Slay the Spire on mobile: review
Slay the Spire came out on PC in 2019 after an early access period, and reached iOS in 2020 and Android in 2021. It combines two ideas: you build a deck of cards during a run, and each run is a fresh climb through randomised floors where death sends you back to the start.
How it plays
You choose one of four characters, each with its own card pool. Fights are turn-based. Each turn you draw five cards, spend energy to play attacks, blocks and powers, and see what the enemy intends to do next. That last detail matters: enemies show their intent, so every turn is a puzzle about how much to attack and how much to defend.
Between fights you pick a path on a branching map, choosing between combats, elite enemies, shops, rest sites and random events. After each fight you add a card to your deck or skip it. Learning when to skip is a large part of improving.
On a touchscreen
The game was designed with mouse controls, but the mobile version uses drag-to-play cards and tap targets that work on a phone. Text on cards is small on narrow screens, and long-pressing to read a card's details becomes a habit. On a tablet it is very comfortable.
Runs can be suspended at any point and resumed later, which suits short sessions.
Price and monetisation
Slay the Spire is a one-off purchase on both stores, with no adverts and no in-app purchases. Everything in the game is unlocked by playing. That makes it easy to recommend to anyone wary of free-to-play mechanics.
What it asks of you
It is a hard game at first. Most players lose their early runs, and the game expects you to learn enemy patterns and card synergies over many attempts. Players who enjoy that loop tend to play it for a long time. Those who want a relaxed card game will be happier with solitaire or UNO.
Our take
Editorial opinion
Slay the Spire is one of the best single-player card games on mobile, and the one-off price with no extras makes it easy to recommend. Expect a learning curve, and play on the largest screen you have.
Related: best card game apps and free-to-play or paid?.
By the Mobiledista editorial team. Updated October 2026.