Mojang Studios gave its longest look yet at Minecraft Dungeons II gameplay during Minecraft Live on September 26, 2026. The sequel keeps the co-op dungeon crawling of the 2020 original. It changes how players move, explore and build their heroes.
The game releases on September 29, 2026, on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Game Pass. Mojang developed it with Double Eleven.
For the full platform list and PC specs, see our Minecraft Dungeons II release date and system requirements guide.
Minecraft Dungeons II vs Minecraft Dungeons: what changed
| Feature | Minecraft Dungeons (2020) | Minecraft Dungeons II (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| World structure | Separate missions picked from a map | One interconnected world |
| Movement | Roll only | Roll and jump, including jump attacks |
| Armor | One item | Four pieces: helmet, chestplate, leggings, boots |
| Gear slots | 6 | 12 |
| Passive gear | None | Up to three talismans |
| Enchanting | Tied to each item | Personal enchantment library |
| Ranged ammo | Arrows had to be collected | Unlimited, refills on a cooldown |
| Dimensions | Overworld | Overworld and The Sift |
| Art style | Original look | New, more colorful style |
An interconnected world instead of a mission map
In the first game, players picked missions from an overworld map. Dungeons II replaces that with one connected world that has bigger levels. Players choose their own route instead of selecting levels one at a time. The game also includes main quests and side quests.
Rifts appear throughout the world. Entering one takes players to The Sift, a new dimension. The Sift is coming to the main Minecraft game in 2027.
You can finally jump
Jumping is new to the series. It works alongside the returning roll. Players can also use jump attacks during combat.
Armor, talismans and 12 gear slots
Dungeons II doubles the number of gear slots from 6 to 12. A full loadout looks like this:
| Slot Type | Number of Slots |
|---|---|
| Melee weapon | 1 |
| Ranged weapon | 1 |
| Artifacts | 3 |
| Armor pieces | 4 |
| Talismans | 3 |
Armor is no longer one item. It follows the main Minecraft game with four separate pieces.
Talismans are a new type of gear that gives passive bonuses. A talisman gets stronger the longer it stays equipped. Players find them during certain quests or in special chests. The Tasty Bone, an artifact in the first game, is now a talisman, so its dog companion is summoned passively. The Minecraft Wiki’s talisman page lists the talismans confirmed so far.
A new enchanting system
In the first game, enchantments came attached to the gear players found. In Dungeons II, players collect enchantment books out in the world. Each book goes into a personal library. At the enchantsmith, players can then apply any enchantment from the library to any gear slot.
Dropped gear can also roll random bonus effects, so two copies of the same item may not be identical. Players who know the main game’s system can compare it with our guide to the best enchantments in Minecraft.
Story: the Illager High Council
The story continues after the first game, in which the Arch-Illager and the Orb of Dominance were defeated. The world’s ecosystem has fallen out of balance, and three powerful illagers have formed the Illager High Council. According to the Minecraft Live broadcast, the story also features the Deep Dark and Ancient Cities.
Co-op, matchmaking and cross-play
Up to four players can play together, online or offline. Dungeons II adds matchmaking so players can join other people’s sessions. Players can also connect through party codes. Mojang lists all of these systems on its Minecraft Dungeons II gameplay systems page.
Minecraft Dungeons II price and editions
| Edition | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $29.99 | Base game |
| Deluxe | $49.99 | Base game, two planned DLC packs, extra cosmetics |
Pre-orders include the Twisted cape, a Twisted Chicken pet and two hero skins until September 28. The game will also be on Xbox Game Pass from launch day.
Everything else announced at Minecraft Live
Mojang made several other announcements during the same broadcast.
- The Sift: a new dimension coming to Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition in 2027. It is the first new dimension since the End was added in 2011. The broadcast showed blue bunnies living there.
- Ice Caves: the next game drop adds a rare underground biome beneath cold biomes. It has lots of ore, ice, icicles and glowing ice crystals. Neither the drop’s name nor its release date has been announced.
- Frozen zombie: a new zombie variant that freezes players with repeated melee hits and throws ice balls. Regular zombies turn into frozen zombies when exposed to powder snow, so players can create them on purpose. Ice balls can be thrown or brewed into Freezing Potions.
- Nintendo Switch 2: Minecraft launches on Switch 2 on October 27, 2026, with better visuals and performance.
- Creator platform: Jens Bergenström, Chief Creative Officer at Mojang, said the platform will make creating content easier for both new and professional creators.
- Sound Effects Packs: new paid Minecraft Marketplace content that changes game sounds, due later in 2026.
- Minecraft World: the London theme park at Chessington World of Adventures Resort opens in 2027. It will include a Minecraft hotel and a rollercoaster called Escape the Nether.
What was expected before the show is covered in our Minecraft Live September 2026 preview. Mojang’s own summary is in the official Minecraft Live recap.
FAQs
What is new in Minecraft Dungeons II gameplay?
Jumping, four-piece armor, talismans, 12 gear slots, an enchantment library, unlimited ranged ammo and an interconnected world.
Can you jump in Minecraft Dungeons II?
Yes. Jumping is new in the sequel and includes jump attacks.
What are talismans in Minecraft Dungeons II?
Talismans are passive gear items that give bonuses and get stronger the longer they are equipped. Players can equip up to three.
When does Minecraft Dungeons II release?
September 29, 2026, on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2 and Game Pass.
Is Minecraft Dungeons II on Game Pass?
Yes, from launch day.
