Spelunky is a challenging platformer where you descend into procedurally generated caves, grabbing treasure and battling enemies. Every run is different, with new traps, monsters, and secrets to discover. You'll need quick reflexes and a good understanding of the game's physics to survive the treacherous Mines, the jungle, the Ice Caves, and beyond, all while trying to reach the mighty Olmec.
This guide will help you master Spelunky. We cover everything from essential controls and weapon strategies to navigating each perilous zone. Whether you're aiming to uncover all the game's secrets, defeat challenging bosses, or simply survive longer, you'll find the information you need to conquer the depths.
How to Play
Master Spelunky's tutorial mechanics: learn to jump, whip, throw, and use ropes with this essential beginner's guide.
Walkthrough
- 1Enter doors by pressing R1.
- 2Jump with the X button; hold for higher jumps.
- 3Hang off ledges by jumping into them and press X to jump from the hanging position. Press down and X to drop off.
- 4Crouch by holding down on the left analog stick. Crawling over a ledge will automatically put you into the hanging position but drop your carried item.
- 5Run/walk with R2. You may need to frequently press and release the run button for precision platforming.
- 6Whip with Square; the attack swings backward and then forward, damaging enemies and knocking back threats. You can jump and run while whipping.
- 7Pick up objects by crouching and pressing Square. Throw them by pressing Square again. Dropping an object while crouching places it half a tile in front of you. Holding up throws it diagonally. Running or jumping inherits momentum. Dropping from a ledge causes it to fall straight down.
- 8Push sliding blocks by walking into them.
- 9Jump through wooden platforms from below by crouching and pressing the jump button.
- 10Run across 1-tile wide gaps in the floor without falling.
- 11Break breakable objects like chests (gems) and wooden crates (ropes or bombs) with standard attacks or by holding up and pressing Square.
- 12Throw Bombs with Circle; you start with 4 Bombs. They explode with a radius of approximately 2 tiles.
- 13Throw Ropes with Triangle. Facing a ledge and crouching makes the Rope hang from it; otherwise, it throws straight upward.
- 14Traverse ladders, ropes, and other climbing devices by holding up or down. Press jump to dismount.
- 15Swim upward in water using the jump button; there is no breathing system.
- 16Press the touchpad to bring up the journal when encountering something new.
Tips
- Holding up or down on the analog stick lets you see further in that direction, useful for spotting traps and judging fall damage.
- Avoid fall damage by landing on an enemy, grabbing a ledge, or grabbing a climbable object mid-fall. Fall damage occurs if you land on or below the bottom edge of the screen.
- Time your jumps carefully to avoid hitting your head on low ceilings when running off ledges. A quick turn-around jump is possible if another ledge is one tile above.
- Instead of crouch-walking off ledges, walk off and immediately flip around to grab the ledge.
- Doors that are two tiles high are level exits. Doors one tile high are backroom doors.
- Doors offer invincibility frames when entering; this lasts for a few moments on the other side of backroom doors, allowing time to react to dangers. You can attack and return through a door without being hit. Doors can be entered from one full tile width away.
- Your feet can be used as a weapon by jumping on enemies. Hanging off a ledge, rope, or standing on a wooden platform can also damage creatures approaching from below.
- Enemies, NPCs (non-player characters), and yourself can enter stun states. The whip causes a longer stun than other attacks. Blood indicates damage. Wiggling indicates they are about to wake up.
- All entities have a brief moment of invincibility after taking a hit.
- Ropes deal 1 damage and stun when thrown into an enemy.
- Bombs tend to travel further than other thrown objects due to their round shape. You can reposition a Bomb by whipping it or picking it up.
World 1: Dwelling
Explore Spelunky's World 1, Dwelling. Learn about items like the Skeleton Key, Spectacles, Paste, and Camera, and their uses.
Items:
- Rope Pile - Provides 3 ropes.
- Bomb Bag - A brown bag containing 3 bombs. Explodes if damaged.
- Bomb Box - A green box containing 12 bombs. Explodes if damaged.
- Paste - A white bottle that turns bombs into sticky Bombs. Sticky Bombs adhere to enemies or walls and can be picked up and thrown.
- Spectacles - Enhances vision in dark levels, revealing gems and items within walls.
- Udjat Eye - Reveals gems and items locked in walls; also used for a secret ending.
- Compass - Displays a red arrow on the HUD (Heads-Up Display) pointing to the exit.
- Four-Leaf Clover - Extends the level timer by five minutes, delaying the Ghost's (an NPC (non-player character — anyone the game controls, not you) that chases the player) appearance. Ineffective if the Ghost has already arrived.
- Skeleton Key - A permanent key that unlocks any locked door.
- Parachute - Automatically slows your fall from great heights, preventing fall damage. Has one use. To dismount, press up or down and the jump button.
- Climbing Gloves - Allows you to cling to and move up walls. Holding the control stick towards the wall is required to cling. Can be awkward and may lead to accidental grabs.
- Pitcher's Mitt - Modifies your throwing arc to a straight line for bombs and thrown objects.
- Spring Shoes - Increases your jump height by one tile. Jumping on enemies also propels you higher.
- Spike Shoes - Jumping on enemies deals 3 damage. Can damage armored enemies and increases damage with prolonged airtime.
- Kapala - A skull cup that fills with blood droplets from sacrifices at the Altar to Kali. Every 8 blood droplets grant +1 HP.
- Camera - Stuns enemies in front of you and kills Bats instantly. Illuminates dark areas and can trigger Arrow Traps. It is the only item that can stun the ghost.
- Mattock - A pickaxe that can dig through dirt and stone. Has a limited use (approximately 55 blocks).
- Machete - Deals 2 damage with an attack arc similar to a whip but with less range behind you.
- Boomerang - A thrown weapon dealing 1 damage that can hit enemies multiple times per throw. It's the only ranged weapon that can travel diagonally and does not cause knockback.
- Shotgun - Fires 12 pellets dealing 4 HP damage each in a random spread. Has significant knockback that can propel you upward when jumping.
- Freeze Ray - Fires a short-range blue laser that freezes enemies. Flying enemies shatter upon hitting the ground; grounded enemies need to be shattered by another means. Has knockback similar to the Shotgun.
- Webgun - Fires webs that can stop some enemies and be used to stick bombs to walls. Webs disappear after five seconds and can be climbed.
- Crossbow - Fires arrows in a straight line. Comes with a blue invincible arrow that can be reloaded. The blue arrow can act as a platform. If lost, normal arrows break after use.
- Plasma Cannon - Fires an explosive projectile with significant knockback (4-5 tiles). The explosion deals 10 HP damage, similar to a Bomb.
Tips
- Dwelling can be surprisingly difficult, even for experienced players. Don't get discouraged by frequent deaths.
- Wooden crates may contain items, but often contain Bombs or Ropes.
- Bombing dirt blocks can sometimes yield useful items.
- The Spectacles and Udjat Eye are clutch for finding hidden items and gems within walls.
- The Four-Leaf Clover is only useful before the Ghost appears.
- Climbing Gloves can be awkward; consider skipping them if you find them difficult to control.
- The Shotgun's knockback can be used to gain extra height when jumping.
- The Freeze Ray's knockback can also be used for extra jump height.
- The Mattock has a limited number of uses.
World 2: Volcana
Navigate Spelunky's Volcana world. Learn about new enemies like Rock Dogs and Magmars, items like Vlad's Cape, and traps like lava.
Walkthrough
- 1Volcana is one of the least dangerous worlds in Spelunky, with predictable and avoidable threats.
- 2Chains serve as ladders, and grey iron blocks function as push blocks.
- 3Avoid wearing backpacks due to the high risk of fire damage; you can unequip them using the down button and the door button.
- 4The Freeze Ray is highly effective in this zone.
New Items:
- Hou Yi's Bow: Obtainable from the Moon Challenge, functionally the same as the Crossbow.
- Crown: Used in reaching the secret ending.
- Vlad's Cape: Worn only by Vlad in Vlad's Castle, allows a double jump and gliding. It can be combined with a mount for a triple jump, with Spring Shoes for a bigger double jump, and doubles blood from enemies.
New Enemies:
- Rock Dog (4 HP): The prevalent mount in Volcana. Spits fireballs when in range and moves erratically. Commit to passing it completely or timing a jump from above. If it jumps into a lava pit while you are on it, it dies instantly, granting a free jump. Once tamed, it is fire immune and can burn enemies. Its fire immunity does not prevent backpacks from exploding.
- Magmar: Appears from bubbles on lava pools or falls from above. Lives for about six seconds, dealing fire damage (1 HP) to anything it touches. Regular attacks do not damage it, but the whip can reverse it while jumping. The Freeze Ray kills it.
- Imp (1 HP): Carries a glowing cauldron that it tries to drop on you. When destroyed, the cauldron becomes a Magmar. The cauldron ignites Bombs instantly on contact.
- Fire Bug (1 HP): Climbs chains and emits flames (2 damage) periodically. Safe to land on its head. Whip it from any direction between flames. Immune to fire damage. If knocked off its chain, it can walk and fly.
- Lavamander (10 HP): Found in large lava pools. Pops its head up, then pushes a lava wave, and later launches a massive lava wave up to 5 tiles high. Invulnerable except to crushing attacks. Becomes vulnerable to regular attacks if the lava around it is drained.
- Robot: Patrols side to side. Do not hit from the front or back. Deals 1 damage on contact. Reflects all projectiles. Jumping on it from above activates self-destruct, causing it to drive forward and explode. Do not send it toward lava.
- Leprechaun (4 HP): Attempts to stun you and steal gold. If grabbed, quickly throw a Rope to stun him. Drops a Four-Leaf Clover when defeated. Picking up the clover displays a rainbow on the level, beneath which you can dig out a pot of gold.
- Vampire (6 HP): Found in undead levels and Vlad's Castle. Jumps erratically and flies. Drops a Cape when killed.
- Vlad (10 HP): Found only in Vlad's Castle. Teleports 4-8 tiles upon taking damage, potentially telefragging you. Drops Vlad's Cape when killed.
New Traps:
- Lava: Kills instantly on contact. Stay above it. Taking any damage locks controls briefly. Watch for Magmars and Lavamanders. Ropes burn on contact with lava but can be climbed quickly to cross. The Freeze Ray can destroy lava, one droplet at a time.
- Conveyor Belts: Movement speed is affected by direction. Often positioned to drop items into lava. Can be hung off for a second before dropping you.
- Falling Platform: Sets off when touched. Deals 2 damage and stun if caught underneath. Riding it down prevents fall damage. Some rooms position these over lava and prevent backtracking.
- Spikeball: Activates when passed below, crushing blocks. Deals 2 damage and stun on its bottom side.
Tips
- It is recommended not to wear any of the four backpacks in this world due to the high risk of taking fire damage.
- The Freeze Ray is highly effective in this zone.
- When riding a Rock Dog, if it jumps into lava, you get one free jump to escape.
- If a Leprechaun is defeated, picking up his Four-Leaf Clover reveals a pot of gold by digging under a rainbow.
- The Robot's projectiles are reflected, making guns dangerous.
- Do not send a Robot toward lava unless you want wider lava pools.
- Ropes will burn up on contact with lava, but if you get stranded, it's usually possible to throw and climb them fast enough to get over it.
World 2: Jungle
Master Spelunky's World 2: Jungle! Learn about new traps like Spear Traps and Bear Traps, enemies like Monkeys and Witch Doctors, and items like the Wooden Shield and Royal Jelly.
The Jungle in Spelunky presents a more claustrophobic environment than the Dwelling, with narrow passages and abundant thorns. Items like Spike Shoes, Spring Shoes, or a Cave Turkey are highly recommended for safe navigation on thorns. Ladders are replaced by vines, and trees function similarly to Climbing Gloves, allowing you to grab their sides. Leafy tiles can be ignited with a Torch or Power Pack, creating shortcuts or entry points.
New Items:
- Wooden Shield: Carried by Tikimen. Pushes items, reflects projectiles (limited durability). Can be destroyed by pushing gold into walls.
- Metal Shield: Indestructible. Pushes and crushes enemies/items. Reflects projectiles. Must be set down to avoid crushing valuables. Do not crush Bomb Bags.
- Royal Jelly: Rare item granting +6 HP instantly.
- Hedjet: Secret item from the Black Market. Equivalent to the Crown, enhances night vision, used for the secret ending.
New Traps:
- Thorny Vines: Tiles outlined with thorns, dealing 1 damage. Spike Shoes or Spring Boots allow safe walking. Cave Turkeys are immune. Bumping sides/bottom still causes damage.
- Spear Trap: Single tile trap that stabs in four directions simultaneously. Deals 4 damage and stuns. Has a skull shape.
- Bear Trap: Snaps shut instantly. Instant kill on players, destroys dropped items. Difficult to see, but white/gold should stand out. Can be disarmed with a whip and reset by throwing.
New Enemies:
- Mosquito: 1 HP. Small flying enemy.
- Hang Spider: 1 HP. Harmless unless knocked off web, then acts like a standard Spider.
- Giant Spider: 10 HP. Erratic movement. Recommended to bomb its web or use a Bear Trap beneath it. Drops Paste and a gem.
- Monkey: 1 HP. Stuns, steals items, ignites bombs. Dispatch from above or use a Rope if grabbed. Targets Cavemen and Tiki Men.
- Tiki Man: 3 HP. Similar to Caveman. Throws Boomerangs/Torches, or reflects Shotgun pellets with a Wooden Shield.
- Witch Doctor: 3 HP. Attacks: 1 damage/stun spell when approached, homing skull causing Cursed status. Bombing the area may be safer than risking a curse.
- Mantrap: 3 HP. Carnivorous plant that eats on contact. Spike Shoes ineffective. Whip or throw items to stun.
- Bee: 1 HP. Erratic flying enemy. Stay above or lure into narrow passages.
- Queen Bee: 10 HP. Deals 2 damage per hit. Drops Royal Jelly.
Clearing the Jungle:
- Golden Idol Room: Features Spear Traps around the Idol. Move with a steady rhythm. The Idol is worth $10000.
- Parsley, Parsnip, Parmesan: Sisters found in backrooms on 2-2, 2-3, 2-4. Rescue by pushing blocks and speaking to them. They offer a gift in 3-1.
- The Moon Challenge: Appears on 2-2 or 2-3.
- Bee Level Indicator: An incessant buzzing sound. Honeycomb rooms filled with Bees. Stay above them or use a Shotgun. Thrown weapons can get stuck in honey.
- Queen Bee Backroom: Contains more Bees and a Queen Bee. Killing the Queen Bee drops a Royal Jelly (+6 HP). An item crate is usually present.
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