‘Minecraft Dungeons II’ Arrives To Solid Reviews As Critics Praise Safe But Polished Sequel

Minecraft Dungeons II is officially here, and critics say the sequel is a bigger, better version of its predecessor, even if it doesn’t reinvent the formula.

The action role-playing game, developed by Mojang Studios and Double Eleven, launched Sept. 29 on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and Windows PC. Xbox Game Studios and Mojang publish it, and it’s also available through Xbox Game Pass.

The game follows 2020’s Minecraft Dungeons, a dungeon-crawling spinoff of the blockbuster sandbox game that reached 25 million players before Mojang ended development in 2023.

A new dimension

Minecraft Dungeons II sends players into the Sift, a brand-new, uncharted dimension filled with dangerous threats and mysteries, as they work to stop a fresh plot by the franchise’s villainous illagers.

Players can take on the adventure alone or team up with up to three others through couch co-op, online play or a mix of the two, with matchmaking available for those looking for allies.

The sequel also introduces several long-requested features, including an overworld map, a jump button, an in-game economy and a more flexible build system that lets players experiment with their characters. Mojang has also expanded post-campaign activities, a common criticism of the original.

A Deluxe Edition adds four hero skins, a Soul cape, a Blub pet and the game’s first two planned downloadable content packs.

Critics: ‘The game the original was meant to be’

Reviews have been generally favorable, with the game holding a score of 76 on Metacritic for its Xbox Series X version based on 26 critic reviews, none of them negative.

Destructoid was among the most enthusiastic outlets, awarding the game a 9 out of 10 and calling it an excellent advancement that improves on the original in nearly every way.

DayOne gave the game an 8.5, saying that despite a lackluster endgame, it’s not hard to see Minecraft Dungeons II as “the game the original was meant to be,” with flashier combat, a bigger world and more varied character builds.

GameSpot, which scored it a 7, said the sequel adds depth and better connects its world to the wider Minecraft universe, without attempting a radical reinvention.

Not every critic was won over. IGN‘s Travis Northup gave the game a 6 out of 10, calling it “shallow” and arguing that it feels like a Minecraft skin placed over a generic Diablo-style game, with a barebones story and simplistic combat.

Players appear similarly divided. On Steam, about 66% of roughly 4,500 user reviews are positive, giving the game a “Mixed” rating.

Years in the making

The sequel, developed under the code name “Spicewood,” first leaked in March 2025 before Mojang officially announced it during its Minecraft Live broadcast in March 2026. Mojang revealed the release date at the Xbox Games Showcase in June.

Mojang promoted the launch with an alternate reality game that ran from March until mid-September.

Critics broadly agree the sequel plays it safe, but with Minecraft remaining one of the biggest franchises in gaming, Minecraft Dungeons II is poised to be a popular pick, especially among younger players, heading into the holiday season.