Skystone Games and developer Thing Trunk have opened the public Steam Playtest for HELLCARD II, giving players an early chance to step into the game’s strange paper-crafted dungeons. Players can now request access and experience the cooperative roguelike deckbuilder either alone or with up to three friends.
The playtest is available on PC through Steam, with players being admitted in waves. Once accepted, participants can invite friends and form a party to take on the dangers lurking beneath the surface.
HELLCARD II builds on the world introduced in HELLCARD and Book of Demons, mixing fast-paced card battles with roguelike progression. Players can explore new biomes, face hordes of enemies, and battle plenty of dragons while uncovering the story behind the growing threat.
One of the biggest additions is a persistent equipment system that works alongside traditional deckbuilding. Players can unlock gear that changes their hero’s appearance while also affecting stats, buffs, and available strategies.
Positioning also plays a major role in combat. Enemies attack from either melee or ranged distances and split among the party, so players must position their characters carefully to set up powerful combos.
Players can tackle the adventure solo by controlling the entire party or team up with as many as four heroes in cooperative play. Each run can also tell a slightly different story, giving players new reasons to return.
The HELLCARD II playtest offers a promising look at what’s ahead, and there’s plenty of paper-made trouble waiting in the dungeons.