The first Amanda the Adventurer was a breakout indie horror hit, a perfect, terrifying blend of “evil Dora the Explorer” and P.T.-style VHS dread. It was a short, sharp shock. Now, developer MANGLEDmaw Games and publisher DreadXP are back, and they’re not just repeating the formula. Amanda the Adventurer 2 takes the haunted-tape concept out of the attic and into a much larger, more terrifying world.
Following the events of the first game, Riley Park takes the investigation to the Kensdale Public Library to dig deeper into the mystery of their Aunt Kate and the sinister tapes. It quickly becomes clear this isn’t just a research trip. A new masked figure appears, and worse, Amanda is now fully aware of Riley’s presence and is actively trying to break free.
The result is a sequel that is bigger, smarter, and significantly creepier, expanding the lore and mechanics in every way. It’s a fantastic, mind-bending follow-up that firmly establishes this series as a powerhouse of puzzle-horror.
“Bigger, bolder, and even more unhinged. Amanda the Adventurer 2 ups the creep factor with deeper lore, new mechanics, and a disturbing sense that Amanda’s getting far too real.”
This isn’t just another episode; it’s a whole new season, and the stakes are higher than ever.
You’re Not in the Attic Anymore
The most significant change in Amanda the Adventurer 2 is the setting. The Kensdale Public Library is a much larger and more interactive environment than Aunt Kate’s attic. This new scale is built around the game’s new key mechanic: “GET UP!”
No longer are you just a passive viewer. Amanda will now make requests that require you to leave the TV, explore the library, solve environmental puzzles, and find objects to bring back. This creates a brilliant, terrifying loop where you must engage with the cartoon world and the “real” world simultaneously. The game does an excellent job of guiding you along, so you never feel completely lost, but the solutions still require you to “think outside the box.”
A Story That Demands Patience
If you loved the first game’s lore, the sequel delivers in spades. The story becomes more intense, delving deep into the sinister production of the “Amanda the Adventurer” show, the mystery surrounding Aunt Kate, and the true nature of Wooly. (Speaking of Wooly, the fan debate rages on: is he a victim to be protected at all costs, or a monster to be destroyed? The game only adds fuel to that fire.)
The puzzles are the real star here. They are well-designed, challenging, and bizarre in the best way. Some, like the infamous “books and MM/YY” puzzle, will have you scratching your head for a while, but the “a-ha!” moment is incredibly satisfying. This is a game for smart people, or as one player put it, “if you’re dumb, just look how to do the puzzles up.”
Like the first game, Amanda 2 is a short and sweet experience, but it’s built for multiple playthroughs. You will need to play several times and pay close attention to gather all the necessary information for the true ending. This isn’t a game you just passively consume; it’s an investigation, and it rewards your patience with a juicy, horrifying story that perfectly sets the stage for the upcoming third game.
The Unholy Trinity: Horror, Humor, and Heart
The game masterfully balances its “evil Dora” premise with genuine, unhinged horror and a slide of dark, bizarre humor. The VHS-horror aesthetic remains, but the lines between the tapes and reality are blurring in a way that feels deeply unsettling.
The character development is surprisingly great. Amanda is no longer just a creepy character on a screen; she’s an active antagonist, and her growing awareness is terrifying. The addition of new “friends” for both Riley and Amanda adds new layers to the world, making it feel more alive, albeit in a deeply cursed way. While it suffers from a few minor bugs, the overall experience is polished, engaging, and absolutely dripping with creepy charm.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Fantastic “GET UP!” Mechanic: Perfectly blends VHS and real-world puzzles. | ❌ Extremely Confusing Puzzles: Some puzzles feel vague and may require a guide. |
| ✅ Deeper, More Intense Lore: A great expansion on the story of Amanda, Kate, and Wooly. | ❌ Still a Short Game: Leaves you wanting more (though that’s what Part 3 is for). |
| ✅ Smart, Well-Designed Puzzles: Challenging puzzles that reward “outside the box” thinking. | ❌ Some Minor Bugs: A few glitches can briefly interrupt the flow. |
| ✅ Bizarre Dark Humor: The “evil Dora” vibe is back and better than ever. | ❌ Multiple Playthroughs Required: Seeing the true ending takes significant patience. |
| ✅ Great Atmosphere: The library is a fantastic, creepy setting. |
Amanda the Adventurer 2: Amanda the Adventurer 2 is a stellar sequel that avoids the "more of the same" trap. It intelligently expands on every single concept from the original, weaving a deeper, more complex mystery with genuinely challenging puzzles and a terrifyingly self-aware antagonist. It’s a must-play for fans of the first game and a strong recommendation for anyone who loves puzzle-horror, escape rooms, or just wants to see a children's cartoon go completely off the rails. MANGLEDmaw Games has created a fantastic bridge to the finale, and we're counting the days until Part 3. – Flare