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Cave Crawler

95%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, grinding
95% User Score Based on 1,970 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxWeb BrowserWeb BrowserWindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationLinuxLinuxMac OSMac OSSteam DeckSteam Deck

About

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

Cave Crawler screenshot
Cave Crawler screenshot
Cave Crawler screenshot
Cave Crawler screenshot
Cave Crawler screenshot
Cave Crawler screenshot

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,970 reviews
gameplay43 positive mentions
story13 negative mentions

  • Fun and engaging gameplay that is easy to learn but hard to master.
  • Charming retro graphics and a catchy soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • Short playtime of around 15-30 minutes makes it a great option for quick gaming sessions.
  • Movement controls can feel slippery, making precise jumps frustrating at times.
  • The game is very short, with only a few levels and a bonus stage, leaving players wanting more content.
  • Some players experienced technical issues such as lag and input delays.
  • gameplay
    141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Cave Crawler" is characterized by its engaging yet brief platforming experience, typically lasting around 15 to 30 minutes. Players appreciate the solid mechanics, straightforward controls, and well-designed levels that gradually introduce new elements, although many express a desire for more content and complexity. While the game is enjoyable and polished, some critiques highlight its simplicity and lack of challenge, making it more suitable for casual play rather than those seeking a deep or lengthy gaming experience.

    • “Cave Crawler offers a surprisingly engaging 15-minute experience, with solid mechanics and a unique atmosphere that pulls you in.”
    • “It's a bite-sized platforming adventure that packs a punch with its challenging gameplay and captivating atmosphere.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely well designed; the fundamentals of a great platformer are all here.”
    • “I think the lack of gameplay is a big problem, but it's a short game, and has a lot of replayability!”
    • “Cave crawler lacks innovative gameplay elements, relying heavily on established platformer tropes without offering any unique twists or mechanics that set it apart from other games in the genre.”
    • “Cave crawler's enemies and mechanics contribute significantly to its status as one of the worst games on Steam.”
  • graphics
    107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are predominantly described as simple yet effective, featuring a retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic platformers. While some players appreciate the minimalistic aesthetic and its charm, others note that the visuals can be basic and occasionally hinder gameplay due to unclear obstacles. Overall, the graphics are well-received for their consistency and fitting design, contributing positively to the game's overall experience.

    • “An amazing small indie game with a great minimalistic art style and a great gameplay loop.”
    • “I was brought to tears by the incredible story told within even the cracks in the walls themselves and I was so stunned by the incredible visual fidelity of the graphics, I had to just sit for five minutes at the start of the first level to take it all in.”
    • “The graphics are simple but effective, the music and sound effects perfectly suit the style.”
    • “See, I know what it's trying to go for in terms of graphics, but it doesn't really execute it well...”
    • “Its very short, with meh graphics and unresponsive controls.”
    • “First off, the graphics are okay, but I feel like there could've been a little more decoration in the levels.”
  • music
    94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is primarily characterized by a simple, catchy chiptune soundtrack that evokes a retro vibe, reminiscent of classic arcade games. While many players appreciate its fun and fitting nature, several reviews note that the repetitive nature of the single looping track can become tiresome over time. Overall, the music enhances the game's atmosphere, but a desire for more variety and additional tracks is a common suggestion among players.

    • “The music was fun and I liked that each level added a new little element.”
    • “The music has a great style and rhythm.”
    • “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 sound chip, which is a very unoriginal and low-effort direction to take after the 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
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is largely criticized for its absence, with many reviewers noting a lack of narrative depth, character backstory, and engaging side quests. While some players appreciate the minimalistic approach to storytelling through level design, the consensus is that the game would benefit from a more developed plot and lore to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the story is either non-existent or underwhelming, leaving players wanting more.

    • “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.”
    • “I was brought to tears by the incredible story told within even the cracks in the walls themselves, and I was so stunned by the incredible visual fidelity of the graphics that I had to just sit for five minutes at the start of the first level to take it all in.”
    • “I love games that ignore putting a story up front and layer it into the environment and characters instead.”
    • “The game sadly also lacks any real kind of a story or lore.”
    • “No twists, no dark elements, no story whatsoever and nothing mind-blowing for the industry.”
    • “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
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability, with some players praising certain games for their addictive nature and hidden content, suggesting high replay value, especially for speedrunning enthusiasts. However, many others criticize the lack of content and variation, noting that while the games can be entertaining, they often fall short in providing substantial replayability, particularly after achieving 100% completion. Overall, the potential for replayability exists but is often hindered by limited gameplay options and the absence of features like leaderboards or additional challenges.

    • “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!”
    • “It is short, but that adds to the replay value.”
    • “I'd like to see achievements that aren't just based on progress in the game, because they give better replay value and an optional challenge for the more determined players.”
    • “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
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, with many players feeling it requires an unrealistic amount of effort, likening it to needing "a second life." While some appreciate the simplicity and nostalgia of the gameplay, they express a desire for tighter controls and a more engaging challenge that doesn't rely heavily on grinding mechanics.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “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

    The humor in the game is described as light-hearted and entertaining, with players enjoying its quick-paced gameplay and amusing NPCs. Many find it funny to play with friends, and the absurdity of certain game mechanics, like enemies accidentally falling into lava, adds to the comedic experience. Overall, the game offers a blend of humor and action that keeps players engaged, even if only for a short duration.

    • “So what do you have to lose? Money? No. Time? Yes, because it only takes 20 - 30 minutes to fully complete. It's a quick and funny game you can play for a bit until you get bored.”
    • “Back to the game :) If you want a fast-paced game with fun movement and funny NPCs, this is the game for you.”
    • “With my pistol and catlike dexterity, I mowed down armies of crabs, laughing maniacally all the way.”
  • stability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting zero glitches and a smooth experience, while others experience frequent bugs, crashes, and minor freezes. While some minor issues like temporary freezes and control glitches are noted, they do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game for many users.

    • “The game runs smoothly with no glitches or bugs.”
    • “I haven't encountered any stability issues; everything works perfectly.”
    • “The performance is rock solid, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
    • “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.”
    • “Cave Crawler suffers from an abundance of technical issues, including frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches.”
    • “The micro freezes and the character automatically facing left every so often were minor issues.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant frame rate drops, lag, and stuttering, particularly in full-screen mode. While some users noted improvements over time, the overall performance issues have detracted from the gameplay experience for many, suggesting that optimization remains a concern, especially for certain hardware configurations.

    • “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, lag, and sliding from side to side cha-cha style.”
    • “The game's optimization is subpar, leading to frame rate drops, lag, and long loading times.”
    • “Major stuttering and frame loss when in full-screen; windowed mode was completely fine.”
  • atmosphere
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Cave Crawler delivers a captivating atmosphere through its eerie bioluminescent visuals, haunting sound design, and striking black, white, and red aesthetic. The game's environment effectively enhances the engaging gameplay, making it a standout experience for fans of 2D platformers. Overall, the atmospheric elements significantly contribute to the game's charm and immersive quality.

    • “From the eerie glow of bioluminescent fungi to the menacing screech of lurking creatures, every element contributes to the game's atmospheric charm.”
    • “Cave crawler offers a surprisingly engaging 15-minute experience, with solid mechanics and a unique atmosphere that pulls you in.”
    • “Controls are good, the music suits the cave-like atmosphere well, and the black, white, and red design really stood out for me; I loved it.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, with many expressing feelings of joy and sadness, often leading to tears. The overall experience is described as wholesome, contributing to a deep emotional connection with the narrative and characters.

    • “I cried.”
    • “Feels very wholesome.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express a desire for more in-depth character development, emphasizing the need for richer lore and storytelling that goes beyond superficial elements to create a more engaging and thought-provoking experience.

    • “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.”

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