by Game of Review Team · published 2026-09-28 · updated 2026-09-28
What Minecraft Dungeons II actually is
Minecraft Dungeons II is the follow-up to Mojang's 2020 isometric action-RPG spin-off, and it launches on Steam on September 29, 2026 from developers Mojang Studios and Double Eleven, published by Xbox Game Studios. The pitch is simple: drop the pickaxe, grab a sword, and fight your way across two worlds to stop a new evil threat. It's $29.99 for the standard edition, with a $49.99 Deluxe Edition that bundles both planned DLC packs plus extra hero skins and pets.
What's new since the first game
The sequel isn't just more of the same dungeons. It swaps the original's level-select map for an interconnected overworld, adds new biomes including a Deep Dark area, and introduces actual platforming with a jump button - something the first game never had. Armor is now split across four slots (head, chest, legs, arms), and there's a new item type called talismans alongside the returning artifacts. A mini-inventory lets you swap weapons mid-fight without pausing, which hands-on previews say makes combat feel noticeably more responsive.
Co-op is still the main draw
Up to four players can team up in split-screen, online, or cross-platform co-op, and Remote Play Together is supported too. There are no fixed classes - your build comes entirely from the gear you find, so there's room for min-maxing without forcing anyone into a role.
It's not flawless yet
Preview coverage from outlets who got hands-on time before launch flagged a few rough edges still in progress: character tracking gets messy in chaotic fights, jump distances during the new platforming bits can be hard to judge, and pathfinding needed more polish heading into release. None of it sounds like a dealbreaker, but it's worth tempering expectations for a day-one Deluxe Edition purchase.
Who it's for: if you or your kids burned through the first Minecraft Dungeons in a weekend of couch co-op and wanted more, this is squarely built for you - just maybe wait a few days for patch notes before buying the $49.99 edition.
Our take
Launching a sequel to a five-year-old spin-off the same week as several bigger action-RPGs is a bold move, but Mojang is smart to lean into what actually worked the first time: cheap, approachable, couch-friendly co-op loot grinding that doesn't demand a huge time investment. The platforming and talisman additions read like genuine attempts to fix the original's biggest complaint - that it got repetitive fast - rather than just padding a sequel with more of the same. The real test is whether the jump mechanic and pathfinding issues flagged in previews get ironed out by launch, because a $49.99 Deluxe Edition is a tough sell if the core movement still feels unpolished on day one.
Games mentioned
Minecraft Dungeons II
$29.99