There is no preorder wall, no press embargo, and no need to wait for a review score. Anyone who wants to peek inside HELLCARD II can simply open its Steam page, click “Request Access,” and be dropped into its paper dungeons as soon as the studio waves them in, a public playtest that Thing Trunk and publisher Skystone Games opened on August 19, 2026, months ahead of the game’s planned late-2026 launch.
That single click delivers something surprisingly complete. Once admitted, players step into solo runs or team up with up to three friends for four-player co-op, building on the original HELLCARD’s co-op foundation. The build includes a brand new gear system the developers are actively testing, along with the tactical card combat the series is known for, now aimed at hordes of enemies and, as the game’s own description promises with a wink, “lots of dragons.” Access comes in waves rather than all at once, which gives the small team at Thing Trunk a chance to watch, in real time, what holds up and what buckles under actual player behavior instead of guesswork.
What Running the Dungeon Actually Feels Like
HELLCARD II keeps the fast, tactical card battles that made the first game a favorite among co-op deckbuilder fans, but it doesn’t just repeat the formula. Thing Trunk is layering in deeper RPG progression and what the studio calls narrative runs, meaning choices and consequences are meant to carry weight beyond a single dungeon crawl. The signature paper-diorama look returns too, except now it unfolds more like a pop-up storybook coming to life on the tabletop, a battlefield built with a full party in mind rather than a lone adventurer. Picture flipping open a children’s pop-up book and watching a dragon rear up between the folded pages, except the pages are fighting back, and three friends are standing beside a player deciding which card wins the exchange.
A friendly card game night around a kitchen table came to mind while reading through how HELLCARD II’s co-op runs are structured, since the appeal here hinges on the same thing that makes a good game night memorable: watching a friend make an unexpected play and having to adjust a strategy on the fly. That kind of shared problem-solving, rather than pure combat difficulty, is the heartbeat of this sequel.
A Test Built to Break Things on Purpose
The way this playtest is structured says as much as the content inside it. Steam Playtests run on a separate app ID, which means none of the feedback, bugs, or player counts from this test get tied to HELLCARD II’s eventual store reviews or wishlist numbers. That is not a small technical detail. It means Thing Trunk is not running a glorified marketing demo dressed up as a beta. It is using Valve’s own tools to ask one direct question: does the co-op loop survive contact with strangers who were never briefed on how to play it?
Admitting players in waves fits that same purpose. Rather than flooding the servers and the forums all at once, the studio can watch a smaller group first, see where four-player co-op sessions stumble, and adjust before opening the gates wider. It is a deliberate, controlled kind of openness, closer to a science experiment than a hype campaign.
Following a Well-Worn Path
This approach did not appear out of nowhere. Steam Playtest has become a familiar tool for studios that want player feedback before committing to a launch date, giving developers a way to hand the loop to players first and let them become the review before a single official one is published. HELLCARD II’s playtest fits neatly into that lineage, just compressed into a shorter, more focused window ahead of a Q4 2026 release.
Why This Bet Makes Sense for a Sequel
Handing over an unfinished build might sound risky for a new studio hoping lightning strikes twice, but HELLCARD II is not an unproven gamble. The original HELLCARD introduced the co-op deckbuilding formula this sequel builds on. That track record changes the read on this playtest entirely. A studio without a history might feel nervous about letting strangers loose on rough edges. A studio that already watched its first game find an audience has reason to feel confident that its co-op card-slinging formula works, and that letting people test-drive the sequel early will only build goodwill rather than dampen it.
A parallel worth noting comes from the broader indie space, where teams behind other co-op roguelite deckbuilders have talked openly about launching open playtests specifically to see whether players “come back for run after run,” an idea echoed in at least one indie playtest post this year. That return-and-repeat instinct is exactly what a deckbuilder lives or dies on, and it is exactly what Thing Trunk is measuring right now with real players instead of internal testers.
What Comes Next
HELLCARD II is still aiming for a full release later in 2026, and nothing about this playtest changes that target. What it does change is how players get to spend the months leading up to launch. Instead of watching trailers and waiting on preview coverage, anyone curious can request access, gather three friends, and find out firsthand whether the paper dungeons, the new gear system, and the expanded co-op runs hold together under real pressure. Trailers and press releases can only promise so much, but a card table full of friends arguing over the right play tends to tell the truth quickly.
With no reviews to lean on and no marketing blitz standing between players and the actual build, why not grab a few friends and see for yourselves how these paper dungeons feel?
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F.A.Q.
When does HELLCARD II come out?
HELLCARD II is set to launch in Q4 2026. The developers, Thing Trunk and Skystone Games, have opened a public playtest on Steam, allowing players to experience the game ahead of its official release.
What type of game is HELLCARD II?
HELLCARD II is a cooperative roguelike deck-builder that emphasizes tactical card battles. Players can enjoy both solo and multiplayer modes, teaming up with friends for fast-paced action against hordes of enemies and dragons.
Does HELLCARD II have co-op multiplayer?
Yes, HELLCARD II features co-op multiplayer, allowing up to four players to team up for adventures in its paper dungeons. This co-op system builds on the foundation established in the original HELLCARD game, enhancing the multiplayer experience.
What platforms is HELLCARD II on?
HELLCARD II is currently available exclusively on PC through Steam. Players can request access to the ongoing playtest, which is an opportunity to experience the game before its full release.
Does HELLCARD II have Steam achievements?
Yes, HELLCARD II includes Steam achievements as part of its features. Players can earn achievements while enjoying the game’s tactical battles and cooperative gameplay, adding to the overall experience and replayability.
Is HELLCARD II a roguelike?
Yes, HELLCARD II is classified as a roguelike game. It incorporates elements of randomization and replayability, with players facing different challenges and choices in each run through its dungeons.
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