Choose Spelunky
Choose Spelunky if you want the Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 92.1% positive across 10,185 reviews.
Spelunky vs Mindless Running
Spelunky and Mindless Running 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 3 years older than Mindless Running (2016). Spelunky scores higher on Steam reviews (92.1% positive) than Mindless Running (51.9% 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 Mindless Running
Choose Mindless Running if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's currently about 93% cheaper on the Steam Store. Mindless Running launched in 2016.
Both Spelunky and Mindless Running sit in Indie on Steam, 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 |  Mindless Running | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2016 |
| Genres | Indie | Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 0.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 92.1% positive (10,185 reviews) | 51.9% positive (129 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Mossmouth | Quiet River |
Side by side
- Both are Indie games on Steam.
- Spelunky (2013) is 3 years older than Mindless Running (2016).
- Spelunky scores higher on Steam reviews (92.1% positive) than Mindless Running (51.9% positive).
- Mindless Running is currently ~93% cheaper on Steam than Spelunky (0.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Spelunky has co-op; Mindless Running does not.
- Spelunky is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Mindless Running has no Deck rating yet.
Spelunky vs Mindless Running — FAQ
- Which is better, Spelunky or Mindless Running?
- On Steam reviews Spelunky scores higher (92.1% positive) than Mindless Running (51.9% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Spelunky 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 Mindless Running first?
- If you want chronology, Spelunky (2013) came out before Mindless Running (2016). 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 Mindless Running 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 Mindless Running have multiplayer like Spelunky?
- No. Spelunky supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op), while Mindless Running is listed as single-player only.
- Does Spelunky run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Spelunky is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Mindless Running doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.