HELLCARD II, a roguelike deckbuilding game built around tactical card combat and cooperative play, will open its public playtest on August 19 through Steam. The sequel expands the paper-crafted fantasy setting associated with HELLCARD and Book of Demons, introducing new environments, persistent equipment and support for parties of up to four players.
Players can currently wishlist the game and request access to the upcoming Steam playtest, which will provide an early look at its dragon-filled tactical battles and new gameplay systems.
HELLCARD II Expands Its Tactical Deckbuilding Formula
Designed for one to four players, HELLCARD II sends players into dungeon environments populated by monsters, dragons and other threats that must be defeated through card-based combat.
The sequel retains the series’ distinctive paper-world presentation while adding new biomes and stories. Runs are designed to vary, allowing different narrative elements and encounters to emerge as players progress.
A major component of the combat system remains enemy positioning. Rather than treating every opponent as occupying the same battlefield space, enemies can appear at different distances and are divided among the heroes participating in combat.
Enemy Positioning Plays a Major Role in Combat
Monsters can occupy melee or ranged positions, requiring players to consider where enemies are located before selecting attacks or planning combinations.
Because enemies are also distributed among individual heroes, positioning can influence which cards and abilities provide the greatest benefit at a particular moment.
The system is intended to make battlefield awareness as important as building an effective deck, especially when players are coordinating attacks during cooperative sessions.
New Gear System Changes Decks, Stats and Buffs
One of the major additions in HELLCARD II is a persistent equipment layer that operates alongside traditional deckbuilding.
Players can unlock gear that changes the appearance of their heroes while also influencing gameplay. Equipment can modify decks, character statistics and buffs, allowing players to begin shaping a particular strategy earlier in a run.
The system adds another progression layer beyond collecting and managing cards, giving players additional ways to customize how individual heroes perform.
Four-Player Co-op Expands Team-Based Battles
HELLCARD II supports cooperative multiplayer for parties of up to four heroes, expanding the opportunities for players to coordinate decks, abilities and battlefield positioning.
Groups can work together against the game’s dragon threat, combining different character builds and tactical approaches.
Solo play is also supported. Instead of controlling only one hero, a solo player can command the entire party, providing access to the broader range of tactical options that would otherwise be divided among multiple people in co-op.
The approach allows the core party mechanics to remain available regardless of whether the game is being played alone or with friends.
Each HELLCARD II Run Can Tell a Different Story
Beyond combat and deckbuilding, the sequel introduces a narrative structure designed to change between runs.
Each attempt can produce different story variations, ranging from smaller changes to more noticeable developments. As players acquire equipment, assemble their party and progress through the fantasy world, they will gradually uncover more information about the dragon menace threatening the realm.
The developers are also using the playtest to collect player feedback. Participants will have access to an optional survey at the end of the test build, allowing them to provide feedback directly to the development team.
Steam Playtest Begins August 19
The public HELLCARD II playtest is scheduled to open August 19 on Steam. Interested PC players can request access ahead of the opening and add the game to their wishlists.
The test will provide an early opportunity to experience the sequel’s new paper-world biomes, persistent gear system, positional card combat and expanded four-player cooperative gameplay.
By combining its established tactical deckbuilding mechanics with additional customization, larger cooperative parties and a story designed to evolve between runs, HELLCARD II is positioning its upcoming playtest as the first broader look at how the series is expanding its dungeon-crawling formula.
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