Angvik 2

Introduction

Angvik 2 continues the cult indie roguelike platformer Angvik, sending the player through randomised levels with a wide range of character builds and unpredictable challenges layered on top of tight platforming and combat. Alastair John Jack, the solo developer behind the original, developed and self-published the sequel, releasing on 17 June 2024. With only 14 English-language reviews on record, this review reads the entire available sample — both negatives and all 12 positives — out of a corpus sitting at Positive, roughly 86%. Small as that sample is, it tells a clear, consistent story.

An expansion that keeps what worked

Reviewers who know the original are broadly reassured by what the sequel does. One detailed review called it a "safe purchase," explaining precisely why: "the first game is a curious masterpiece of a rogue-lite game that I keep permanently installed for quick sessions. The 2nd game is exactly what I hoped for: expanded but keeps the base formula intact." Other reviewers describe the sequel as packed with "charm, humour and little surprises that keep each play-through fresh," with character options, progression systems and environment variety all drawing specific credit for genuinely building on the original rather than simply reskinning it. Comparisons to Noita and Spelunky appear independently across the small sample, with reviewers framing Angvik 2 as a gentler, more approachable take on that particular flavour of roguelike platforming.

A gentler game than its predecessor

The one clear, repeated concern in this review's sample is difficulty, and it comes up often enough in a corpus this small to be a genuine signal rather than an outlier complaint. One reviewer described succeeding on their first or second try and expecting the challenge to ramp up afterward, only to find "the easy is repeated continuously, which makes the game boring" — while still recommending the game overall, they specifically flagged the absence of difficulty options as the fix they wanted. Another reviewer's framing puts the contrast plainly: this entry is relaxing "unlike the Angvik1, the 2D dark souls" nickname they gave the original. Steam's achievement data offers a supporting data point — the game's rank-tier achievements decline gently from around 76% at the first tier to roughly 16% by the eighth, a gradual curve rather than the steep early cliff a punishingly difficult roguelike typically produces, consistent with a game whose early hours don't put up much resistance.

Final Verdict

Angvik 2 is a well-crafted, low-cost sequel that does exactly what its small but devoted audience asked for in the ways that matter most — more of a beloved formula's charm, build variety and surprises, built on a genuinely solid foundation. Where it falls short of matching its predecessor's reputation is difficulty: reviewers who remember the original's harsher challenge consistently note this entry runs noticeably easier, with several specifically requesting options to bring some of that bite back. For players who want a relaxed, well-made roguelike platformer with genuine charm, that's a reasonable trade; for players specifically chasing the original's punishing edge, temper expectations accordingly.