Spelunky

36 Games like Spelunky that you should try

Games like Spelunky · Find similar →

More about this game →

Spelunky is hard to replace: few games combine precision platforming, punishing difficulty and procedural generation in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 14 gameplay attributes and found 36 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Shovel Knight, Pizza Tower and Risk of Rain lead the list, with Shovel Knight reaching a 95/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Spelunky special.

iRank90/ 100

Did you find what you were looking for?

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

Tags

HardcoreSoloCo-op

Year 2012Dev BlitWorks

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗PS ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to Spelunky is Shovel Knight — scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. Pizza Tower and Risk of Rain follow close behind.

#1Shovel Knight95 #2Pizza Tower94 #3Risk of Rain89 #4Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time87 #5Trials 2: Second Edition89

🗳️

Help us build the best rankings

Community powered

Vote on each result below — good match or not. Every vote directly shapes how we rank similar games for everyone.

Games like Spelunky

36 similar games found

#1Shovel Knight

95

iRank92

Shovel Knight

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeHardcoreFantasy2D

Steam👍 94%· 960IGDB89· 19OC89· 100

Year 2014Dev Yacht Club GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

94

iRank91

Pizza Tower

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeHardcore2D

Steam👍 98%· 71KRAWG👍 79%· 58IGDB90· 1OC91· 10

Year 2023Dev Tour De PizzaPlaytime ~2hOn PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

89

iRank87

Risk of Rain

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcoreProceduralFantasy2D

Steam👍 93%· 30KIGDB85· 4OC77· 17

Year 2013Dev Hopoo Games · Chucklefish GamesOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, roguelike runs and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems, shooter and action RPG combat, while skipping exploration and discovery

#4Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

87

iRank86

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerMeleeHardcoreFantasy2D

Steam👍 87%· 3.9KIGDB86· 16OC85· 170

Year 2020Dev Toys for Bob · ActivisionOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi, visual third person and visual 3d, while skipping roguelike runs

Steam PS Nintendo

#5Trials 2: Second Edition

89

iRank78

Trials 2: Second Edition

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerHardcore2D

Steam👍 84%· 280RAWG👍 67%· 24IGDB80· 1

Year 2008Dev Redlynx · RedLynxPlaytime ~1hOn PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, punishing difficulty and single-player focus

≠ Stands apart with racing gameplay and sports simulation, while skipping roguelike runs

#6Super House of Dead Ninjas

86

iRank81

Super House of Dead Ninjas

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreProcedural2D

Steam👍 96%· 1.7KRAWG👍 62%· 75MC79IGDB80· 1

Year 2013Dev Megadev · Adult Swim GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, roguelike runs and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings visual pixel, while skipping adventure storytelling

#7Sonic the Hedgehog

83

iRank85

Sonic the Hedgehog

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreFantasy2D

Steam👍 85%· 41IGDB85· 2

Year 1991Dev Sonic Team · SegaOn PlayStation 3 · PC · iOS

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: setting scifi and visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

83

iRank84

Clustertruck

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcoreCasualFirst Person

Steam👍 94%· 18KIGDB74· 10OC74· 45

Year 2016Dev Landfall Games · tinyBuildOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of precision platformers: precision platforming, punishing difficulty and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual and visual first person, while skipping roguelike runs

#9Super Meat Boy

82

iRank89

Super Meat Boy

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloHardcore2DCasualPixel Art

Steam👍 94%· 38KIGDB85· 4OC83· 25

Year 2010Dev Team Meat · BlitWorksOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings vibe casual and visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

Steam Epic Xbox

#10Mighty No. 9

91

iRank51

Mighty No. 9

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMeleeHardcore2D

Steam👍 50%· 3.4KIGDB52· 20OC52· 92

Year 2016Dev Inti Creates · Deep SilverOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Stands apart with shooter, vibe casual and setting anime, while skipping roguelike runs

81

iRank85

Mega Man 11

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DSci-Fi

Steam👍 89%· 5.3KIGDB80· 12OC81· 115

Year 2018Dev Capcom Development Division 2 · CapcomOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter, first-person shooting and setting scifi, while skipping roguelike runs

#12The End Is Nigh

80

iRank86

The End Is Nigh

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DDark

Steam👍 94%· 3.4KIGDB74· 3OC82· 29

Year 2017Dev Tyler GlaielOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, post-apocalyptic world and visual pixel, while skipping roguelike runs

79

iRank85

Mega Man 9

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DNarrative

Steam👍 84%· 1.8KIGDB88· 7

Year 2008Dev Inti Creates · CapcomOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, punishing difficulty and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and strong narrative focus, while skipping roguelike runs

#14Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

74

iRank82

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloHardcore2DNarrativeDark

Steam👍 82%· 81K

Year 2017Dev Bennett FoddyOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Fits the precision platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and survival mechanics

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, deep simulation and strong narrative focus, while skipping roguelike runs

59

iRank91

SANABI

GenrePlatformerSubgenrePrecision Platformer

SoloMeleeHardcore2DNarrative

Steam👍 97%· 44KRAWG👍 89%· 34IGDB95· 2OC80· 6

Year 2023Dev SANABI · NEOWIZPlaytime ~3hOn PC

✓ Both are precision platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: strong narrative focus, linear, story-driven structure and setting cyberpunk, while skipping roguelike runs

Games like Spelunky

Rayman Origins

Rayman Origins

Platformer · Adventure

Rayman Legends

Rayman Legends

Platformer · Adventure

Vibrant Venture

Vibrant Venture

Platformer · Adventure

Lugaru HD

Lugaru HD

Platformer · RPG

Metal Slug 2

Metal Slug 2

Platformer · shooter

N++ (NPLUSPLUS)

N++ (NPLUSPLUS)

Platformer · Puzzle

Super Mario 3D World

Super Mario 3D World

Platformer

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Octodad: Dadliest Catch

Platformer · Adventure

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures

Platformer · Adventure

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

Platformer · Adventure

Rankings in the same genre

Best Precision Platformer Games Best Platformer Games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Spelunky?: The closest game to Spelunky is Shovel Knight, scoring 95/100 on our similarity scale. They share 9 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Spelunky?: The three closest games to Spelunky are: 1. Shovel Knight (95/100, 9 shared attributes) 2. Pizza Tower (94/100, 8 shared attributes) 3. Risk of Rain (89/100, 13 shared attributes). All share Spelunky's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 36 candidates across 14 dimensions.
Is Pizza Tower similar to Spelunky?: Yes, very much so — Pizza Tower scores 94/100 similarity to Spelunky. They share 8 attributes, including precision platforming and adventure storytelling. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Platformer games are similar to Spelunky?: The best Platformer games similar to Spelunky are Shovel Knight, Pizza Tower, Risk of Rain and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key Spelunky attributes like precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus.
How is similarity to Spelunky calculated?: We compare Spelunky against every game in our catalog using 14 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Spelunky experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.