Spelunky

 PC
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 590 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 384 out of 590
  2. Mixed: 97 out of 590
  3. Negative: 109 out of 590

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  1. Arkan01d
    Oct 30, 2013
    6
    I've been a big fan of rouge-like games. The first one I ever played was Amulet of Yendor on a 5 1/4" floppy drive. There are two things, for me, that makes a game of this type enjoyable: One is the constant threat of danger and death awaiting every corner. Spelunky excels over and above in that aspect. After I had died 4 times in 8 minutes and had not been able to complete level 1-1 II've been a big fan of rouge-like games. The first one I ever played was Amulet of Yendor on a 5 1/4" floppy drive. There are two things, for me, that makes a game of this type enjoyable: One is the constant threat of danger and death awaiting every corner. Spelunky excels over and above in that aspect. After I had died 4 times in 8 minutes and had not been able to complete level 1-1 I understood just how complex and unforgiving this game is. I wouldn't say steep learning curve, as such things as starting on an island with 3 arrow traps and spikes on both sides for level 1-1 is not really a learning experience so much as a bad luck of the draw. You live fast, you die fast, and if you stop and take time to explore a ghost appears and one hits you.

    It's for this reason that I gave Spelunky a low score, not that I died, or not that it's too hard to play. Spelunky is a reduction of a rouge-like. It's missing the 2nd thing that all rouge-likes should have: Character development. There's no off the wall classes with different abilities and weaknesses. There's no real inventory management, or stats, or ways to shape your character. It's just run through, don't stop, don't worry about the avatar, just go till you die.

    I like the game play, the graphics aren't bad, the music is meh. For me though, a rouge-like game is about developing a character and living out a story. I still remember getting to the higher floors of Amulet of Yendor and opening a chest that blinded me. Or in NetHack when I had the warrior who I thought was unstoppable until I couldn't find any food and ended up eating an old corpse that poisoned me to death. The story that plays out is what keeps me invested. Since it's missing half of what makes these types of games fun for me I rated it accordingly.    … Expand
  2. Xenten
    Jan 8, 2014
    6
    A well crafted roguelike with a wide range of items and abilities, but ultimately an exercise in random number generation. Like so many games in this genre, "Spelunky" does not reward planning or careful use of resources so much as lucky rolls of the dice. Entertaining, to be sure, but not nearly as profound or mesmerizing as many reviews here would have you believe. That this game rates aA well crafted roguelike with a wide range of items and abilities, but ultimately an exercise in random number generation. Like so many games in this genre, "Spelunky" does not reward planning or careful use of resources so much as lucky rolls of the dice. Entertaining, to be sure, but not nearly as profound or mesmerizing as many reviews here would have you believe. That this game rates a 90 is iron-clad proof that Metacritic is populated more by marketing agencies than by actual gamers.… Expand
  3. BeanMachine36
    May 14, 2014
    5
    This game finds its identity in being brutally hard. There isn't really much else to it. If you don't want to do the same simple tasks over and over until you can consistently make it through levels without mistakes, this game has nothing to offer you. Most of the individual components are not difficult. The game is only difficult because you can save so rarely. I'll play a game withThis game finds its identity in being brutally hard. There isn't really much else to it. If you don't want to do the same simple tasks over and over until you can consistently make it through levels without mistakes, this game has nothing to offer you. Most of the individual components are not difficult. The game is only difficult because you can save so rarely. I'll play a game with difficulty levels, where I can choose whether I want brutal challenge or simple enjoyment, thank you.… Expand
  4. SexyPCbuilder69
    Aug 28, 2013
    5
    Well, all I can really say is that its a good game, but I find that there is no replay value. Plus, older retro style games tend to hurt my face. Yeah, thats' a thing now. Meh. It was good while it lasted, but was more of a pass time.
  5. gamer4life1
    Dec 1, 2013
    7
    gave it a whirl and well.......glad it was on sale for a few bucks. Overall from my experience I ascertain this as a repetitive 2d side scroller in the tradition of Mario, dk, castlevania, etc. without the unique variations that those titles retained. I was expecting large underground caverns and caves to explore; instead got a cramped lil area to digdug, kill a few badies, collect thegave it a whirl and well.......glad it was on sale for a few bucks. Overall from my experience I ascertain this as a repetitive 2d side scroller in the tradition of Mario, dk, castlevania, etc. without the unique variations that those titles retained. I was expecting large underground caverns and caves to explore; instead got a cramped lil area to digdug, kill a few badies, collect the same gems, and save a lost girl.

    Hardly unique and inspiring for players to enjoy. One other thing...the music is atrocious, so blatant retro and painful to listen to, with all the music opts available why this? UGH!!

    There is also blood so parents be warned!

    I gave it a seven for the sound effects, general controls and the graphics; which were decent.    … Expand
  6. dajhorn
    Dec 26, 2014
    5
    Spelunky combines random instant death with start-from-the-beginning repetitiveness, which can be fun in small amounts but is ultimately tiresome. The word "roguelike" in game reviews seems to be a new way to say Unbalanced or Nintendo-Hard.
  7. Quickreviews
    Aug 10, 2016
    7
    Spelunky is very unique, a good challenging game! it can be a lot of fun but I think is a little too hard.

    The Good: -Procedure generated levels -Cute graphics -Solid engine and controls -Unlimited replayability -Very challenging -You can find/buy items that make the game more fun The Bad: -Very annoying repetitive music(This is the main thing that I disliked about this game,    Spelunky is very unique, a good challenging game! it can be a lot of fun but I think is a little too hard.

    The Good:
    -Procedure generated levels
    -Cute graphics
    -Solid engine and controls
    -Unlimited replayability
    -Very challenging
    -You can find/buy items that make the game more fun

    The Bad:
    -Very annoying repetitive music(This is the main thing that I disliked about this game, if it wasn't for this I would have play it more)
    -Really hard and unforgiving
    -No sense of progression, same thing over and over again with no purpose... I haven't unlocked anything, since I started playing.
    -All playable characters felt exactly the same

    7/10    … Expand
  8. edxtan
    Jun 24, 2023
    5
    Spelunky's platforming is generally fun, thanks to its tight mechanics and unique enemies. However, the difficulty is so inconsistent on each run that achieving the slightest bit of progress is a complete slog.
  9. Wrathzo
    Mar 22, 2022
    6
    Spelunky is a 2008 source-available 2D platform game created by independent developer Derek Yu and released as freeware for Microsoft Windows. The player controls a spelunker who explores a series of caves while collecting treasure, saving damsels, fighting enemies, and dodging traps. The caves are procedurally generated, making each run-through of the game unique.
  10. Zapro11
    Sep 18, 2020
    6
    This game has a great concept and its mechanics are very polished and well made but levels lack variety, feel empty and aren't very detailed or complex, they are clearly the result of an algorithm. Furthermore the game feels very barebones and its lacking when it comes to content. Due to this the game is fun for a short while but gets boring in the long run. The challenging difficulty is aThis game has a great concept and its mechanics are very polished and well made but levels lack variety, feel empty and aren't very detailed or complex, they are clearly the result of an algorithm. Furthermore the game feels very barebones and its lacking when it comes to content. Due to this the game is fun for a short while but gets boring in the long run. The challenging difficulty is a definite plus for me though. I wouldn't recommend buying this game unless its on sale for 5$ or less, if its any more expensive you're better off buying spleunky 2 which is a vastly superior game.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PC Game of 2013
73
#73 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
44
#44 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Ragequit.gr
    Oct 23, 2014
    95
    Excellent randomly generated level design and very high difficulty. There is no doubt that Spelunky is one of the greatest 2D roguelike platforms ever created.
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  2. Games.cz
    Sep 30, 2013
    80
    Spelunky is a great fun, but when it goes down, the fun is gone and your eye goes neurotic. Still, it ranks among the best recent platformers.
    Read full review
  3. Riot Pixels
    Sep 19, 2013
    80
    A few years ago, Spelunky was a unique phenomenon. Now, when its ideas have been adopted and improved upon by Super House of the Dead Ninjas, Binding of Isaac, and Rogue Legacy, this remake is simply first among equals.
    Read full review
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