Phantom Rose 2 is a roguelike deckbuilding game. Fight and collect powerful cards as Aria, trying to survive in her cherished school that’s being ravaged by evil creatures.
Each card in the player's deck has a cooldown that carries over between battles. This means the player can access their entire deck, but must carefully manage the cooldowns of their most powerful cards to use them effectively. The game rewards adaptability and resource management over pure optimization of a single deck synergy.
Players can choose between two playable classes - Blade and Mage. The Blade class focuses more on direct combat, while the Mage class utilizes an Arcana gauge to enable different types of spellcasting. This variety allows players to experiment with distinct card pools and mechanics.
The game's difficulty gradually increases through "Diamond" levels. Early stages ease players into the core mechanics, while later levels introduce new enemy types and randomized factors that force players to adapt their strategies. This measured difficulty curve prevents the experience from feeling overly punishing or trivial.
Completing runs, defeating bosses, and fulfilling side objectives earn players currency. They can spend this on permanent upgrades, new cards, and cosmetic customization options. This sense of progression and reward encourages players to engage in multiple playthroughs.
The persistent cooldown system on cards requires players to carefully consider when and how they use their most powerful abilities. Overcommitting resources in one battle can leave players vulnerable in the next, fostering strategic decision-making around card usage and cooldown management.
As players explore the game world, they will encounter a wide range of randomized events, enemy encounters, and interactive scenarios. These diversify the experience beyond simply battling through rooms of foes, allowing for more emergent gameplay and narrative moments to unfold.