STACK #263 September 2026

GAMING FEATURE

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NEW GRIDS ON THE BLOCK

creatures, and environmental storytelling are more faithful to the main game. The world is less abstract and more grounded in Minecraft ’s logic. What’s instore for multiplayer fans? LdL: Multiplayer is still core to the experience, but the systems are redesigned to support the new world structure. Players can split up, explore independently, or regroup for combat. The goal is to make co-op feel more dynamic and less tied to linear progression. Minecraft Dungeons II is set to take explorers far beyond the linear dungeon crawler roots of the original, with a richer, more systemic world awaiting. Interconnected biomes are introduced, each with its own environmental rules, secrets, and traversal mechanics that evolve as you progress. Enemy factions are now set to behave dynamically, with the forming of patrols, ambushes, and territorial battles making the world feel much more alive. Gear will now be bound to regional identity, meaning items found in one biome may have unique traits or enchantment interactions that aren’t available elsewhere. There will also be persistent world changes, with such results as outposts being cleared, villages restored, and shortcuts unlocked that can reshape future runs.

GENRE: Action RPG MULTIPLAYER: Yes

FORMAT:

One of the highlights of this year’s Summer Game Fest was a developer Q+A with two of the people behind this month’s Minecraft Dungeons II – creative director Måns Olson, and design director Laura de Llorens. Here’s what they had to say about the hotly anticipated sequel. Words Bec Summer LET’S BLOCK!

Why was the decision made to create a sequel, rather than expanding the original Minecraft Dungeons ? MO: The team felt they had ‘hit the ceiling’ of what the original engine and structure could support. We wanted to build a game with true exploration, interconnected environments, and more systemic gameplay, which required starting fresh. The sequel is meant to feel closer to vanilla Minecraft in terms of world logic and player freedom. How is exploration different this time? LdL: The first game was built around linear missions. Minecraft Dungeons II shifts to open, connected regions where players can roam, discover secrets, and revisit areas. The world is designed to feel like a real place, not a sequence of levels. Traversal tools and verticality play a much bigger role. The original game was accessible for allcomers. How are you approaching difficulty this time out? MO: Players who loved the first game have grown up. The sequel ages up with them – offering more challenge, more build depth, and more meaningful gear choices. It’s still approachable, but the ceiling is much higher for players who want complexity. What changes are you bringing to the game’s gear and loot? LdL: Loot is more customisable, modular, and build-defining. Instead of just finding stronger versions of the same items, players can

Minecraft Dungeons II for the original Nintendo Switch is coming in November. DYK?

So, would you say that Minecraft Dungeons II is still a dungeon crawler? MO: Yes, but it’s a dungeon crawler with exploration, systems, and player agency layered on top. We describe it as an action adventure dungeon crawler set in a living world. What was the biggest lesson that you took onboard from the first game? LdL: Players wanted more freedom, more build expression, and more reasons to revisit areas. The sequel is built around those desires. We also learned how

The original Minecraft Dungeons started out as a Nintendo 3DS project that had nothing to do with Minecraft . DYK?

tailor gear to their playstyle. Enchantments, perks, and synergies matter more. We want loot to feel like a real RPG system, not just a treadmill.

much players value co-op, so we’ve invested heavily in making it smoother and more flexible.

How does this sequel bring us closer to classic Minecraft ? MO: The team wanted the sequel to feel more like Minecraft ’s world – biomes, structures,

• Minecraft Dungeons II is out Sep 29

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