Choose Spelunky 2
Choose Spelunky 2 if you want the Online PvP and Online Co-op side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 13,985 Steam reviews back the pick.
Spelunky 2 vs Fork Knights
Spelunky 2 and Fork Knights both land in Action, 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 share Action, Indie on Steam. Fork Knights (2019) is 1 year older than Spelunky 2 (2020). Spelunky 2 scores higher on Steam reviews (93.3% positive) than Fork Knights (77.8% 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 Fork Knights
Choose Fork Knights if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Fork Knights launched in 2019.
Both Spelunky 2 and Fork Knights sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Shared/Split Screen PvP, 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 2 |  Fork Knights | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 93.3% positive (13,985 reviews) | 77.8% positive (18 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Mossmouth, BlitWorks | Screenshock Games |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Fork Knights (2019) is 1 year older than Spelunky 2 (2020).
- Spelunky 2 scores higher on Steam reviews (93.3% positive) than Fork Knights (77.8% positive).
- Fork Knights is free; Spelunky 2 is paid (19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Spelunky 2 is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Fork Knights has no Deck rating yet.
Spelunky 2 vs Fork Knights — FAQ
- Should I play Spelunky 2 or Fork Knights first?
- If you want chronology, Fork Knights (2019) came out before Spelunky 2 (2020). 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 2 and Fork Knights similar?
- They overlap on Action, 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 2 and Fork Knights have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Spelunky 2 ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op; Fork Knights ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Is Fork Knights free?
- Yes — Fork Knights is a free-to-play Steam title. Spelunky 2 is paid (19.99 USD).
- Does Spelunky 2 run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Spelunky 2 is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Fork Knights doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.