Cave Crawler

About

Cave Crawler is a single player casual platformer game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by evan12811 and was released on January 23, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Cave Crawler is a short, 2D side-scrolling action platformer. Explore caves filled with interesting enemies and fun platforming challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,999 reviews

gameplay38 positive mentions

story14 negative mentions

Fun and challenging retro-style 2D platformer with tight controls and satisfying gameplay.
Short and sweet experience that is perfect for quick play sessions, offering engaging level design and a boss fight.
Free to play with good art style, catchy music, and achievement support, making it worth trying.

Game is very short, only lasting about 15 to 30 minutes, leading to limited replay value.
Controls can feel slippery or floaty at times, making precise platforming frustrating for some players.
Some levels and the bonus stage can be quite difficult or frustrating due to slippery mechanics and occasional technical issues like lag or freezes.

gameplay
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The gameplay is generally praised for its polished, straightforward platforming mechanics that gradually introduce new challenges, making it accessible and enjoyable despite its short length. While some find it simplistic or lacking depth, the balance, level design, and retro-inspired aesthetics provide a satisfying experience for quick play sessions. A few critiques mention slippery controls and a desire for more content or unique features to enhance replayability.
- “But it teaches you new mechanics in a safe way then ramps them up, which a lot of games don't bother to do.”
- “Gameplay is nicely balanced throughout all the stages as well as the bonus stage.”
- “Gameplay is extremely well designed, the fundamentals of a great platformer are all here.”
- “I know this game could have a lot of potential with the addition of Metroid-like elements but right now it's just a mediocre at best super linear platformer with zero inspiration and really repetitive gameplay (also yes the game is 30-40 minutes of basically the same things over and over).”
- “I hate the jumping mechanics of this game with a passion but I 100% it so 5 stars.”
- “The gameplay is similar to games such as Mega Man and Journey to Silius but the slipping ruins it all.”
graphics
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The game features a simple, retro-inspired pixel art style with a predominantly monochrome palette accented by red, evoking classic 2D platformers and old-school aesthetics. While some find the minimalist graphics charming and fitting for the genre, others see them as overly basic or lacking refinement, though most agree the visuals effectively complement the gameplay and nostalgic atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are praised for their cohesion and nostalgic appeal, even if not technically advanced.
- “A platformer with a simple pixelated aesthetic that is an ode to the classic 2D sidescrollers of yesteryear, I would recommend this game to any gamer who has the occasional itch to go back to the olden days where games like Cave Crawler ruled the gaming scene!”
- “The game is quite a basic platformer game (in my opinion), but the bonus round is where the 'up the ante' factor came in, with some places where we need precision platforming to make progress and the task looks mighty for someone who is not familiar with the tricks of platforming. Anyway, I think overall the game in my opinion is well worth the time spent, I enjoyed and loved the music, the level design, and the boss fight; finally, the art style gives a nice retro vibe like the old Mario days.”
- “Graphics: the game is gorgeous, great retro style and overall look.”
- “This features really godawful pixelcrap "art" instead of real graphics.”
- “It's hard to say if this was because the developer didn't have the skill to do the job of creating 3d visuals, or couldn't afford to hire someone who does, but it also doesn't matter.”
- “Its very short, with meh graphics and unresponsive controls.”
music
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The music in this game is a catchy, retro-inspired chiptune soundtrack that fits well with the overall art style and gameplay, providing a nostalgic arcade feel. However, it is limited to a single looping track that some players find repetitive or monotonous over time, with many wishing for more musical variety or additional tracks. Overall, while the music is praised for its charm and style, its repetitiveness is noted as a drawback.
- “The music is simple chiptune music that is done perfectly and fits the game perfectly.”
- “The game is quite basic platformer game but I enjoyed and loved the music, the level design and the boss fight; the art style gives a nice retro vibe like the old Mario days.”
- “Being a chiptune fan, I can't help but be biased when I say that the music is awesome!”
- “The music sounds like an NES soundchip, which is a very unoriginal and low-effort direction to take after 2000s.”
- “There is only one, repetitive music track.”
- “The music gets boring at times because it's just the same loop through the entire game.”
story
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
69%
22%
The game largely lacks a traditional or explicit story, with most users noting an absence of narrative, character development, or lore. Some appreciate minimal environmental storytelling or level design hints, but overall the story aspect is underdeveloped and could benefit from deeper narrative elements to enhance engagement.
- “This secret initiative aimed to genetically enhance crabs, turning them into deadly underwater soldiers capable of protecting Soviet waters and carrying out covert sabotage missions.”
- “Armed with only a mysterious red gun, which emits bursts of pure, destructive energy, Sergei "Ironclaw" Gorski—a disgraced Soviet soldier—was tasked with one final mission: to eliminate the crab threat before they could launch their ultimate plan.”
- “There's no explicit story but you can tell there's a form of story through the level design and the end. I love games that ignore putting a story up front and layer it into the environment and characters instead.”
- “Other nitpicks I have with the game are its lack of an OST and its lack of any real story of any kind.”
- “No twists, no dark elements, no story whatsoever and nothing mind-blowing for the industry. Only five levels with no real story nor proper ending. This game can definitely benefit from more levels, worlds, and even a story if possible.”
- “I would like to see more development in aspects such as lore, story building, and character development, as well as a deeper story that stretches beyond the surface and sparks wonder.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
Replayability for the game is generally limited due to its short length and lack of varied content, though some players find replay value in speedrunning, exploring easter eggs, and completing challenges. Additional features like leaderboards, difficulty settings, and achievements could enhance replayability, but as is, it offers modest replay potential mainly for dedicated fans.
- “Cave Crawler is by far the greatest game I've ever played with hours and hours of replay value and Easter eggs to find. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys platformers and deep world building and lore!”
- “✅ Infinitely replayable”
- “When it comes to replayability: mostly speedrunning the game, doing all levels with no damage taken.”
- “Like most retro platformers, unless you're speedrunning it, it offers little to no replayability value.”
- “The lack of content or replay value unfortunately holds it back a lot, but I still really enjoyed my time with the game.”
- “After 100% completion I see very little replay value.”
grinding
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
67%
20%
Grinding in the game requires a second life for completionists due to its repetitive nature. While some find it fun and brief, others wish the difficulty focused more on platforming rather than frequent pauses for enemy encounters, offering a refreshing break from typical monetized or loot-heavy grinding.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding if you are a completionist.”
- “Decently fun, and is done in less than 10 minutes, but I wish the controls were a bit tighter and the difficulty revolved more around platforming as opposed to coming to a grinding halt every 5 seconds to wait for an enemy to do its thing.”
- “It's just refreshing to go back to the basics and play something without thinking about how it's monetized or grinding out random loot for hours.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is lighthearted and straightforward, often described as genuinely funny rather than forced or childish. Players enjoy its quick, amusing moments, funny NPCs, and situational comedy, making it a fun, laugh-inducing experience despite its short playtime.
- “If you want a fast-paced game with fun movement and funny NPCs, this is the game for you.”
- “Definitely need more of the game, mix of intense and funny and reminds much of Undertale and Forager.”
- “With my pistol and catlike dexterity, I mowed down armies of crabs, laughing maniacally all the way.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game is generally stable with no major glitches or bugs, but some users experience occasional minor freezes and brief control issues. Despite these minor hiccups, the overall stability is solid and does not significantly impact gameplay.
- “No glitches or bugs”
- “There are sometimes issues with temporary half a second to 1 second freezes; I have no idea what is causing them, they just randomly happen.”
- “A few glitches where the controls seized, but all in all, fabulous game.”
- “The micro freezes and the character automatically facing left every so often were minor issues.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Optimization in the game is inconsistent, with notable frame stuttering, lag, and sliding issues especially in full-screen mode, while windowed mode performs better. Some users have experienced major performance problems impacting gameplay, though improvements have been made over time. Performance may also vary depending on hardware.
- “One might say the character has non-stick shoes, another might say he has oil on his feet. Either way, if I want to stop in place I should have the luxury to do so, but not in Cave Crawler. No no no, I have to deal with frame stuttering and lag and sliding from side to side cha-cha style.”
- “Major stuttering and frame loss when in full-screen; windowed mode was completely fine.”
- “The performance issues definitely hurt the experience, though other reviews make me suspect it's something about my hardware.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, featuring eerie visuals and sounds that enhance the overall experience. It effectively creates a fitting, engaging environment that complements its challenging platforming gameplay.
- “From the eerie glow of bioluminescent fungi to the menacing screech of lurking creatures, every element contributes to the game's atmospheric charm.”
- “It's a bite-sized platforming adventure that packs a punch with its challenging gameplay and captivating atmosphere.”
- “Cave Crawler is definitely worth a look for fans of 2D platformers and manages to create a fitting atmosphere.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes strong emotional responses, often making players feel deeply moved and wholesome. Many users report experiencing tears and heartfelt moments throughout the experience.
- “I cried.”
- “Feels very wholesome.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users feel that character development is currently lacking depth and would benefit from richer lore, more intricate story building, and a deeper narrative that goes beyond the surface to evoke greater engagement and wonder.