Chris "Atom" DeAngelus: There are few games out there that have inspired quite as many clones as Slay the Spire. This originator of the current roguelike deck-builder genre features some of the most addictive gameplay that has eaten millions of hours of people's lives. The sequel looks to follow the same basic trend, but with new characters, such the pet-based Necrobinder, and new mechanics, such as the ability to add modifiers to your cards. Assuming it carries the same level of care and polish as the original, it's easy to see Slay the Spire II being one of the highlights of the year.

Cody Medellin: The original Slay the Spire inspired so many other roguelike card battlers to pop up in rapid succession. Even if no new mechanics get introduced in the sequel, the idea of more adventures with newer monsters and cards is enough to get players excited. With this title being released in Early Access in a few months, expect loads of tweaking to be done before it gets the full 1.0 release.

Tony "OUberLord" Mitera: I normally don't get drawn toward card-builder games, but something about Slay the Spire has repeatedly grabbed my attention. It has a "just one more attempt" kind of quality that has been downright detrimental to my sleep schedule. They already have a solid formula to build from, so I'm pretty sure I'm going to lose more sleep once its sequel gets released.