Earthworm Jim 2

1995 Shiny Entertainment Action, Adventure

Windows 11With a fix

MacNot confirmed

LinuxNative

Gamicality score

Metacritic Not rated

OpenCritic Not rated

Steam players 651

How it’s combined

Playability today

2.5

Runs today3.5/5

Design today1.5/5

Steam user reviews

Mostly Positive

70%

105 reviews1

Get it on Steam

Facts checked November 1, 2026

Does Earthworm Jim 2 run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11With a fix

Runs with a fix. See the steps below.1

Mac (Apple Silicon)Not confirmed

A Mac version is sold. Not yet confirmed on Apple Silicon.1

LinuxNative

Native Linux version.1

Played Earthworm Jim 2 lately?

One click, no account, so the next player knows. How we check where it runs

How to get Earthworm Jim 2 running today

To play fullscreen, open ewj2.conf in the game folder, change fullscreen=false to fullscreen=true and optionally set scaling to normal2x or normal3x, or press Alt+Enter in game (Steam Community).
If colors look wrong after going fullscreen, toggle fullscreen again until the main menu looks correct (Steam Community).

Synopsis

A side-scrolling action platformer in which Jim, an earthworm in a super suit, sets out to rescue Princess What's-Her-Name from Psy-Crow. Nearly every level swaps in a new gimmick, from bouncing falling puppies to safety to guiding a balloon bomb or racing Psy-Crow to the finish.

Developer: Shiny Entertainment
Released: 1995
Best version: Steam sells the 1996 DOS port running in DOSBox, which has CD audio and sharper art than the 16-bit console versions but drops the Lorenzen's Soil level.
Genre: Action, Adventure
Where to get it: Steam

Reception

Critics in 1995 praised its absurd humor, lavish animation and constant variety, and many rated it above the first game. Later reviewers point out that most stages rely on gimmicks rather than plain platforming, with floaty controls and a few levels that wear thin on repeat. Players on Steam still enjoy the jokes and the CD soundtrack, but many complain that the DOSBox port opens in a small window, loses sound effects for some, and is missing a level found in other versions. Several Steam threads warn buyers that the store page does not make the emulated DOS release clear.

Playability today

The average of two parts, each from 1 to 5. Tap a check to see why. How it works

Runs today

3.5/5

Sold or given away today by an official source
Needs fan patches to run well on Windows 11
?Not confirmed yetSingle-player works without an internet connection
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
Some content no longer works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
The PC release lacks the Lorenzen's Soil level present in all other versions (PCGamingWiki).
No proper support for modern resolutions and widescreen
Widescreen is not supported (PCGamingWiki).
Full controller support or remappable controls
Controllers are supported with remapping, though PCGamingWiki calls the support notoriously poor (PCGamingWiki).
?Not confirmed yetSteam Deck Verified or Playable
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
No known game-breaking bugs in the current version
The DOSBox package launches and no crash or progress-blocking bug is listed, though some players lose sound effects (PCGamingWiki).

Design today

1.5/5

Controls feel awkward on a modern controller or mouse and keyboard
Jumping feels floaty, snot swinging is imprecise and gun aiming is finicky, and the PC port's controller support is known to be poor. Source: classic-games.net, pcgamingwiki.com.
Menus, text or interface are hard to read on today's screens
The DOSBox port opens in a small 4:3 window, has no widescreen mode, and switching to fullscreen can corrupt the colors. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, steamcommunity.com, steamcommunity.com.
Saving is harsh: few saves or checkpoints, progress gets lost
The DOS port keeps progress in a single EWJ2.PWD file in the game folder, and no description of the game mentions any way to save partway through its long stages. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progress
Each stage centers on one simple gimmick with an obvious goal, such as keeping falling puppies safe or racing Psy-Crow to the exit. Source: classic-games.net, sega-16.com.
Pacing drags: grind, filler or forced backtracking
The Puppy Love stage is played three times with little change and grows tedious, and gimmick stages such as the balloon bomb level drag on. Source: classic-games.net.
Camera or movement fights the player
Some gimmick stages use an awkward perspective, and the balloon bomb level is singled out for its frustrating view and handling. Source: classic-games.net.