Skip to main content

Gimmick! 2

Gimmick 2 is a sequel that improves on its original and inspiration, put together by a studio that clearly have reverence for their source material.
Gimmick! 2 Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
85% User Score Based on 103 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Buy Nowfrom $19.99
Buy NowGet on Steam $19.99Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store
Gimmick! 2 Game Cover

About Gimmick! 2

Gimmick! 2 is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Bitwave Games and was released on September 5, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Embark on a sparkling journey in this long-awaited sequel to SUNSOFT’s legendary 8-bit platformer Gimmick! Solve puzzles, trick enemies, and explore a physics-based playground. Yumetaro is back!

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
Gimmick! 2 screenshot
+2
Skip Games Like Gimmick! 2

Games Like Gimmick! 2

Looking for games like Gimmick! 2? Here are top platformer recommendations, selected from player-similarity data — start with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Freedom Planet 2 or Constance.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair Image
86%966reviews

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

2019Platformer
Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPC+7
Games like Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Freedom Planet 2 Image
90%2kreviews

Freedom Planet 2

2022Arcade Platformer
Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPC+7
Games like Freedom Planet 2
Constance Image
86%1.1kreviews

Constance

2025Open World Platformer
Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPC+6
Games like Constance
Guacamelee! 2 Image
88%1.7kreviews

Guacamelee! 2

2018Hack and Slash
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4+11
Games like Guacamelee! 2
Lone Fungus Image
84%819reviews

Lone Fungus

2023Open World Platformer
Nintendo SwitchPCXbox+2
Games like Lone Fungus
Axiom Verge 2 Image
81%755reviews

Axiom Verge 2

2022Hack and Slash
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4+11
Games like Axiom Verge 2
Teslagrad Image
78%1.3kreviews

Teslagrad

2013Arcade Platformer
Playstation 3Nintendo SwitchAndroid+18
Games like Teslagrad
MO:Astray Image
86%2.3kreviews

MO:Astray

2019Casual Platformer
Nintendo SwitchPCTablet+7
Games like MO:Astray
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Image
76%1kreviews

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams

2012Arcade Platformer
Playstation 3Xbox 360Playstation 4+10
Games like Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams
Unbound:Worlds Apart Image
82%1kreviews

Unbound:Worlds Apart

2021Open World Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|S+9
Games like Unbound:Worlds Apart
More games like Gimmick! 2
Skip User Reviews

Reviews

85%Audience ScoreBased on 103 reviews
music23 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Exceptional and precise platforming gameplay with satisfying star-throwing mechanics that fans of the original and platforming enthusiasts will appreciate.
  • Well-designed levels with a mix of puzzles, challenges, and secrets that reward exploration and skill mastery, supported by frequent checkpoints and quick respawns.
  • Charming and colorful art style with smooth animations, complemented by a calming, well-composed soundtrack by David Wise that suits the game's tone.
  • The game lacks the unique charm, creativity, and variety of the original, with more generic level themes and less memorable world-building and boss encounters.
  • Levels tend to be long and at times drag on, causing pacing issues and making 100% completion tedious due to large areas and difficult-to-find secrets without adequate fast travel or hint systems.
  • Controls occasionally feel stiff or awkward, star recall mechanics can interfere with combat, and there are reports of input lag and minor bugs, detracting from the otherwise polished experience.

  • music

    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    45% positive mentions, 49% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The music, composed by David Wise, is generally praised for its quality, melodic and atmospheric style, and faithful nods to the original game's tracks, enhancing the overall experience. However, many reviewers feel it lacks the energetic, upbeat charm and memorable hooks of the original soundtrack, often describing it as more ambient and subdued, which some find underwhelming or less fitting for the game's tone. Overall, while the soundtrack is polished and pleasant, it divides opinion due to its departure from the original's vibrant style.

    • “Complementing this is a thoughtfully composed soundtrack that enhances the experience with melodic, understated themes that fit naturally with the game’s tone.”
    • “Great visuals, lots of attention to detail, and a soundtrack by the legendary David Wise.”
    • “Music is phenomenal, level design is tight and fun, with a lot of different angles of approach at every corner, where the game challenges you to take an alternate route, or to do a little puzzle room requiring quick thinking and reflexes.”
    • “Music is really mild though, and it ends up just increasing the boredom you're experiencing by the 4th world after puzzle fatigue.”
    • “There's a few times where they do remix music from Gimmick 1 (the intro did make me smile), but having these songs here honestly detracts from the game by just showing how boring the rest of the soundtrack is.”
    • “Add to this the mobile game art style, and really uninspired music and stage themes and you really just have a spoiled soup of a sequel.”

  • gameplay

    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    22% positive mentions, 72% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The gameplay centers on the signature star-throwing mechanic, which is refined and expanded from the original game to offer a challenging and satisfying platforming and puzzle experience. While the focus on this single core mechanic makes the gameplay feel cohesive and precise, some players find it limited in variety over longer sessions. Overall, the game is praised for its tight controls, thoughtful level design, and faithful modern adaptation of the original's mechanics, providing a deep and deliberate platforming challenge.

    • “Rather than reinventing itself to match modern platforming trends, the game leans into what made its predecessor distinctive: a tightly focused mechanical identity built around physics, precision, and deliberate control.”
    • “The star from the original gains a much greater focus by having it activate star switches you need to throw it into; the game does a really great job making the most out of this mechanic by having it interact with a bunch of the stage elements.”
    • “Solving these complex platforming puzzles and then executing on their mechanical challenge is deeply, deeply satisfying in a way that 2D platformers can rarely manage.”
    • “Gone are the short but condensed levels that ask you to learn its mechanics and understand ways to make your future playthroughs easier on yourself.”
    • “For others, it may feel somewhat limited, especially over longer sessions where the lack of mechanical variety becomes more noticeable.”
    • “The star recall mechanic is absolutely miserable, often resulting in cancelling stars you needed to keep.”

  • graphics

    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    45% positive mentions, 45% neutral mentions, 10% negative mentions

    The graphics receive mixed reviews, with many praising the smooth, modernized visuals and charming, cohesive art style that enhances the platforming experience. However, some critics feel the new art direction lacks the character and distinctiveness of the original, comparing it unfavorably to cheap mobile game aesthetics. Overall, while visually appealing and well-animated, the style may not satisfy all fans of the series.

    • “The shift away from strict retro pixel art allows for smoother animations and more expressive environments, yet the overall aesthetic remains grounded and cohesive.”
    • “What I can tell you is that this feels exactly like a super fun platformer from the NES days, just with modern graphics.”
    • “Great visuals, lots of attention to detail, and a soundtrack by the legendary David Wise.”
    • “The art style is horrible.”
    • “Another huge shame in my opinion is the art style they've chosen to go with here.”
    • “Lots of environmental assets don't feel like they really belong in the game's art style, and at worst some of them look like they might be reused from a different project.”

  • story

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    20% positive mentions, 20% neutral mentions, 60% negative mentions

    The story is generally viewed as weak or underdeveloped, with some users finding it cringe-worthy or feeling it was an afterthought. Compared to similar games, it lacks cohesion and organic integration into the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is minimal and does not significantly enhance the experience.

    • “Something like Elechead or Cave Story, where the world is explored in more detail and you adventure within it as a hostile foreigner.”
    • “Cringe story beginning, better off not even saying anything.”
    • “Great graphics, rigid controls, zero story, I beat the game with 71% completion in under 7 hours.”
    • “The boss fights are much less organic, the world isn't as cohesive, the game's story feels like an afterthought.”

  • grinding

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is generally manageable but can feel tedious and repetitive, especially due to the lengthy star switch puzzles, making some battles frustrating compared to the original game's more balanced challenge.

    • “The star switch puzzles are simple and creative, but they get tedious and repetitive when you realize how egregiously long the levels are.”
    • “The original game didn't have anything like this and still managed to be challenging in its own way without the tediousness.”
    • “Some battles can be a bit frustrating, but nothing too tedious.”

  • replayability

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Users appreciate games with high replayability, even if they are short, and find that cosmetic additions contribute positively to replay value.

    • “I would rather have a highly replayable short game.”
    • “Cosmetics are a neat addition that adds some replay value.”

  • humor

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is subtle and quirky, emerging from unusual gameplay mechanics and unexpected challenges. Players appreciate the playful twists, such as unlocking amusing character variations, which add a lighthearted and inventive touch to the experience.

  • optimization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Optimization is praised for delivering flawless performance on the Steam Deck, meeting user expectations perfectly.

    • “Flawless performance on Steam Deck, as expected.”

  • atmosphere

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's atmosphere features ambient and relaxing music by Dave Wise, creating a calm mood that contrasts with the original's upbeat and dynamic soundtrack, leading to a more subdued and less hectic experience.

  • emotional

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Users feel that the emotional aspect of "gimmick 2" is deeply disappointing, as it misses the core emotional connection, leading to a heartbreaking experience.

  • monetization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The monetization is well-balanced and not exploitative, with users feeling the game avoids being a cash grab.

Skip Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Gimmick! 2

Some of these are affiliate links — if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Gimmick! 2 is a platformer game. Common tags for Gimmick! 2 include indie, family friendly, difficult, retro, cute and others.

Gimmick! 2 is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Gimmick! 2 was released on September 5, 2024.

Gimmick! 2 was developed by Bitwave Games.

Gimmick! 2 has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Gimmick! 2 for its music but disliked it for its story.

Gimmick! 2 is a single player game.

Similar games include Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Freedom Planet 2, Constance, Guacamelee! 2, Lone Fungus and others.