Cave Story's Secret Santa

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 351 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Cave Story's Secret Santa Game Cover
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After Balrog recovers the Christmas presents that were stolen by Chaba, the cowardly Mimiga named Santa must sneak into every house and return the missing packages. Be the Mimiga Who Saves Christmas!

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 351 reviews
story45 positive mentions
monetization3 negative mentions
  • Cute graphics and a charming holiday aesthetic make the game visually appealing.
  • The gameplay is simple yet enjoyable, with fun mechanics like sneaking and delivering presents.
  • It's free, making it a low-risk option for fans of Cave Story and casual gamers alike.
  • The game is very short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and replayability.
  • Achievements were initially broken, leading to frustration among players who enjoy completion.
  • The stealth mechanics can feel simplistic and repetitive, lacking the challenge found in other games.
  • story271 mentions

    The story of "Cave Story's Secret Santa" is a lighthearted, Christmas-themed spin-off where players control a mimiga character dressed as Santa, tasked with stealthily returning stolen presents. While it features familiar characters and settings from the original "Cave Story," many reviewers note that the narrative is simplistic and lacks the depth of its predecessor, often feeling more like a holiday special than a substantial addition to the franchise. Overall, it serves as a cozy, nostalgic experience for fans, but may not engage those unfamiliar with the original game's lore.

    • “A dynamic story structure delivers a deep experience where players' choices impact the outcome of the game.”
    • “The game's attention to detail in art and sound design wraps players in a warm holiday blanket, making gift-giving feel as thrilling as a big mission and as heartwarming as a family gathering around a fireplace.”
    • “Cave Story's Secret Santa is a heartwarming and charming game that brings the holiday spirit to life.”
    • “Cave Story's Secret Santa clearly isn't heavy on story.”
    • “This game is terrible, awful, zero point, a disgrace to Cave Story.”
    • “It's not the most embarrassing thing to officially happen to Cave Story, but it really had no reason to even happen.”
  • music52 mentions

    The music in the game is a mix of well-executed remixes from the original Cave Story, infused with holiday themes, which many players found charming and enjoyable. However, some criticized the soundtrack for being repetitive and containing tracks that felt out of place, such as an 8-bit rendition of "Carol of the Bells." Overall, while the remixes and festive tunes added to the atmosphere, a desire for more variety and fitting compositions was noted.

    • “The game features cute and colorful graphics, and the cheerful music adds to the festive atmosphere.”
    • “The music is a nice mix of classic Cave Story melodies, holiday cheer, and a campy stealth tone for the stage themes.”
    • “Every song made me smile either from how epic it sounded or because it was a remix of a previous Cave Story track.”
    • “The only things I didn't like are the repetitive soundtrack and a noticeable input lag (on keyboard, at least).”
    • “The music also has a few problems; most obvious being that there isn't that much of it.”
    • “The main level song (that plays over every single level) is a medley of the Cave Story boss music, for instance; and it seems a bit too action-y for watching a bunny wander around giving presents and eating cookies.”
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay of "Cave Story: Secret Santa" features a mix of simple stealth mechanics and puzzle-solving elements, offering a charming yet shallow experience. While some players appreciate the engaging visuals and music, many criticize the gameplay for being overly simplistic and lacking depth, often feeling rushed and disconnected from the original "Cave Story." Overall, it provides a fun, bite-sized experience for fans, but may not appeal to those seeking more complex gameplay.

    • “This mode is full of various mechanics, systems, and loops; a deep exploration and exciting experience awaits players.”
    • “With each cycle, new mechanics, enemies, and puzzles are introduced, allowing players to constantly discover new things and stay excited.”
    • “The gameplay is simple but it works.”
    • “Some game mechanics like these are used more like gimmicks needed to beat only one or two levels, that could have been expanded upon.”
    • “Cute ideas, but shallow gameplay.”
    • “Short game with very basic gameplay.”
  • graphics23 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by cute and colorful pixel art, evoking a nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic reminiscent of classic titles like Cave Story and Super Mario Bros. While many players appreciate the charming visuals and festive atmosphere, some feel that the retro style lacks innovation and customization options, leading to a sense of familiarity. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal, though opinions vary on their originality and depth.

    • “The game features cute and colorful graphics, and the cheerful music adds to the festive atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are cute pixel art.”
    • “Graphics are super charming and the music's nice (though a couple more tracks would've been appreciated), overall an enjoyable experience.”
    • “Sure, the graphics still look cute and colorful, but I've already seen it all before!”
    • “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming qualities, effectively capturing the holiday spirit through detailed art and sound design. Players feel a sense of warmth and joy, akin to family gatherings, while engaging in gift-giving and charming gameplay, making it a delightful experience for fans of the Cave Story series.

    • “The game's attention to detail in art and sound design wraps players in a warm holiday blanket, making gift-giving feel as thrilling as a big mission and as heartwarming as a family gathering around a fireplace.”
    • “Cave Story's Secret Santa is a heartwarming and charming game that brings the holiday spirit to life.”
    • “Purely wholesome for being based on a game as dark as Cave Story.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's replayability due to the ability to alter endings through different choices, enhancing the sense of discovery. While many find it somewhat replayable, some note that it has limits once all content is explored. Overall, the game offers a good balance of replayability, though it may not be infinitely so.

    • “Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
    • “Got a good bit of replayability until you find everything there is on the maps and within the levels.”
    • “Players can change the ending of the game by making different choices, increasing the sense of replayability and discovery.”
    • “Somewhat replayable.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cozy holiday vibe, enhanced by charmingly decorated zones, cute graphics, and cheerful music. Despite its 2D style, it effectively captures the festive mood, making it an enjoyable experience for players looking to immerse themselves in a Christmas-themed environment.

    • “They must outwit present-pilfering gaudis and solve puzzles in three charmingly decorated zones, evoking a cozy holiday atmosphere.”
    • “The game features cute and colorful graphics, and the cheerful music adds to the festive atmosphere.”
    • “Despite the fact that it is made in 2D style, it perfectly manages to convey the festive atmosphere and mood.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization of the game is criticized as a weak cash grab, with users feeling that it serves more as a demo or advertisement for another title rather than a standalone product. Additionally, there are concerns about the practices of the publisher, Nicalis, which is perceived as exploitative in its handling of indie games.

    • “Such a weak 'cash grab'; except it's free, so I guess it's just a weak game.”
    • “Oh look, another cash grab from the greediest of indie publishers (thieves might better describe them).”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its charming and lighthearted tone, despite the awkwardness of its grid-based movement and a surprisingly challenging gameplay experience for a holiday-themed title. Players find the concept of speed-running a short, comedic game amusing, particularly highlighting the hilarity of the timer feature. Overall, the game delivers a brief but enjoyable comedic experience.

    • “Very short (1h) but charming and funny game.”
    • “Oh yeah, and the timer is hilarious because what person in their right mind would ever 'speed run' this game?”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and artificially prolonged, leading to a lack of enjoyment. Even short play sessions can feel exhausting and unenjoyable due to the repetitive nature of the tasks.

    • “Instead of being fun, the game just felt artificially long and tedious.”
    • “It's simple, not really fun, and despite only going for about an hour, it's exhausting and tedious by the end.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users have expressed disappointment regarding the stability of the game's achievements, noting that they remain buggy despite a previous update aimed at addressing these issues.

    • “I feel obligated to say that I am disappointed that achievements for this game are still buggy, even after an update that was released on December 14, 2021.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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