Choose Spelunky
Choose Spelunky if you want the Shared/Split Screen, Steam Leaderboards, and Shared/Split Screen PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 10,185 Steam reviews back the pick.
Spelunky vs Gatedelvers
Spelunky and Gatedelvers both land in Indie on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Indie games on Steam. Spelunky (2013) is 10 years older than Gatedelvers (2023). Gatedelvers scores higher on Steam reviews (94.4% positive) than Spelunky (92.1% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Gatedelvers
Choose Gatedelvers if you want an Action, Adventure, and Early Access game with Online Co-op. On Steam, it's the newer release (2023) and ships with the modern feature baseline. Gatedelvers launched in 2023.
Both Spelunky and Gatedelvers sit in Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Spelunky |  Gatedelvers | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2023 |
| Genres | Indie | Action, Indie, Adventure, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.1% positive (10,185 reviews) | 94.4% positive (54 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Mossmouth | Unikone |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Spelunky (2013) is 10 years older than Gatedelvers (2023).
- Gatedelvers scores higher on Steam reviews (94.4% positive) than Spelunky (92.1% positive).
- Gatedelvers is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than Spelunky (14.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: Spelunky is Deck Verified, Gatedelvers is Deck Playable.
Spelunky vs Gatedelvers — FAQ
- Should I play Spelunky or Gatedelvers first?
- If you want chronology, Spelunky (2013) came out before Gatedelvers (2023). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Spelunky and Gatedelvers similar?
- They overlap on Indie on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Spelunky and Gatedelvers have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Spelunky ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Gatedelvers ships Online Co-op, Co-op.