Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest

Joust 2: Survival of the Fittest is an arcade video game developed by Williams Electronics and released in 1986. It is a sequel to Williams' 1982 game Joust. Like its predecessor, Joust 2 is an action game set in a fantasy world of aerial combat. The player controls a knight on a flying ostrich and completes levels by defeating enemy knights riding buzzards; the higher combatant in a collision wins. Joust 2 has improved visuals and audio and more complex gameplay, including eggs which turn into mutant buzzards after falling in lava, the ability to transform into a flying horse, additional enemy types, and a button which has a random effect when run over. Unlike Joust which has a single screen layout that evolves over time, the levels in Joust 2 are distinct and have unique and themes and gameplay elements.

The game uses more advanced hardware than the original Joust, allowing for the new elements. John Newcomer led development again, which Williams initiated in order to sell a conversion kit that allowed arcade owners to convert an existing cabinet into another game. While Joust used a horizontal monitor, the company chose a vertically oriented screen for the kit as a result of the design's popularity at the time.

Released after golden age of arcade games, Joust 2 did not achieve the critical or commercial success of Joust. The game was not ported to contemporary home systems but was released as part of arcade game compilations starting in 1997.