In Spelunky HD what secret characters are there are how do you unlock them?

Solution 1:

Here is the full list of unlockable characters for Spelunky.

The characters marked "PC version only" can only be unlocked in the game in the PC version of Spelunky. To unlock them in the XBLA version you need to purchase the Explorers DLC, which will unlock all "PC version only" characters instantly. These characters are also not counted towards the "Entire Gang" achievement.

Already Unlocked

These four characters are available from the beginning:

Spelunker

Blue

Red

Green

Random Coffins

These four characters appear in coffins placed randomly in each of the four areas (Mines, Jungle, Ice Caves, Temple). You will only ever find one of these random coffins in each area.

To release the character, just whip or attack the coffin.

Yellow Miner Girl

Mariachi Man

Purple Pirate Girl

Bear Suit Guy

Hidden Coffins

These characters are trapped in coffins that can only be found in a specific area.

Just whip or attack the coffin to release the character.

Round Boy (PC version only)

This coffin can be found in a Tikki Man Village in the Jungle.

Round Girl (PC version only)

This coffin can be found in the "My skin is crawling" event in the Mines.

Eskimo (PC version only)

This coffin can be found in the "It smells like wet fur in here" event in the Ice Caves.

Viking (PC version only)

The Viking's coffin can be found in the "I hear rushing water" event in the Jungle.

Ninja (PC version only)

The coffin containing the Ninja can be found in the area to the top of Olmec's Lair.

Golden Monk (PC version only)

The Golden Monk is trapped in a coffin in the City of Gold.

Van Helsing

This coffin is at the top of the castle in the Haunted Castle secret level.

Robot (PC version only)

The robot can be found in the secret Mothership area. You can find this area by entering the big building to the side of the level on level 3-4 "It feels like the fourth of July". The robot is in a pod (not a coffin), usually close to the Alien Queen.

Meat Boy

Meat Boy can be found in the Worm secret level, near the bottom in a goo sac (not a coffin).

Other Characters

Jungle Warrior

This character is automatically unlocked when you defeat Olmec and finish the game by exiting the level. Shortcuts are allowed.

Yang

Yang is automatically unlocked when you defeat King Yama (in Hell) and finish the game by exiting the level.

Cyclops (PC version only)

The Cyclops can be found in a Hired Hand stall in the Black Market. You can either buy him, or anger the shopkeepers (try whipping him).

Solution 2:

There are 4 secondary coloured (yellow, lime, cyan and purple) characters that randomly appear in a coffin:

The jaguar warrior character is unlocked by beating the game:

Super meat boy is found in a green sack near the bottom of the secret worm level:

In a coffin in the secret haunted castle level is the vampire hunter:

Finally, Yang can be unlocked after beating the secret hell level: