Spelunky 2 is a video game released in 2020. It was created by Mossmouth and BlitWorks and published by Mossmouth. The game is a follow-up to Spelunky, which was released in 2008. Spelunky 2 first came out for PlayStation 4 and Windows in September 2020. It was later released for Nintendo Switch in August 2021, for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in January 2022, and for PlayStation 5 in March 2025. Reviewers praised the game highly when it was first released.

Gameplay

Spelunky 2 is a 2D platform game, similar to its earlier version. In the game, the player controls Ana, the daughter of the explorer from the first game. Ana travels to the Moon to search for her missing parents. She must move through dangerous caves filled with enemies and traps to collect treasures. If Ana dies, the player must restart the game from the beginning unless tunnels (shortcuts) were unlocked. All of Ana’s items are lost, and the game creates new challenges and paths automatically. Players can unlock 19 characters by finding wooden coffin-shaped boxes in each area. Each level includes an additional "backlayer" that players can explore. New areas, such as the lava-themed Volcana, are added. The game includes a new system for how liquids move naturally within levels. It also introduces new monsters, traps, and rideable animals. The game allows four players to play online together, with both cooperative and competitive multiplayer options.

Plot

The game's story is about Ana Spelunky, who is the daughter of Guy Spelunky, a character from a previous game. Ana travels to the Moon to search for her missing parents. The game's story and design are inspired by ancient cultures. It includes mythical characters such as Olmec, Kali, Osiris, Lamassu, Tiamat, and Hundun.

Development

Derek Yu, the creator of the first game, returned to work on the sequel. He collaborated with BlitWorks, the company that made the PlayStation versions of the first game, to handle the programming. Yu chose to hire BlitWorks because the sequel required more complex development. He made sure the game would not change too much from the first Spelunky, believing that sequels should build upon previous games and make fans feel like they are continuing a story. New features were added, while the original gameplay was improved and reworked. Yu aimed to create a game world that feels real and alive to keep new players interested. To do this, he included many stories and background details about the world and characters. The story, which focuses on family and relationships, is mostly shared through journal entries in the game world and at the Base Camp, where players can talk to characters they meet during their adventure.

Sony Interactive Entertainment introduced the game at Paris Games Week in October 2017. Originally planned for a 2019 release, the game came out for PlayStation 4 and Windows in September 2020. It was also released for Nintendo Switch on August 26, 2021, along with the first Spelunky game. A version for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S was launched on January 13, 2022, and is available through Xbox Game Pass. The game was released for PlayStation 5 on March 6, 2025.

Reception

The game received mostly positive reviews when it was released, according to the website Metacritic, which gave it an average score of 87. The PC version of the game received very high praise, with an average score of 91. William Hughes from The A.V. Club wrote that the game honored the success of the original and smoothly added new features, such as the turkey mounting system. Chris Plante from Polygon said the game improved on its earlier version and noted, "everything is just a little different, another stroke that proves perfection is imperfect." Mitchell Saltzman from IGN called the game "a masterpiece that improves on its earlier version in ways I never would have imagined." The game was nominated for Best Indie at The Game Awards 2020.