The short version: Minecraft Dungeons II launched on September 29, 2026 on PC (Steam and the Xbox app), Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. It costs $29.99, with a $49.99 Deluxe Edition, and was on Game Pass from day one. Critics rate it about 75 on Metacritic, an improvement on the first game’s 70, with praise for co-op and caveats about a thin endgame. Its new dimension, the Sift, comes to Java and Bedrock in 2027.
- 75Metascore (Xbox Series X)
- $29.99Standard edition, with Game Pass day one
- 4Players in co-op
- 2Capes that also work in Java and Bedrock
When did Minecraft Dungeons II come out?
September 29, 2026. It was first leaked as “Project Spicewood” in March 2025, officially announced at Minecraft Live in March 2026, and given its release date at the June 2026 Xbox Games Showcase. It’s developed by Mojang Studios with Double Eleven, which also co-developed the first game, and published by Xbox Game Studios.
What’s new compared with the first game?
- An open, connected world instead of separate levels, with a hub town.
- Jumping and traversal, which the first game never had, plus deeper crafting and character builds.
- The Sift: rifts across the world lead to a new dimension with regions such as Meadows and Carapace. Mojang later confirmed it is coming to the main game.
- Story: an Illager High Council throws the world out of balance, and you and up to three friends set out to fix it.
- Bosses such as the Copper Monstrosity, shown in hands-on demos at Gamescom.
Is Minecraft Dungeons II worth it? What reviews say
Scores converted to a 100-point scale. Sources: Wikipedia, Metacritic, GamerFuzion.
The consensus is a better, safer sequel. Co-op is consistently called its strongest feature, along with sharper combat and deeper builds. The common complaints are a short campaign, a repetitive endgame and launch-week technical problems. Steam user reviews started out mixed, largely because of account sign-in and Steam Deck issues, and an official Steam Deck fix followed. On OpenCritic, roughly 68–72% of critics recommend it.
What do Java players get from it?
| Item | How to get it | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Twisted Cape | Pre-order reward, works in Java and Bedrock | An account exploit let people claim it after launch. Buyers asked Mojang for a fix and compensation. |
| Corrupted Creeper Cape | Free during the Battle for Tokyo event in September 2026 | Tied to a global event in the main game that pushed back an illager invasion |
| The Sift | Coming to Java and Bedrock in 2027 | Playable first through Dungeons II’s rifts |
For a cheaper way into the spin-offs, Mojang also sells a $59.99 Triple Bundle with Minecraft, Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Legends plus 1,020 Minecoins.
What it means
Dungeons II matters to Java players mainly because of what it previews. The Sift will be Minecraft’s first new dimension in over fourteen years, and Mojang chose to introduce it here first. See our Minecraft Live 2026 guide for the announcement and what’s coming next.
