight in turns and watch your energy
Combat is turn-based. You draw a hand, get three energy points, and spend them on cards until you end your turn. Enemy moves are telegraphed, so you can plan around attacks, blocks, buffs, and debuffs. If you survive the fight, you usually get gold and a choice of cards; if not, the Spire sends you back to the bottom like nothing happened.
Key characters
- Ironclad starting character
One of the four playable characters, built around a distinct card pool and the long climb upward.
- Silent starting character
One of the four playable characters, with their own cards to shape a different style of run.
- Defect starting character
One of the four playable characters, offering another unique set of cards and decisions.
- Watcher starting character
One of the four playable characters, giving you yet another way to tackle the Spire.
Our take
Pros
- Runs stay different thanks to procedural layouts
- Deck building is tightly tied to combat
- Four characters add replay value
- Daily Climbs and Custom mode extend the challenge
Cons
- Single-player only
- Windows, macOS, and Linux are the listed platforms
- Minimum PC requirements are modest but specific
Slay the Spire is the kind of game that turns every card pick into a small gamble and every floor into a new argument with the deck you are building. Its changing routes, telegraphed fights, and relic-driven combinations keep the climb tense. If you enjoy strategy games that reward patience, planning, and a little audacity, this one offers plenty to chew on.
Quick check
This check compares memory and disk space only. Compare your CPU and graphics card with the requirements above manually.Minimum requirements
Minimum: OS *: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1, 10 Processor: 2.0 Ghz Memory: 2 GB RAM Graphics: 1Gb Video Memory, capable of OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable) Storage: 1 GB available space
FAQ
What kind of game is Slay the Spire?
It is a roguelike deck-building game with indie and strategy elements. You climb a procedurally generated Spire, build a deck during the run, and fight enemies and bosses along the way.
How many characters are there?
Slay the Spire includes four characters. Each one has its own unique set of cards, so the way you build and fight changes depending on who you choose at the start of a run.
Does the game change from run to run?
Yes. The Spire’s layout changes each time you begin a journey, and the paths, enemies, cards, relics, and bosses can differ. That variability is a big part of the structure.
What game modes or extras are included?
The game includes Daily Climbs, which let you compare yourself with other players under shared conditions, and a Custom mode with run modifiers that can raise or lower the difficulty.
Which platforms are listed?
The listed platforms are Windows, macOS, and Linux. The Steam release date is 23 Jan, 2019.
What are the basic PC requirements?
The minimum requirements list Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8/8.1, or 10, a 2.0 Ghz processor, 2 GB RAM, 1 GB video memory with OpenGL 3.0+ support, and 1 GB of storage space.
Updated: 2026-09-21 · More in the catalog · PC · S