Choose Spelunky
Choose Spelunky if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it has co-op, so you can bring a friend. 10,185 Steam reviews back the pick.
Spelunky vs Downwell
Spelunky and Downwell 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 2 years older than Downwell (2015). Downwell scores higher on Steam reviews (96.9% 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 Downwell
Choose Downwell if you want an Action, Adventure, and Casual experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 96.9% positive across 5,174 reviews.
Both Spelunky and Downwell sit in Indie on Steam and both list Steam Leaderboards, 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 |  Downwell | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2015 |
| Genres | Indie | Action, Indie, Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.1% positive (10,185 reviews) | 96.9% positive (5,174 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Mossmouth | Moppin |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Spelunky (2013) is 2 years older than Downwell (2015).
- Downwell scores higher on Steam reviews (96.9% positive) than Spelunky (92.1% positive).
- Downwell is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Spelunky (2.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Spelunky has co-op; Downwell does not.
- Both are Deck Verified.
Spelunky vs Downwell — FAQ
- Which is better, Spelunky or Downwell?
- On Steam reviews Downwell scores higher (96.9% positive) than Spelunky (92.1% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Downwell is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Spelunky or Downwell first?
- If you want chronology, Spelunky (2013) came out before Downwell (2015). 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 Downwell 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.
- Does Downwell have multiplayer like Spelunky?
- No. Spelunky supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Downwell is listed as single-player only.
- Do Spelunky and Downwell both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.