Still no release date for the PS4 and PC title

When’sSpelunky 2coming out? That’s still TBD. But if we had a release date, I’d be counting the days.

Over on the PlayStation Blog,Spelunkycreator Derek Yu shared a status update and spoke about a few new improvements planned for the long-time-coming roguelike platformer sequel. “Although we’re not quite ready to announce a release date, we’re getting closer and closer, finally getting to implement the deepest parts ofSpelunky 2that have been collecting dust in my notepad for years,” he said.

Article image

As you can quickly glean from screenshots,Spelunky 2is leaning into everything that made the perilous adventure concept so tantalizing – simple but nuanced controls, crazy “ripple effect” moments, and a tough but fair challenge to overcome – while focusing on the content variety and art direction.

“I think we’ve struck a good balance now, where the graphics are crisp and easy to parse, but the details still stand out enough so that you can easily soak them up as you play the game,” Yu said. “Effects like lighting and liquids are more vibrant now, too, contributing to that feeling of a dynamic, living world that has been our goal since day one.”

The ghost at the end of the hallway

“One thing we haven’t talked enough about yet is audio,” he continued. “Eirik Suhrke, who worked onSpelunky 1, is creating a dynamic, multilayered soundscape that is much more immersive than the first game. Each area not only has its own unique musical theme, but every creature, trap, item, and surface has its own suite of sound effects associated with it.”

The team intends to have “each run feel even more like a personalized adventure,” so you can expect “a lot of obvious and non-obvious interactions with the rest of the world” and “more characters in the vein of the [trigger-happy] shopkeeper, who can help or hinder the player in unexpected ways.”

Picking up the smiley face post-it off the broken mirror

Another note I hadn’t thought about until now: a form of Deathmatch will return forSpelunky 2, but the developers are “trying to expand on the concept and make it stand tall next to Adventure Mode.”

This game is going to drive me mad in the best way.

John and Molly sitting on the park bench

Close up shot of Marissa Marcel starring in Ambrosio

Kukrushka sitting in a meadow

Lightkeeper pointing his firearm overlapped against the lighthouse background

Overseer looking over the balcony in opening cutscene of Funeralopolis

Edited image of Super Imposter looking through window in No I’m not a Human demo cutscene with thin man and FEMA inside the house

Looking at the ghost of Jackie inside the lighthouse