The demo is available now to every Steam user, no sign-up required, following the game’s public Steam Playtest which opened in August 2026 and admitted players in waves. It offers a hands-on look at the sequel’s tactical card battles, its persistent equipment system, and full four-player online co-op.
HELLCARD II is the follow-up to HELLCARD, which was released in February 2024 and holds a “Very Positive” Steam rating from more than 1,600 user reviews. The sequel keeps the card combat that defined the original while restructuring the crawl itself: instead of clearing room after room, parties turn the pages of a pop-up storybook, choose side quests together, and make shared decisions that carry consequences into later runs.
Positioning remains the heart of every fight. Enemies attack from melee or ranged distance and divide their attention across the party, so where heroes stand determines which combos are possible and which threats go unanswered. New to the sequel, equipment unlocked through play persists between runs and changes a hero’s appearance, stats, buffs, and the cards available to build around.
WHAT’S IN THE DEMO
- The Blackmail Manor Adventure module
- Four playable heroes - the Sorcerer, the Berserker, Paladin, and Cleric - with their starting decks and equipment
- Four-player online co-op, or solo play commanding the entire party
HELLCARD II KEY FEATURES
- Tactical Card Combat — Monster placement matters. Enemies engage at melee or ranged distance and split across the party, turning every turn into a positioning puzzle.
- Four-Player Co-Op — Team up with three friends online, or play solo and control every hero yourself.
- Build Your Heroes — Equipment unlocked through play persists between runs, reshaping appearance, stats, buffs, and deck options.
- An Interactive Storybook — The campaign unfolds as a pop-up book. Parties turn pages, take side quests, and make choices that echo into future runs.
- The Paperverse, Expanded — New biomes with improved lighting, animation, and environments built in Thing Trunk’s signature paper aesthetic.
- Endless Chronicles — More classes, gear, artifacts, and deck combinations than the original, so no two chronicles read the same.
The HELLCARD II demo is free to download now on Steam. The full game launches in February 2027 on PC via Steam and consoles. HELLCARD II supports 13 languages, including full English voice-over. Wishlist on Steam:
ASSETS AND PRESS KIT
Trailer, screenshots, logos, and key art: Google Drive
Review and demo codes: murphy@skystone.games
About Thing Trunk
Thing Trunk is an independent game developer dedicated to recapturing the magic of the greatest PC gaming hits with a modern twist. Known for the Return 2 Games series, they strive to create accessible yet deep experiences for players worldwide.
About Skystone Games
Skystone Games is a global video game publisher founded by Diablo creator David Brevik and veteran Bill Wang. With a passion for bold ideas and breakout talent, Skystone supports unique projects like Mistfall Hunter, Tiny Bookshop, Crystal of Atlan, HELLCARD, ACECRAFT, and more.
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