Cave Crawlers

About

In Cave Crawlers you and your friends play as Dwarves searching for glory, power, and loot in the form of armor, weapons, potions, and items hidden underground from the world above. Your player has a fun, complex talent and stat system that you will use to fight powerful bosses and enemies. You'll find all kinds of mysteries along your journey, exploring different biomes, mobs, and items along the…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,895 reviews

gameplay40 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Cave Crawlers is a fun and engaging game, especially when played with friends, offering a unique blend of roguelike mechanics and cooperative gameplay.
The voice acting and humor in the game are top-notch, adding to the overall enjoyment and charm of the experience.
The game features a solid skill tree and character progression system, allowing for diverse playstyles and builds, which enhances replayability.

The torch mechanic can be frustrating, as it runs out quickly, forcing players to rush through levels and making it difficult to navigate in the dark.
There are concerns about the game's content being repetitive, with limited enemy variety and room layouts, which can lead to a lack of long-term engagement.
Some players have reported issues with hit detection and enemy behavior, making combat feel unbalanced and sometimes unfair.

gameplay
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
47%
6%
The gameplay of "Cave Crawlers" is generally praised for its fun, cooperative experience and engaging mechanics, particularly the deep expertise tree and strategic exploration elements. However, some players find the torch mechanic frustrating, and there are mixed opinions on the game's depth and replayability, with some noting a lack of content and meaningful mechanics. Overall, while the game offers a solid roguelike experience with addictive gameplay, it could benefit from additional content and clearer mechanics.
- “Cave Crawlers is a brilliant entry in the roguelike-lite genre, combining fast-paced gameplay, strategic exploration, and randomized elements with enough depth to keep you hooked for hours.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are both intuitive and challenging, striking the perfect balance for both casual and hardcore gamers.”
- “The procedurally generated cave systems and diverse combat options keep the gameplay fresh, while the permanent upgrades and forgiving mechanics make it accessible without compromising on the roguelike essence.”
- “The torch mechanic is annoying and some skills make you unable to hold a torch and a weapon.”
- “Little content for an hour of gameplay before you get bored.”
- “Game lacks any depth or any sort of explanation of the mechanics.”
humor
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its funny voice lines, amusing multiplayer interactions, and the overall comedic potential when played with friends. Many reviews note that the game's humor can elevate the experience, making even repetitive gameplay enjoyable, while the chaotic nature of multiplayer adds to the hilarity. Overall, the game is described as a source of laughter, with players often finding themselves in fits of giggles over its quirky elements and entertaining moments.
- “This game made me laugh for like an hour straight; gather a group of friends and play this, it's literally so funny lol.”
- “With friends, this game is hilarious and the voice acting is impeccable.”
- “Funny and entertaining!”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
47%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique art style and atmospheric visuals that enhance gameplay, while others criticize them as simplistic or low-quality. Despite the varied opinions, many agree that the graphics effectively complement the game's mechanics and overall experience, proving that engaging gameplay can outweigh visual shortcomings. Overall, the visuals are described as fitting the game's theme well, with some standout moments that contribute to an immersive atmosphere.
- “The dark, atmospheric art style is complemented by a haunting soundtrack that ramps up the tension.”
- “The visuals are nothing short of breathtaking, each frame a masterpiece that transcends the boundaries between reality and fantasy.”
- “One of the standout features of cave crawlers is its stunning visuals.”
- “Like Deep Rock Galactic, but melee and even lower graphics settings.”
- “Upon opening the game, your expectations are pretty low based on the 'low-effort' sound effects and art style.”
- “The graphics are nothing special but this game is a perfect example of why gameplay is almost always more important.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
23%
14%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, largely due to its roguelike elements, diverse skill trees, and customizable difficulty, which allow players to experience unique runs with different builds and challenges. However, some reviewers noted that the game's simplicity and limited procedural generation could hinder long-term replay value, suggesting that additional randomized elements could enhance the experience further. Despite these critiques, many players find the game engaging enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “It was a new experience in every run we did, being able to play with different weapons, equipment, talents, skills, and more while coming across different rooms allowing for more exploration, looting, or doing tasks, giving the game huge replayability.”
- “As someone who has put many hours into this game, I can attest that this game has near endless replayability with a customizable difficulty to keep the game challenging at any skill level.”
- “Replayability is one of the strongest aspects of this game in my opinion; unlocking something different each run is simply something I have never experienced in any other type of game before.”
- “Having said that, it's mechanically not very deep, and kind of lacks replayability.”
- “However, the current simplicity really limits the replay value, which is a problem.”
- “If there were, for instance, randomized perks that you chose from once per (1-5) floors (totally separate from the weapon tree), I think there'd be a lot more replayability.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with haunting soundtracks and intense battle themes that elevate tension during gameplay. While some users noted a lack of music in certain areas, the majority found the sound design, including ambient effects and voice acting, to be masterfully crafted and engaging. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's captivating visuals and gameplay dynamics.
- “The dark, atmospheric art style is complemented by a haunting soundtrack that ramps up the tension.”
- “Everything about the game, from the mobs, the caves, and the soundtrack is all masterfully crafted and breathtaking.”
- “The captivating visuals and immersive soundtrack work together to create an attention-grabbing atmosphere.”
- “There is a lack of music.”
- “The music won't stop playing, omg lol.”
- “The game itself is good despite the fact that it is in early access, but the soundtrack is lacking.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's story is described as deeply compelling, exploring themes of love, loss, and the fear of death, while the mystery of the heroes' presence in the caves adds intrigue. Players appreciate the engaging quests and diverse biomes that drive the plot forward, alongside high-quality voice acting and memorable boss fights. However, some find the repetitive nature of the levels and the quest system's reliance on previous completions to be frustrating.
- “Everything about this game has the best storytelling, boss fights similar to other popular games, and the best voice acting in recent gaming.”
- “The mystery behind why our heroes are in the caves is deeply compelling, as well as the large number of strange biomes that really drive our plot forward.”
- “This is a hidden story of love, loss, and the fear of death.”
- “I wanted to hurt something after I got a Tarkov Jaeger quests flashback with having to be at 2 HP and smash things.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
13%
25%
The atmosphere of "Cave Crawlers" is highly praised for its rich, immersive qualities, featuring a dark art style and a haunting soundtrack that enhances tension. The sound design and captivating visuals work in harmony to create an engaging experience, while the game's solid mechanics and addictive nature contribute to its long-lasting appeal. Overall, it offers a polished and atmospheric adventure that resonates well with players.
- “For a roguelike-lite, 'Cave Crawlers' excels in creating a rich, immersive atmosphere.”
- “The dark, atmospheric art style is complemented by a haunting soundtrack that ramps up the tension.”
- “The captivating visuals and immersive soundtrack work together to create an attention-grabbing atmosphere.”
- “Randomly generated maps with a very high difficulty, a well polished atmosphere and gameplay, easy to learn mechanics and extremely enjoyable!”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay, others experience significant bugs and issues, particularly with internet connectivity causing freezes. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some praising the game despite its glitches, while others find it frustratingly unstable.
- “It seems to be a really good game; it runs great flat out on my rig, so no complaints here. It's definitely a grinding game, even on easy mode. It's pretty hard to get started, but I like that about it. I would definitely recommend it to friends.”
- “The game has excellent stability, allowing for a smooth and enjoyable experience without any crashes or major bugs.”
- “I've played for hours without any issues; the stability of the game really enhances the overall experience.”
- “I found out that when your internet cuts out for more than 1-2 seconds, the game completely freezes without attempting to reconnect.”
- “Buggy game, lowkey getting overwhelmed by the bugs.”
- “For the two hours I have played this game, I have experienced death, glitches, funny moments, speed, and wonderful people from the dev team.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game engaging, with a rewarding progression system that encourages farming and PvP. However, some users feel that the grind can become tedious over time, especially after the initial excitement wears off. Overall, the game is praised for its graphics and mechanics, but the potential for monotony in grinding is noted as a concern.
- “Great time killer for when you are bored, but packed with end game and a lot of farming.”
- “It started off as really hooking and fun although decayed quickly and became tedious and boring.”
- “This game is great graphics fit the theme of the game perfectly, the PvP is easy to get the hang of and rewarding which is good because the PvP is important for the very well made and rewarding progression system which would be too grindy otherwise.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by powerful voice acting that enhances immersion, with some players reporting profound emotional experiences, including feelings of loss and distress that lingered long after gameplay. While some found the emotional depth impactful and transformative, others warned of its potential to evoke intense reactions, suggesting caution for sensitive players.
- “Emotional voice acting really helped keep me immersed.”
- “He really made me feel like a cave crawler.”
- “And oh boy, was it the wisest decision I have ever made. This game has made me feel like a true dwarf.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Overall, the game runs smoothly on modest hardware, but there are opportunities for further optimization, particularly in multiplayer settings. Enhancements in this area, along with the addition of achievements, could significantly elevate the overall experience.
- “Runs smoothly on modest hardware.”
- “While a welcome addition, some optimizations could improve the experience.”
- “With multiplayer optimizations and the addition of achievements, this game could stand out even more.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Reviews on monetization are mixed; some players appreciate the approach, highlighting effective character progression, while others criticize it as wasteful and express concerns about future monetization strategies, particularly regarding the value of purchasing cosmetics in a primarily solo experience.
- “The character progression is awesome, and I love how monetization is done.”
- “This honestly shouldn't be free, but I think it's fine that it is, arguably good for multiplayer purposes. However, I fear for how this game will figure out its monetization, because personally, I'm not interested in buying a battle pass for cosmetics in a game I'm playing solo.”
- “This game is crap, and the monetization efforts are wasteful.”
- “This honestly shouldn't be free, but I think it's fine that it is—arguably good for multiplayer purposes, except that there aren't public lobbies currently. However, I fear for how this game will figure out its monetization because, personally, I'm not interested in buying a battle pass for cosmetics in a game I'm playing solo.”