Cave Story
Run, jump, shoot, fly and explore your way through a massive action-adventure reminiscent of classic 8- and 16-bit games.
- Released
- 2004
- Developer
- Daisuke Amaya
- Platforms
- 6 systems
- Critics
- 83
- Steam Deck
- playable
- Download
- Not stated
What is Cave Story?
Run, jump, shoot, fly and explore your way through a massive action-adventure reminiscent of classic 8- and 16-bit games.
Description as published by the developer on its own store page, read 30 August 2026. It is marketing copy, not our assessment.
The record
| First released | 20 December 2004 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Daisuke Amaya |
| Publisher | Daisuke Amaya, Nicalis |
| Platforms | Nintendo 3DS, Xbox, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo DS, Steam Deck |
| Genres | First-Person Shooter |
| Languages | 2 supported |
Source. Catalogue facts from Wikidata Q1051853, seeded 30 August 2026. Store data from Steam, read 30 August 2026.
How was Cave Story received?
Method. Player figures are Steam's own totals for the PC version, read 30 August 2026. The Metacritic score is the one Steam publishes on its store page and can lag the site itself. Metacritic page. Neither is our opinion. We have not published a review of this game.
Accessibility
Seeing
None declared
Hearing
None declared
Input
- Full controller support
Difficulty
None declared
Method. Features the publisher declared on its own store page. A declaration is a floor, not a review.
What does it support?
| Capability | Support |
|---|---|
| Controller | full support |
| Cloud saves | Yes |
| Cross-platform play | No |
| Mod support | No official workshop |
| Online play | Single-player only |
| In-game purchases | No |
| Steam Deck | playable |
| Download size | Not stated |
| Add-on content | None listed |
| Age gate | None |
Method. Read from the publisher's Steam listing on 30 August 2026. Describes the PC version. Console versions differ.
What does it cost?
Steam price in US dollars, read 30 August 2026. Prices move hourly and vary by region. Check the current price.
Problems players report
We read the 300 most recent negative Steam reviews of Cave Story on 30 August 2026 looking for recurring complaints. Nothing came up often enough to report: no theme was mentioned by more than 3% of them. That is not a claim that the game is bug-free, only that the people who disliked it were not agreeing about why.
Games like Cave Story
24 games overlap with Cave Story on the tags Steam players applied to it, on genre, and on theme. The closest are VVVVVV, Katana ZERO and CrossCode.
Common questions about Cave Story
What platforms is Cave Story on?
Cave Story is available on Nintendo 3DS, Xbox, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo DS, Steam Deck. It first released in 2004.
How much does Cave Story cost?
$14.99 on Steam in the United States, read on 30 August 2026. Prices move often and vary by region, so check the store before buying.
Do players recommend Cave Story?
93% of 8,305 Steam reviews are positive, which Steam rates Very Positive. That is players rating it, not our review. We have not published a review of this game.
What is the Metacritic score for Cave Story?
83 out of 100 for the PC version, as published on the game's own Steam store page. Steam can lag Metacritic by a few points.
Does Cave Story work on Steam Deck?
Valve rates Cave Story as playable on the Steam Deck, from its own testing.
Who made Cave Story?
Cave Story was developed by Daisuke Amaya and published by Daisuke Amaya, Nicalis.