Hey Adventurers!

We're happy to see so many of you exploring the colorful world of Janosik 2 and enjoying the platforming challenges. To make your journey even better, we've released Patch #2, which focuses on resolving some pesky bugs and improving your gameplay experience. Here's what we've fixed:

• Fixed broken English dialogue for Mocarz when selling the Belt of Ammo upgrade.
  
• Resolved an issue where Janka's ice ability did not work because it overlapped with the dash ability.
  
• Fixed the incorrect switch position in Chain Reaction 3.
  
• Fixed a bug where players could get stuck in a rock pillar when using the electroshock ability.
  
• Corrected an issue where the potion count display was partially covered by hearts when reaching double digits.

If you’re enjoying Janosik 2, we’d greatly appreciate it if you shared the game with your friends or left a Steam review to help us reach more players.

Hey everyone! The IndieDB Indie of the Year 2024 Awards voting is almost over and Janosik 2 has been nominated in the Platformer category! 🏔️

This is your last chance to help Janosik 2 shine among the year’s best indie games. Every vote counts, and we’re so close to the finish line!

Voting closes in just less than 10 hours, on December 21. With your support, Janosik 2 the Top 10, or even take the trophy home!

👉 Vote for Janosik 2 here: IndieDB Voting Page
(No registration needed - feel free to share with friends!)

Thank you so much for cheering us on. Whether it’s by voting, sharing, or spreading the word, every bit of support means the world to us.

Here's another story from the game's development, this time it's about beating the game in an... unintended way.

Teamwork makes the dream work. While testing the game, Krzysiek, the producer, pointed out something I didn’t think was possible - you could complete the game without ever buying the shield. I just assumed every player would grab it. To fix that, we came up with the Prison Cook NPC.

When Janosik and Bodan run into him, they pretend they’ve been sent to fetch a frying pan. The cook refuses to hand it over for free, as it’s made of sturdy steel and was once used as a military shield. He demands 300 Gold in exchange. Once you pay up, he unlocks the kitchen door… only to kick you out. This made buying the shield mandatory, while also giving us a believable (and fun!) character.

Sadly, there’s a downside to this story: the old Prisoner NPC who used to sell the shield got cut from the main game. But, hey - the Cook was just a better fit.

Thank you for all the support, and remember - if you like my game, please consider sharing it with your friends and leaving a positive review to make sure Janosik 2 reaches as many players as possible!

Hey everyone! The IndieDB Indie of the Year 2024 Awards are almost here and Janosik 2 has been nominated in the Platformer category! 🏔️

This is your chance to help Janosik 2 shine among the year’s best indie games. Every vote counts, and we’re so close to the finish line!

Voting closes in just 2 days on December 21. With your support, Janosik 2 the Top 10, or even take the trophy home!

👉 Vote for Janosik 2 here: IndieDB Voting Page
(No registration needed - feel free to share with friends!)

Thank you so much for cheering us on. Whether it’s by voting, sharing, or spreading the word, every bit of support means the world to us.

Today it's time for a story of how Marcin came up with the idea to make games about the legendary Slovakian Highlander, Janosik!


Now that my game is out, I’d like to take a moment to reminisce about how it all started. You already know who Janosik is and what to expect from the game. But let me tell you, in true Drax fashion, “Why is Janosik?”

Janosik is a prominent character in Slavic culture, especially in Poland. I’m sure if you asked any Polish person who Janosik is, 99% would know. There have been tons of TV shows and movies about the legendary “Harnaś” and his adventures, but until a few years ago, he was missing from the gaming world.

The idea to make a game about Janosik came to me when I read the legend of the three witches who gave him magical artifacts: one granted him superhuman strength, another gave him a shirt that could deflect bullets, and the third a shepherd’s axe that let him leap miles. Sounds like a perfect upgrade system for a video game, right?

And so, I got to work. Bringing Janosik to life in two games now has been a wild ride, and I can only hope it sparks the same sense of wonder I felt when I first heard his story.

Thank you for all the support, and remember - if you like my game, please consider sharing it with your friends and leaving a positive review to make sure Janosik 2 reaches as many players as possible!

Hey everyone! The IndieDB Indie of the Year 2024 Awards are almost here and Janosik 2 has been nominated in the Platformer category! 🏔️

This is your chance to help Janosik 2 shine among the year’s best indie games. Every vote counts, and we’re so close to the finish line!

Voting closes in just 3 days on December 21. With your support, Janosik 2 the Top 10, or even take the trophy home!

👉 Vote for Janosik 2 here: IndieDB Voting Page
(No registration needed - feel free to share with friends!)

Thank you so much for cheering us on. Whether it’s by voting, sharing, or spreading the word, every bit of support means the world to us.

To celebrate the last days of voting, we'd like to share a couple of Marcin's stories from Janosik 2's development. Here's the first one!

I’m excited about Janosik 2’s nomination for the Indie of the Year Award, and I thought I’d drop some tidbits from the development. Here’s a funny story from a while ago.

I was talking to Filip, one of the QAs, about prisoner placement. The goal was to ensure their locations made narrative sense. For example, putting prisoners in Rozalia’s forge didn’t seem logical… at first.

Then Filip hit me with: "Unless the prisoners want to be there."
This confused me at first, but he continued: "Imagine if, when you approach them, they say something like: 'Don’t bother freeing me. I’m... exactly where I want to be.'”

It was too good to pass up, so it’s now officially in the game. Let’s just say things may be heating up in Rozalia’s basement, and not necessarily because of the forge above. Keep your eyes peeled, and maybe prepare yourself for some... unexpected encounters.

Thank you for all the support, and remember - if you like my game, please consider sharing it with your friends and leaving a positive review to make sure Janosik 2 reaches as many players as possible!

Hey Adventurers!

First of all, thank you for playing Janosik 2, and all the feedback and bug reports over the course of last week. We've been looking closely at forums, comments, and Discord to make sure no message goes unnoticed. We've already pushed a couple of mini-updates containing changes to single lines in the dialogues and/or their localization.

Today, we're releasing a first, full-fledged, patch for Janosik 2.

Here are the patch notes:

• Janka's wall clinging no longer emits the lantern sparkle sound.
  
• After getting an enchantment from the witch, the spellbook notification now clears immediately.
  
• Hugo's coffin no longer displays the hint E even if the controller is enabled.
  
• Fixed typos
  • "But you don't perish in sunlight nd don't drink blood." - and
    
  • "Ans what's the third option?" - And
    
  • "You well business idea was very creative." - Your
    
  • "My souls is saved!" - soul
    
  • "Hello, Hubertus. We've met a ghosts not too far from here..." - ghost
    
  • "It was once a battle shield, it's made from real steal." - steel
• Corrected a misattribution
  • "What's worse, something happened in the nearby village. (...)" - this whole block had Janosik's portrait. It is now correctly attributed to Cyprian, the Treasure Fisher
• Slow effect from the large spider's web now clears immediately when the web disappears
  
• All levels achievement is now properly triggering
  
• Windowed mode no longer goes into MAXIMIZED between levels
  
• In the Chinese version of the game, after the dialogue with the Crazy Scientist in Level 20, the electric shock jump upgrade for Hugo is now working properly.
  
• Cloud sync should now work properly with Steam Deck
  
• The dialogue with Rob, who sells the bow, no longer appears a second time when visiting the Hunting Grounds level. As a result, he sells the same upgrade twice.

We'd also like to take a moment to remind you that Janosik 2 has been nominated in the IndieDB Indie of the Year 2024 Awards in the Platformer category! It would mean a world to us if you helped us get there!

Every vote counts, and it only takes a moment of your time!
👉 Follow this link to vote for Janosik 2: IndieDB Voting Page
(No registration required, so feel free to spread the word!)


If you’re enjoying Janosik 2, we’d greatly appreciate it if you shared the game with your friends or left a Steam review to help us reach more players.

Hello, Adventurers!

The IndieDB Indie of the Year 2024 Awards are in full swing, and Janosik 2 has been nominated in the Platformer category! 🏔️

This is your chance to help Janosik 2 gain recognition among the best indie games of the year. Every vote counts, and it only takes a moment of your time!

👉 Follow this link to vote for Janosik 2: IndieDB Voting Page
(No registration required, so feel free to spread the word!)

The voting ends on December 21, so don’t wait too long to support Janosik 2! If we secure enough votes, Janosik 2 will advance to the Top 100 list and get closer to earning a Top 10 spot!

Your support means the world to us. Whether it's by voting or sharing the game with others.
Let’s take Janosik 2 to new heights together!

Hey everyone!
After three years of hard work Janosik 2 has officially launched! As the developer, I’m filled with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and a touch of anxiety. This game has been such a huge part of my life, and I can’t wait to see what you think about this next chapter in Janosik’s adventures. My goal has always been to make this sequel bigger, better, and even more immersive than the original Janosik.

So, you're probably wondering what will you find in Janosik 2... Well, obviously, there is a brand-new adventure, featuring werewolves, vampires, and a mission for Janosik to rescue Janka - his girlfriend. From there, the journey takes some unexpected twists. I've created 50 levels packed with deadly enemies and thrilling challenges to keep you on your toes.

If you played the first game, you’ll bump into some familiar faces, like the witch and Jan the Inventor, but there’s so much new to discover: new NPCs, deadlier enemies, helpful merchants, and...new playable characters!

That's right - Janosik won't face this adventure alone. He will be joined by three new playable characters: Bogdan, Janka, and Hugo. Each of them brings unique abilities that will alter the way you approach the game. I've also prepared a wide range of upgrades to go along with new characters - from weapons and movement abilities to special powers like freezing or electrifying enemies.

Today, the world of Janosik 2 is ready for you to explore. I can’t wait to see how you tackle its challenges, uncover its secrets, and interact with all the characters. Here’s to a journey full of excitement, surprises, and most importantly - fun!

Jump in, and make Janosik 2 an adventure to remember!

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/1640400/Janosik_2/

- Marcin "Onix" Onysko

Hey everyone!

We've got a double dose of exciting news for you today! We've prepared a major update for Janosik with brand new content and features. On top of that, we're finally ready to let you all know when you will be able to embark on the next adventure in Janosik 2.

The legend of the Slovakian Highlander continues.

The adventure picks up right after the events of Janosik! Tricked by an ingenious ruse, Janosik must find a way to escape captivity and take the fight directly to Countess Bathory, who thinks she is pulling all the strings in the Highlands. Joined by Bogdan the Werewolf and Hugo the Vampire, and Janka the Plucky Maiden traverse through massive levels filled with mythical foes, deadly traps, and pesky De Blonde's goons.

With four unique playable characters, lightning-fast action, and a bigger world to explore, Janosik 2 is a bigger, bolder adventure you don’t want to miss.

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/1640400/Janosik_2/

You shouldn't show up at the release party in regular Janosik's slacks... It's a costume party, and we've got you covered!

To make sure you can dress for the occasion, and show off your heroic flair, we're introducing 4 new outfits for Janosik, which you can unlock by completing brand new dungeons.

To begin your quest for the stylish threads, you'll need to head through a newly added corridor that connects to the main hallway. Once inside, you'll find a room with outfit racks and four doors leading to different dungeons.

Each dungeon contains 4 parts of a single outfit - a hat, a chest piece, trousers, and boots , once you collect them all, you can equip a stunning new look:

• Robin Hood: A green outfit inspired by the legendary outlaw, perfect for a highlander known for stealing from the rich to give to the poor.
  
• Knight: Gleaming silver armor that reflects the valor and strength of a true hero, who isn't afraid of any challenge.
  
• Warlock Guy: Inspired by the Project Warlock series, a dark ensemble that channels the power of forbidden magic.
  
• Musketeer: A bold yellow outfit that captures the flair and swashbuckling spirit of a daring adventurer.

Prepare for Janosik 2 by diving into this update! With new dungeons to explore and stylish outfits to collect, this is the perfect time to warm up and rediscover the thrill of adventure. These challenges will test your mettle and reward you with treasures worthy of a true highlander.

The Highlands are full of danger, but we're sure you have what it takes to overcome challenges ahead of you!

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/1412170/Janosik__Highlander_Precision_Platformer/

Hey, Adventurers!

In the last Dev Update we’ve talked about music being your companion throughout the game, anywhere you go, the music is there. Today we’d like to share more details about the pixel-art and cinematics that are present in Janosik 2, and spill some tea about their creation process.


Janosik 2’s visuals are a love letter to classic games, combining retro pixel art with fresh animation techniques. The game’s sprites and backgrounds were drawn by hand, one pixel at a time in Aseprite. To keep the vibe of old-school platformer, Marcin used a limited color palette and focused on clean, and readable designs. The final pixel-art is simple, yet vibrant and expressive, mixing modern animations with retro charm.


All cinematic sequences in Janosik 2 were created using the rotoscoping technique. This process involved recording short video clips of desired animation sequences, which were later redrawn frame-by-frame in Aseprite. Every movement - from running and weapons swings, to more complex gestures - was first recorded to make the animations as precise as possible. By doing so, Marcin was able to achieve smooth and lifelike animations, which are hard to achieve while drawing pixel art. It’s a bit like creating a flipbook, but with each pixel carefully placed in the sequence.

Thanks to rotoscoping and hand-drawing all pixel art, Janosik 2 is a game that feels both familiar and fresh, combining smooth, lifelike animations with the charm of classic pixel art. Every scene, movement, and background element was crafted with a dedication to detail and an appreciation for the art form, creating an experience that, we hope, will appeal to fans of pixel art and newcomers alike.

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/1640400/Janosik_2/

For those curious about the pixel art in a distinctly different setting check out Undead West—a gritty, black-and-white pixel adventure set in a haunted Wild West. Where Janosik 2 brings bright colors and lifelike rotoscoped animation, Undead West goes old-school with a bold, 2-bit palette inspired by classics like Downwell and Minit. It’s a different kind of retro: stark, shadowy, and packed with western action.

https://steamoss.com/steamstore/app/2527880/Undead_West/

See you in the next one!