HELLCARD II is officially on the way, with Skystone Games and Thing Trunk confirming a 2026 launch for the sequel to their co-op deckbuilding roguelite.
Set to arrive on PC and consoles, the follow-up promises a far more ambitious structure, introducing four-player support, branching narrative runs and a bold new storybook-inspired approach to dungeon crawling.
Building on the tactical card combat that defined the original, HELLCARD II shifts its focus from simple room-to-room progression to something closer to a pen-and-paper campaign; one where every decision, success and failure leaves a mark on future runs.
From Dungeon Runs To Story-Driven Campaigns
Rather than navigating static layouts, players in HELLCARD II will traverse the pages of a pop-up book adventure. Each run becomes part of a wider chronicle, with choices made by the group influencing encounters, side quests and how the overarching dragon threat unfolds over time.
This approach leans heavily into role-playing elements, encouraging teams to think beyond the next fight and consider how their decisions shape the story they are collectively writing.
Tactical Card Combat Returns – With More Depth
Fans of the original will be pleased to hear that HELLCARD II retains its distinctive card-based combat system, where positioning and enemy placement are just as important as the cards in your deck.
- Enemies are divided between melee and ranged distances, requiring smart positioning
- Heroes must coordinate attacks and card synergies to survive tougher encounters
- Unlockable gear earned through achievements carries over into future runs
- Equipment influences visuals, deck builds and core mechanics
The result is a system that rewards teamwork and planning, particularly when tackling higher difficulty encounters.
Solo Or Four-Player Co-Op Adventures
While HELLCARD II is clearly designed with co-op in mind, solo players aren’t being left behind. A dedicated single-player mode allows one player to control the entire party, turning the game into a deep tactical sandbox for those who prefer to plan every move themselves.
For co-op fans, the sequel expands support to four-player multiplayer, opening the door to even more complex deck synergies and coordinated strategies as players combine different archetypes and abilities.
The Paperverse Grows Richer
Thing Trunk’s signature paper-crafted aesthetic returns, with HELLCARD II expanding the ‘Return 2 Games’ visual style through improved lighting, smoother animations and more detailed environments. The world will still feel handcrafted, but now carries greater visual depth to match the expanded scope of the sequel.
With more character classes, artifacts, decks and branching paths, no two runs are designed to play out the same, reinforcing the idea that every campaign is its own story.
A Second Chance To Push The Formula Further
Our review of the original HELLCARD highlighted its creative presentation and clever combat ideas, while noting that solo play struggled to fully balance the experience.
HELLCARD II appears to directly address those criticisms, leaning harder into narrative structure, long-term progression and richer co-op systems.
If the sequel can deliver on its promise of meaningful choice and evolving stories, it could well elevate the series from an interesting roguelite experiment into a standout co-op deckbuilding experience when it launches in late summer 2026. For now, take in the trailer and hit up the Steam page.
At A Glance – HELLCARD II
- Game: HELLCARD II
- Developer: Thing Trunk
- Publisher: Skystone Games
- Release Window: 2026
- Platforms: PC and Console
- Players: Single-player or four-player co-op
- Genre: Co-op deckbuilding roguelite
