Slay the Spire

Slay the Spire is the title that defined the modern deckbuilding roguelike genre on PC in 2019 and arrived on PlayStation 5 in 2023. The player advances through a procedurally generated spire full of enemies, building a card deck for one of their characters, choosing a new card, relic, or upgrade after every winning fight that shapes their strategy for the rest of the run. The combination of attack, defense, and mana cards creates a well-thought-out turn-based combat system in which players must plan several turns ahead and react to changing enemy patterns. Each playable character has its own set of cards and mechanics, so strategy and playstyle differ substantially between runs.

On PS5 the game runs stably, and the interface clearly displays all information about enemies, their intentions, and card effects, which is key to the game's strategic depth. Controller support works surprisingly naturally despite the game having originated as a typically mouse-driven PC title, and the menus have been noticeably adapted for consoles. The minimalist visual style and understated, atmospheric soundtrack reinforce the focused, meditative pace of each run.

Upon its original release, Slay the Spire essentially kick-started the deckbuilding roguelike genre on its own and became the reference point against which later titles like Balatro or Monster Train are measured. Its deep system of synergies between cards and relics, high difficulty, and near-endless replayability earned it consistently excellent reception from both players and critics. Even years after release, Slay the Spire remains regarded as one of the best-tuned deckbuilders ever made, and its console version lets players enjoy the experience comfortably on the big screen with a controller in hand — something especially appreciated by players discovering the genre through its newer successors.

Why play it: For players discovering the deckbuilding roguelike genre through its newer successors, Slay the Spire is the reference point with a deep system of synergies and near-endless replayability, this time comfortably on the big screen.