The next chapter in the HELLCARD series is opening its doors to players. Developer Thing Trunk and publisher Skystone Games have launched the public Steam Playtest for HELLCARD II, giving PC players the chance to experience the cooperative roguelike deckbuilder ahead of its full release.
Players can tackle the paper dungeons alone or assemble a party of up to four heroes to take on hordes of enemies, including plenty of dragons. The playtest is available through Steam, with access being granted in waves. Once admitted, players can invite friends to join their party.
HELLCARD II expands on the formula established by the original HELLCARD and Book of Demons, returning players to the distinctive paper-crafted world while introducing new biomes and storylines. Combat remains focused on tactical card-based battles, but the sequel adds several new systems designed to give players more control over how their characters develop.
One of the biggest additions is a persistent equipment system that works alongside traditional deckbuilding. Gear isn’t simply cosmetic; equipment can alter a hero’s appearance while also modifying stats, buffs, and the cards available to them. This gives players another layer of customization when developing their builds.
Positioning also plays a major role in combat. Enemies can occupy different distances from the heroes, with monsters divided between melee and ranged positions. Players will need to consider where enemies are placed and how their heroes are positioned when planning attacks, with the right setup capable of creating powerful combinations.
While HELLCARD II is designed around cooperative play, solo players aren’t left out. Those playing alone can control the entire party themselves, effectively giving a single player control over the power of a full four-hero team.
The game’s story is also intended to evolve alongside the roguelike structure. Each run can unfold differently, with subtle and more significant variations contributing to an ongoing mystery surrounding the growing dragon threat. As players improve their equipment and build their decks, they’ll gradually uncover more of what is happening within the paper world.
“HELLCARD struck a chord with deckbuilder fans, and HELLCARD II ups the ante on it all – visuals, storytelling, combat, RPG elements. We can’t wait for players to get their hands on the playtest and help shape the game ahead of launch,” said David Brevik of Skystone Games.
Konstanty Kalicki of Thing Trunk added, “Games exist to be fun, which is why we’re thrilled to launch this large beta playtest. We rely on the community’s feedback to show us what we got right, and what still needs some love.”
The HELLCARD II Steam Playtest is available now on PC. Players interested in participating can request access through the game’s Steam page and join the playtest when their invitation arrives.