The devs of a promising Slay the Spire-alike are delaying their game to Dodge and Roll away from Slay the Spire 2's launch: 'You'll be playing it, we'll be playing it, everyone will be playing it'
PC Gamer
by Justin Wagner February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
A promising deckbuilding roguelike game, *Handmancers*, has delayed its release to avoid being overshadowed by the highly anticipated *Slay the Spire 2*. The developers of *Handmancers* announced that they will push back their planned March 9 launch in response to *Slay the Spire 2* entering early access on March 6. This strategic decision aims to ensure *Handmancers* launches at its best quality, with additional polish and balance work, rather than risking being "crushed" under the weight of a legendary sequel. The delay also allows for an extra boss and improved gameplay elements.
The developers explained their reasoning in a post on X, highlighting that while they are fans of *Slay the Spire* and excited about its sequel, releasing alongside it would likely lead to their game being buried beneath the popularity of the established franchise. This decision reflects a growing trend among developers to avoid prominent launch dates dominated by major titles. In 2025 alone, nearly half of the almost 19,000 games released on Steam received fewer than 10 user reviews, with over 2,000 games going completely unnoticed.
This shift in release strategies matters for readers interested in gaming, as it highlights the challenges smaller developers face in standing out in a crowded market. By delaying *Handmancers*, 58BLADES prioritizes quality and visibility, aligning with broader trends where many games choose to avoid direct competition with high-profile releases like *Slay the Spire 2*. This approach underscores the importance of timing and strategic planning in the competitive world of game development.
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Originally published on PC Gamer on 2/22/2026