Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 88 | 44 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 84 | 28 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 97% | 93 | 29 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 82 reviews sampled · 75 total reviews in window · weighted 66.9 up / 1.7 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (78)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“Maybe Spelunky 2 is not setting the highest bar ever, but it's still a challenging, variative and jolly roguelike ride.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Spelunky 2 remains staunchly committed to its immaculate core design.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ultimately, Spelunky 2 is a game for platforming fanatics. It reminded me of my time with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, which was another frustrating, but fine-tuned game that I kept playing almost to spite the game. It’s a game that can feel stagnant, random, and insurmountable, only to break once you sink your teeth into it and find a real opening. Those moments are truly cathartic, and there is always more to do and see. You’ll die a lot, but if you keep climbing up from Spelunky 2’s depths of despair, you’ll be platforming forever.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Spelunky 2 is a masterclass in great roguelite game design, expertly combining crushing difficulty with a steady drip of new secrets and lessons to keep you coming back for more. Some may be put off by the steep challenge-this is certainly a game you have to work for a bit-but putting in the effort is sure to reward you with plenty of thrilling memories. We'd give this game a high recommendation to any fans of roguelites or challenging platformers, and even if that doesn't describe you, this is still certainly worth a look.”
read full review ↗ - 92
“The genius of Spelunky 2 is that it somehow adds new possibilities to a game that already had endless possibilities. That's legitimately impressive. And that's why I'm sure I'll be playing this for as long as I've played the original, both games coexisting blissfully together as one of the absolute best parent-child pairs in gaming.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It’s always a bit tricky to release both an original game and its sequel at the same time, but in the case of Spelunky 2 and its OG brutally-tough roguelike predecessor it works out reasonably well and either (or, even better, both) are worthy of a shot if you’re down for a challenge...”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The original Spelunky's only obvious shortcoming was that its level design was somewhat limited. Spelunky 2 takes what made the original so great, fixes that shortcoming, and leaves us with one of the best-made indie games you'll ever play. A truly sensational effort from Mossmouth.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Spelunky 2 is undoubtedly a great sequel to the first version of the game, a sequence that, although not entirely perfect and has a series of minor flaws, is one of those games that, no matter how hard, gives you enough valuable experience to want to go to it again despite many failures, and don't despair of trying to succeed in it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Spelunky 2 betters its predecessor in just about every area. Push through its tough outer shell and you'll discover a fantastic platformer well worth your time. More stuffed with secrets than ever and fleshing out the formula with all kinds of new additions, this is a rich and addictive roguelike with so much to unearth.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“While Spelunky 2 is not quite the landmark the original game was, it carries with it the same spirit of exploration and challenge. Part of me wishes it was maybe a little more lenient, especially in the first area, but that's also not necessarily what Spelunky is all about. This is an immaculately designed game dripping with secrets and traps. It might not be for the faint of heart, but at least now with the glory of online co-op, the faint of heart can be dragged kicking and screaming to the City of Gold.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Spelunky 2 is likely to delight those who revere its predecessor. As for newcomers, a whole new world of curiosity, frustration, rage quitting, perseverance and reward awaits. This is a game that may be a challenge to get into for some, but sooner rather than later determination to succeed will likely evolve into devotion. This will be a game that will always encourage players to come back for more.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Spelunky 2 is a masterful evolution of the original rogue-lite platformer, offering more depth, content, and polish while staying true to its brutal roots. Players descend procedurally generated caves filled with traps, enemies, and secrets, using simple but precise controls. Death comes swiftly and often, typically due to player error, leading to a love-hate relationship that fuels the game's addictive loop. While changes from the first game may seem subtle, additions like new items, enemies, mounts, and multiplayer enrich the experience significantly. The difficulty is steep, but progress is rewarding, and the world is full of hidden surprises. It’s a maddeningly hard game that earns every bit of praise it receives, even as it breaks your spirit.”
read full review ↗
3DNews
Slant Magazine
Jump Dash Roll
Nintendo Life
Paste Magazine
Nindie Spotlight
PC Invasion
Zoomg
Push Square
NintendoWorldReport
ZTGD
KonsoliFIN…and 66 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Notes: v1.28Nov 23, 2022
- Patch Notes: v1.27Sep 23, 2022
- 1.26 Released!Sep 20, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: v1.25.2dJan 19, 2022
- One Year on Steam - Arena Mode Online!Sep 30, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch notes: 1.21.0cMay 10, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch notes: 1.20.4dMar 23, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.20.3aFeb 25, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.20.2aFeb 4, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch notes: 1.20.1c (W64) -> 1.20.1d (W64)Jan 29, 2021
- Patch notes: 1.20.1dJan 27, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.20.0jDec 24, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.19.8cDec 17, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- The Online Multiplayer Public Beta is Here!Dec 15, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.19.0aDec 1, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.18.0Nov 24, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.17.0fNov 18, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Update on Online Multiplayer!Nov 17, 2020
- Patch Notes: 1.16.1Nov 10, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.15.0Nov 3, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.14.0Oct 23, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.13.0bOct 21, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.12.1eOct 14, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Thanks for a Great Launch! (Update)Oct 13, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.12.0bOct 9, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes: 1.11.1Oct 6, 2020significant · resets scoring window