From Press Release:
San Francisco – February 4, 2026 – Skystone Games and Thing Trunk are proud to announce HELLCARD II, the sequel to the critically acclaimed co-op deckbuilding roguelite. Building on the chaotic, tactical combat that made the original a smash hit, HELLCARD II leans even further into the RPG aspect of the crawl. A living, breathing storybook where every run is a story impacting future playthroughs. The game is scheduled to launch later in 2026.
While the core of HELLCARD II remains true to the intense card-battling mechanics fans love, the sequel shifts the paradigm from simple dungeon layouts to an actual pop-up book adventure. Players will no longer just clear rooms; they will traverse the pages of a story, making tough choices as a team as they discover the truth behind the dragon menace.
“The original HELLCARD was defined by its tactical positioning and emergent tactics, and HELLCARD II takes this even further.” said Konstanty Kalicki at Thing Trunk. “It leans into the pen-n-paper aspect of dungeon crawling: building your own stories with each run, customizing your characters, deciding on side quests together while trying to figure out the story. It’s the book of adventures we always wanted to make.”
Key Features of HELLCARD II:
- Build Your Heroes: Achievements unlock gear that can be equipped in future runs, affecting aesthetics, deck composition, and core mechanics.
- Tactical Card Combat: The unique spatial positioning system returns. With monsters placed in either melee or ranged distances and divided between heroes, placement is vital for executing the most powerful combos.
- Ultimate Single-Player Tactical Sandbox: Control all characters and all strategy. Play as a lone wolf with the power of an entire party at your disposal.
- Four person Co-Op Fellowship: Team up with up to three friends in seamless multiplayer battles. Combine deck archetypes to create devastating synergies.
- The Paperverse Expands: Dive back into Thing Trunk’s signature “Return 2 Games” aesthetic—a charming world built entirely of paper, now enhanced with new lighting, fluid animations, and richer environments.
- Endless Chronicles: With more character classes, equipable gear, artifacts, and customizable decks, no two stories – and no two battles – will ever play out the same way.
HELLCARD II is currently in development and is set to launch on PC and console later in 2026.
For more information, visit the Steam Page or follow Skystone Games on X and TikTok.
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.
