An Indie Backlog curated overview. We round up the best indie roguelikes and how professional critics and players received each one — the scores below are theirs, linked to the source.
The platforming roguelike of pure, brutal, emergent chaos — the gold standard the entire genre measures itself against.
At a Glance
| Developer | Mossmouth |
| Release year | 2020 |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Subgenre | Platform roguelike |
| Length | ~20 hours (main story) |
| Metacritic | 91 / 100 |
| Steam rating | Very Positive (~93%, 21,000+ reviews) |
| Steam Deck | Verified |
| Languages | 13 |
About the Game
Spelunky 2, from Mossmouth (Derek Yu), is the sequel to the game that helped define the modern roguelike. It’s a 2D platformer where you descend through procedurally generated caves, dodging traps, enemies, and your own mistakes, with a single hit from almost anything spelling sudden death. Everything in the world interacts — and that’s the whole point.
Its genius is emergence. The shopkeeper you anger, the boulder you dislodge, the pet you rescue, the bomb you mistime — every element of a level is a physics object that reacts to everything else, producing chaotic, hilarious, and often fatal chain reactions no designer scripted. No two deaths feel the same.
It’s famously, deliberately hard, with deep secrets, alternate paths, and a skill ceiling that rewards hundreds of hours. The sequel adds layered levels, mounts, and liquid physics that deepen the chaos. For players who want a roguelike that’s all about mastery and improvisation, it’s the peak.
Screenshots
Screenshots: official Steam media for Spelunky 2.
Why It Made the List
Spelunky 2 earns its place as the platforming roguelike against which all others are judged. Its emergent, everything-interacts design produces stories you’ll retell for years — and a difficulty that makes every real victory euphoric.
What the Critics Say
Spelunky 2 holds a Metacritic score of 91 — one of the highest on this list. Critics praised its emergent design, depth, and the fairness beneath its brutality; the main caveat is simply how punishing it is.
What Players Say
On Steam it’s rated Very Positive across more than 21,000 reviews — about 93% positive. Players adore the emergent chaos, while warning newcomers about the steep, unforgiving learning curve.
Praise & Criticism
Praise
- Brilliant emergent, everything-interacts design
- Immense depth and secrets
- Endlessly replayable
- Fair beneath the brutality
Criticism
- Punishingly, deliberately hard
- Unforgiving to newcomers
- One mistake can end a great run
Games Like This
- Dead Cells — another mastery-driven 2D roguelike
- The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth — deep, deadly run-based design
- Risk of Rain 2 — escalating roguelike chaos
Where to Buy
Plain store links for now — swap in your affiliate-tagged URLs once you’ve joined Amazon Associates and the eBay Partner Network. (Steam has no affiliate program; that link is for convenience.)
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