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. moooo9898
    Jul 4, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Spelunky is a game that requires an innumerable amount of skill. The challenges are nearly impossible to achieve, and require an immense amount of time to achieve. Needless to say these challenges will give you that great feeling of achievement afterward. The levels are randomized well, so the experience is rarely the same. There will be times that you get to skip levels, and times you will be challenged. There are many different items, an interesting shop (which u can even steal from), and multiple ways to beat the game. Overall this is a great, simple, challenging game that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a cheap and fun time.… Expand
  2. Kattsylt
    Sep 18, 2013
    2
    Prepare to die alot, and be bored while you do it. Its highly repetetive and gets old very quickly. I dont see myself playing this game again anytime soon.
  3. ManRammer
    Sep 8, 2013
    3
    Did not enjoy it. I really tried hard to like it. But no. I played games like this on my Commodore and Amiga, but this game just has not evolved at all. Those games were good in the late 80's and maybe early 90's.

    And the most important part: did I have FUN while playing? No. I just did not.
  4. AthanasiosT
    Aug 20, 2013
    3
    I don't own a console, so I played this game for the first time, on a PC. I'm not impressed at all The only "new" concept was the random generated levels and even this was old for PC (see Dungeon Hack). Music was mediocre, graphics the same and all in all I've seen much better platforms before. I really can't understand the whole hype about it.....
  5. eponymous
    Aug 21, 2013
    0
    What a rubbish game. Was open minded about it and gave it an honest nudge, hate everything about it. It's not that a 2D scroller isn't fun because Terraria was awesome. The movement is horrible and difficult to master. There is no fun or reward to be had here only frustration and rage. Wish I could get my money back.
  6. thelastcritic
    Jul 4, 2013
    1
    Spelunky is not a good game. i went in with an open mind but it wasn't appealing or even fun. there is no real skill involved and the puzzles are simple to complete. some enemies are simply dumb. i do not recommend and wouldn't waste my internet downloading it again. Don't waste your time play a better indie game there are plenty out there.
  7. JaydenPickens
    Feb 20, 2019
    4
    Not as good as people make it out to be. If you want to play a game, that is the definition of insanity (as told by Vaas) then of you go. I have better things to do than this... and better games to play. Pickens condemns!
  8. Chocoboom
    Aug 2, 2016
    10
    Buy it. Spelunky is very punishing, but the incredibly precise controls make sure that it is almost never the games fault that you died, but yours. Also you can defeat a boss with a eggplant.
  9. aditya1101
    Oct 11, 2017
    8
    Really cool game, and one of the best games developed by a single person (and one of the first in the recent deluge of indie games, if memory serves). A lot of the bad reviews are probably due to the difficulty, but I think this game is super rewarding if you put enough time into it.
  10. vodkaffee
    Sep 21, 2019
    10
    Probably my favorite game ever, literally infinite replayability,mechanics are super fun and solid AF, the perfect combination of platformer and roguelike
  11. Brumbek
    Dec 31, 2013
    3
    Spelunky has a lot of charm. The visuals are cute and the music is nice. The randomness can lead to funny things like tossing a damsel toward the exit only to have her eaten in one bite by a ravenous plant. Some items are quite fun too. Despite the potential appeal, I found Spelunky to be totally obnoxious, relying on cheap deaths, nonsensical randomness, and arbitrary design decisions.Spelunky has a lot of charm. The visuals are cute and the music is nice. The randomness can lead to funny things like tossing a damsel toward the exit only to have her eaten in one bite by a ravenous plant. Some items are quite fun too. Despite the potential appeal, I found Spelunky to be totally obnoxious, relying on cheap deaths, nonsensical randomness, and arbitrary design decisions. Lest you think I’m just not a good player, it personally took me 9 hours (about 160 deaths) to unlock all the tunnels (the last tunnel unlock is insanely annoying) and then complete the regular ending. Speaking of fiendish, Spelunky is designed to make you die over and over. Moreover, it is random to a fault. Some levels are easy, but others are nightmarish (torch levels!). Gear is absolutely essential for surviving, but often it never spawns. You are at the whim of the randomness which is frustrating. Item management is also obnoxious. You have to constantly be dropping and throwing your stuff. And why can’t you put the key in your pocket!? Because the game wants you to die. To conclude, Spelunky is obnoxious and its charm cannot overcome the incredibly repetitive and random nature of the game. There’s a reason the original PC version is available for free. I cannot recommend this game to anyone but the most masochistic of gamers.… Expand
  12. cidgrad01
    Dec 30, 2013
    1
    I do not understand all the rave reviews this game has received. I bought it during a Steam sale and I wish I could get my money back. This is an overhyped, mediocre platformer that gives you no incentive to keep playing. It bills itself as part platformer, part exploration game, but fails at both. It is way more frustration than fun.

    The core issue with Spelunky is the randomly    I do not understand all the rave reviews this game has received. I bought it during a Steam sale and I wish I could get my money back. This is an overhyped, mediocre platformer that gives you no incentive to keep playing. It bills itself as part platformer, part exploration game, but fails at both. It is way more frustration than fun.

    The core issue with Spelunky is the randomly generated levels. It may sound good on paper: always a new experience! Never the same thing twice! But let’s be honest: Spelunky is actually the same thing EVERY time. All that changes is where things are placed. Instead of running into two bats in the first part of the level, you’ll run into a snake…but the level is still made up of the same bats & snakes. And anyway, playing the same level twice, thrice, or a hundred times doesn’t matter if it is a fun, well-made level.

    The whole random level generation is a dodge for the developers b/c the burden has been taken off of them to create clever, fun environments. Instead they’ve made a few basic gameplay mechanics that all get tossed into a blender every time you play. Good luck, hope something enjoyable comes out of the mix. And the levels still manage to be quite repetitive, despite the randomization.

    This, combined with the “rougelike” elements (the latest indie game fad) poisons the exploration aspect. Not only is the game riddled with cheap deaths and difficulty due to poor controls, but there’s also an invisible timer for each level. If you take too long to finish, a big ghost comes that instantly kills you, meaning you have to start all over but from a new, randomly generated level. And there’s no way to tell how much time is left, so you’ll want to hurry to the exit & keep exploration to a minimum. Where is the fun in that?

    The PC version features a daily challenge, which is one level randomly created each day that is accessible & the same for everyone but you can only play through once. Defenders of Spelunky talk like this is an amazing feature but I say who cares? The whole point of leaderboards & online competition is to see who has the most skill. Classic platformers have legendary levels that all its players know through shared experience (Battletoads, anyone?). Even someone who casually plays through the game once could see the top score & shake their head in amazement. No one will remember Spelunky’s levels, though. Who sits back and talks about, “Man, remember the daily challenge from April 5, 2013? My, that was a classic.”

    Ultimately, there is no point to playing Spelunky beyond saying you did. You may stumble upon a level that is a joy to play, but it’ll be gone forever as soon as you die or find the exit. More likely you’ll stumble repeatedly into tedious levels that look alike and are merely arranged differently. Then you’ll die from touching something you didn’t know was harmful or from taking fall damage, even though the fall didn’t look too steep. Then you’ll have to start the whole thing over from the beginning. Wheeeee.    … Expand
  13. 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
  14. Nidhoggur
    Jan 11, 2014
    0
    Whoever thought it would be fun to play several consecutive levels with 4 hit points, without any proper checkpoints or healing, well it's NOT, and he's a dumbass. It's tedious, frustrating, unrewarding and a general waste of time.
    Any decent roguelike would have more freedom, possibilities and room for error, than that piece of... code.
    And the sickening cartoony style just makes it    Whoever thought it would be fun to play several consecutive levels with 4 hit points, without any proper checkpoints or healing, well it's NOT, and he's a dumbass. It's tedious, frustrating, unrewarding and a general waste of time.
    Any decent roguelike would have more freedom, possibilities and room for error, than that piece of... code.
    And the sickening cartoony style just makes it worse by taunting you with its idiotic cheerfulness.
    I'd gladly return this, if I could. Regret buying.    … Expand
  15. GolovA
    Dec 9, 2014
    10
    Youcan either Love this game or Hate this game. Well, i LOVE it! Impossible to explain all the fun and frustration your are going to have with this game :D until you actually try it. So basically, think old-school-no-save-one-life to finish the whole game scheme! :D Yep! But there are a ton of such games floating around; what make Spelunky different, is sheer fun! And the physicsYoucan either Love this game or Hate this game. Well, i LOVE it! Impossible to explain all the fun and frustration your are going to have with this game :D until you actually try it. So basically, think old-school-no-save-one-life to finish the whole game scheme! :D Yep! But there are a ton of such games floating around; what make Spelunky different, is sheer fun! And the physics and logic in the game. It all makes sense. Did i mention you can play with up to 4 players!? Oh boy so fun it is! LOVE IT!… Expand
  16. Sinsmi
    Jul 15, 2014
    10
    Screw the haters, this game is amazing, and if you rage quit it's you, NOT the game. With 200+ hours on it, I can firmly say that some is random, but skill means you can adapt to anything (no that arrow trap was not "unavoidable" just whip it). It takes a ridiculously long time to get good at the game, so if you don't learn to accept the (likely hundreds) of times you die before beating itScrew the haters, this game is amazing, and if you rage quit it's you, NOT the game. With 200+ hours on it, I can firmly say that some is random, but skill means you can adapt to anything (no that arrow trap was not "unavoidable" just whip it). It takes a ridiculously long time to get good at the game, so if you don't learn to accept the (likely hundreds) of times you die before beating it ONCE, you will hate this game.… Expand
  17. 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
  18. 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
  19. 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.
  20. hackenslash
    Oct 30, 2013
    2
    What I love about small and independant developers is that they often have new ideas and a will to make something unique. When I buy their games I love the idea that I can expect anything to happen when I push the play-button. When I bought Spelunky I thought the idea of randomly generated levels would be that "anything". That one idea could easily have carried a whole game by itself ifWhat I love about small and independant developers is that they often have new ideas and a will to make something unique. When I buy their games I love the idea that I can expect anything to happen when I push the play-button. When I bought Spelunky I thought the idea of randomly generated levels would be that "anything". That one idea could easily have carried a whole game by itself if developed properly. Unfortunately, in my opinion, so was not the case. Instead the game seems to consist of a number of different ideas that each have been proved to work elsewhere. Put together in a way that none of them are fully developed or given the chance to really grab my volatile gamers-attention in the end the idea of the randomly generated levels just seems like a "by the way".

    After playing Spelunky for a while I'm left with a feeling that the game feels eclectic. It doesn't really bring anything new to the table. It feels like the game is trying be a lot of things but ending up not fully being any of them.    … Expand
  21. 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
  22. casualindiegame
    Feb 20, 2014
    0
    I like indie games and I like roguelikes (Nethack is my favorite game of all time) and I like side scrollers. I don't like spelunky. Good games find ways to keep you interested. In spelunky the levels all just look interchangeable, the collectibles are a joke, and there doesn't really seem to be any excitement. Good roguelikes are filled with a sense of wonder, the thought that you areI like indie games and I like roguelikes (Nethack is my favorite game of all time) and I like side scrollers. I don't like spelunky. Good games find ways to keep you interested. In spelunky the levels all just look interchangeable, the collectibles are a joke, and there doesn't really seem to be any excitement. Good roguelikes are filled with a sense of wonder, the thought that you are scratching the border of a zone filled with complexity and fun...

    Spelunky reminds me of the kind of games a 10 year old would enjoy, repetitive and simplistic... I hated it.    … Expand
  23. Jay_Pickens
    Oct 27, 2018
    4
    Not as good as people make it out to be. If you want to play a game, that is the definition of insanity (as told by Vaas) then of you go. I have better things to do than this... and better games to play. Pickens condemns!
  24. lach1223
    Dec 29, 2013
    9
    Really great game. Although difficult, Spelunky keeps you coming back thanks to the addicting gameplay and randomly generated levels. It has that "just one more try" addictiveness. The visual design is excellent and the music is really catchy. The game's humour is also great with some of the captions of the journal. The character models are also quite funny, especially that of the shopReally great game. Although difficult, Spelunky keeps you coming back thanks to the addicting gameplay and randomly generated levels. It has that "just one more try" addictiveness. The visual design is excellent and the music is really catchy. The game's humour is also great with some of the captions of the journal. The character models are also quite funny, especially that of the shop keeper, and the way he behaves after you steal from his shop is really cool! My one complaint is that the multiplayer is pretty weak. The deathmatch game mode is a bit ridiculous and I was disappointed to find that co-op is only local, not online. Otherwise, a really great game.… Expand
  25. PenisMan69
    Aug 19, 2014
    1
    Good concept, but very poorly designed. Game is filled with instant death traps and randomly generated levels that don't even try to be of reasonably similar difficulty. Some levels are randomly made dark, which is a terrible mechanic for new players and shouldn't occur until players have made some progress in the game.
  26. Slipper
    Jan 12, 2014
    9
    Very cute and entertaining game. If you like cartoonish graphics this is game for you. I know that i love. Random generating levels and some times very hard to play. Yes "you " will die a lot , but remember this is only a game. It has to be funny and challenging. For the low price you get a lot of fun.
  27. GingerWalrus
    Aug 29, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is INCREDIBLY difficult and can be extremely frustrating, but that doesn't, even for a second, stop it from being an amazing addictive all round brilliant game that I would recommend to anyone (well at least anyone without a temper lol)… Expand
  28. y2bcrazy
    Aug 19, 2013
    10
    I've played spelunky at it's original state, then the version on Xbox 360 and now on PC. No matter the platform, the game keeps evolving. As a 2D platformer it is excellent and is a must have in your "platformer collection". The game has many level types, enemies, obstacles and atmospheres. Every play-through feels and is different and you can hardly get tired of it. It's one of thoseI've played spelunky at it's original state, then the version on Xbox 360 and now on PC. No matter the platform, the game keeps evolving. As a 2D platformer it is excellent and is a must have in your "platformer collection". The game has many level types, enemies, obstacles and atmospheres. Every play-through feels and is different and you can hardly get tired of it. It's one of those games that you always want to beat your record.… Expand
  29. Jasterrr
    Aug 18, 2013
    10
    For everyone who loves 2D platformers this is must play. Nice controls, randomly generated levels, bunch of secrets, challenging etc. Just play it already!
  30. Billick
    Oct 29, 2013
    10
    Spelunky is a brilliant combination of tough platforming an roguelike elements. With randomly generated levels, loads of obstacles, enemies, and loot, the game provides nigh infinite replay value. The amount of depth this game has is absolutely staggering for a platformer.

    Fair warning: this game is tough. You will die a lot, especially when you start out. However, the vast    Spelunky is a brilliant combination of tough platforming an roguelike elements. With randomly generated levels, loads of obstacles, enemies, and loot, the game provides nigh infinite replay value. The amount of depth this game has is absolutely staggering for a platformer.

    Fair warning: this game is tough. You will die a lot, especially when you start out. However, the vast majority of people giving this negative reviews are just suffering from bruised egos. Rest assured, if you die in this game, it's because you made a mistake. The more you play though, the fewer mistakes you will make. Eventually you will be avoiding deaths you would have previously thought "unfair".

    After countless hours of playing the original freeware version, and now the much-improved HD version, Spelunky is the one game in my collection that I keep coming back to again and again. In short Spelunky is a masterpiece, and one the best platformers of all time.    … Expand
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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

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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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