I was writing about Blood Dungeon yesterday, but when I added it to my guide to the best new roguelikes, it turns out that I probably should have been writing about an exciting new collaboration with one of the titans of the roguelike genre: Spelunky 2.
If you’re not already in the loop, Messhof’s side-scrolling bullet heaven is chaotic and reactive, and I enjoyed my time playing, especially the first few hours when all the gear was unlocking. It’s an action-platformer with distinctive art and fast-paced gameplay, and it launched back in August 2026.
Now I’ve got a good excuse to dive back in for another round or two, after it was announced that the leading lady from Spelunky 2 is now available as a playable character. That’s right, Dear Reader, Ana has joined the Blood Dungeon.
According to the announcement, Spelunky’s Ana gets luckier the further into each map she gets. As is fitting, she carries a flaming torch (that can set fire to enemies). We were also told about a new weapon, the Sceptre, and an Eggplant charm.
On top of all that, knockback has been reworked a bit to make it more satisfying, and there’s a new power-up for the occasion. Finally, there are also new spells and charms, plus quests to unlock them.
For more on Messhof’s new genre-mash, which is out now on PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox, check out my Blood Dungeon review impressions.
