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.
The game gives players access to their entire deck at all times, but each card has a cooldown timer that persists between battles. This forces players to carefully manage their card usage, deciding when to play powerful cards versus weaker ones to ensure they have the right tools available for upcoming fights. This novel approach sets the game apart from traditional roguelike deckbuilders, where players draw a new hand each turn.
Beyond the main story campaign, the game offers an Arcade mode that allows players to rush through boss battles for rewards, and a Custom mode that lets them create their own challenges with customizable parameters. These additional modes add replayability and give players the freedom to experience the game in different ways.
The game features two playable classes - the Blade class and the Mage class. Each class has unique cards and mechanics, providing players with distinct strategic approaches. The Blade class focuses on direct physical attacks, while the Mage class utilizes an Arcana gauge to perform magical abilities. Experimenting with these classes encourages players to discover their preferred playstyle.
The game's progression system allows players to unlock permanent upgrades and cosmetics by earning in-game currency. These upgrades, called Engravings, can provide statistical boosts or new gameplay mechanics, enabling players to customize their experience and become more powerful over time.
As players progress through the main story campaign, the game gradually increases in difficulty, introducing new mechanics and enemy types. The experience starts relatively accessible but eventually becomes significantly challenging, forcing players to carefully optimize their decks and strategies to overcome the tougher obstacles.
While the game's unique cooldown system discourages players from focusing on a single, overpowered deck, it encourages them to explore synergies between different cards. By combining complementary abilities and effects, players can create powerful combos and strategies to overcome the game's challenges.
The game features a wide variety of enemy types, each with their own unique behaviors and patterns. Players must adapt their strategies to counter specific enemy types, adding an element of tactical decision-making to the gameplay. Additionally, the game includes various events and encounters beyond just combat, providing players with additional choices and consequences to consider.