Cave Crawler is a short, 2D side-scrolling action platformer. Explore caves filled with interesting enemies and fun platforming challenges.
Overwhelmingly Positive
3,107 Steam reviews
| LANGUAGE | AUDIO | SUBTITLES | INTERFACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | — | — | Y |
Si alguna vez has pensado: "¿Sabes qué le falta a mi vida? Un plataformas 2D simplón en el que salto menos que un ciempiés cojo y donde el escenario me odie", entonces has dado con un juego adecuado.
Cave Crawler es la prueba de que no necesitas Ray Tracing cuando tienes un diseño de niveles que te hace cuestionar tu coordinación ojo-mano.
Punto a favor: juego gratis.
Al menos está curiosa su estética de gráficos pixelados minimalistas con la paleta de colores escogida. Estamos hablando de tal minimalismo que mi tostadora puede moverlo a 120+ FPS.
Prepárate para realizar saltos en los que te sientas como si estuvieras calculando una trayectoria de la NASA. El movimiento es inercial, tosco (en un buen sentido) y, hasta cierto punto, deliciosamente frustrante. Vas a ver que tienes que medir muchas cosas al milímetro. ¿Y si mediste mal? Ni te preocupes, para eso está el respawn instantáneo.
El apartado sonoro es un bucle ambiental que te mete en un trance del que, a los pocos minutos, te empiezas a cuestionar tu salud mental.
¿Veredicto? Es un juego de plataformas honesto, directo y corto. Es un ejercicio de diseño minimalista que funciona recreando juegos del pasado y que no intenta ser nada más de lo que ves. Esto, combinado con su precio gratuito y su muy corta duración, hace que sea típico candidato a juego que te quieres pasar rápido después de salir de uno muy largo y no tienes cuerpo y mente para meterte en tu próxima aventura exigente (todavía).
This game is a short easy experience for players with a fun speedrunning feel to the game
Jó kis játék! Kár hogy csak ilyen rövid :(
Cave Crawler is a free short game with 7 achievements, overall it's pretty fun, if you know what you are doing you can beat it in 20 minutes as it's pretty easy.
Great game! It made me angry in some levels, but I had a lot of fun! :)
Cave Crawler, developed and published by Evan Youssef, is a compact indie action platformer released on Steam in early 2022. The game embraces a minimalist design philosophy built around retro-inspired gameplay, presenting players with a straightforward side-scrolling adventure that focuses on precise platforming and simple combat mechanics. Rather than aiming for a sprawling campaign or complex narrative structure, the game positions itself as a short and focused experience where the core enjoyment comes from mastering movement, navigating hazards, and eliminating enemies in a series of underground levels. The concept is simple: explore dangerous cave systems filled with creatures, obstacles, and environmental traps while progressing deeper toward a final confrontation.
At its core, Cave Crawler follows the traditional formula of classic 2D platform shooters. Players guide a small character armed with a firearm capable of firing unlimited bullets, allowing them to defeat enemies encountered throughout the caves. Movement is limited to basic platforming actions such as running and jumping, but the game relies heavily on timing and positioning to create its challenge. The levels are structured in a linear progression where each stage presents a series of jumps, enemy placements, and hazards that must be overcome to reach the exit. Because the controls are simple and responsive, the difficulty arises not from complicated mechanics but from the need for careful movement and quick reactions.
The game features a modest but clearly defined structure consisting of several stages designed to introduce players to increasingly complex situations. Across roughly five main levels, players encounter a variety of enemies and obstacles that gradually test their ability to combine platforming and combat. Early sections allow players to familiarize themselves with the character’s movement and shooting mechanics, while later stages introduce tighter jumps, more aggressive enemy patterns, and environmental hazards that require more careful navigation. The adventure culminates in a boss encounter that serves as the final challenge, providing a satisfying sense of completion for players who successfully navigate the cave system.
Enemy design in Cave Crawler is intentionally straightforward but effective within the game’s short format. The caves are inhabited by several types of hostile creatures such as bats, crabs, and stationary threats that attack from specific positions. Each enemy behaves differently enough to encourage players to adjust their approach, whether that means timing a jump to avoid contact or firing carefully while maintaining safe positioning. Because the character has limited lives, encounters can quickly become tense if players rush through areas without paying attention to enemy movement. This balance between shooting and movement keeps the gameplay engaging despite the limited number of enemy types.
Environmental hazards are another key component of the challenge. The caves contain classic platforming dangers such as spikes, falling stalactites, and pools of lava that punish careless movement. These hazards are typically placed in areas that require players to think carefully about their approach, combining well-timed jumps with awareness of enemy placement. In some sections, hazards work in tandem with enemies to create layered obstacles that require quick decision-making. The result is a compact but effective level design that rewards patience and observation rather than brute force progression.
Visually, the game adopts a nostalgic pixel-art style inspired by early arcade and console platformers. Characters and enemies are represented through simple sprites with limited animation frames, but their designs are clear and readable, ensuring that players can easily interpret what is happening on screen. The cave environments rely on minimalistic textures and earthy color palettes to create an underground atmosphere without overwhelming the player with visual complexity. This retro aesthetic complements the straightforward gameplay and reinforces the feeling of playing a classic platformer reminiscent of older gaming eras.
The audio design follows a similar philosophy, using retro-style music and sound effects to create a lively but uncomplicated atmosphere. Sound cues accompany enemy attacks, gunfire, and environmental interactions, giving players feedback that helps them react quickly during tense moments. The soundtrack maintains a steady rhythm that matches the pace of the gameplay, adding energy to the experience without becoming distracting. Although the presentation is modest, the combination of pixel visuals and retro audio helps the game achieve a cohesive and charming identity.
One of the defining characteristics of Cave Crawler is its intentionally short length. The entire game can often be completed in a relatively brief play session, which may surprise players expecting a longer adventure. However, this concise structure is also part of its appeal. The game does not attempt to pad its content with unnecessary filler; instead, it focuses on delivering a small collection of levels that highlight the core mechanics. This makes the experience accessible to players who enjoy quick indie games or want a short platforming challenge they can complete in a single sitting.
Despite its enjoyable design, the game’s limited scope inevitably leads to some drawbacks. The small number of levels and enemy types means that replay value can be somewhat limited once players have completed the adventure. Additionally, the absence of deeper progression systems such as upgrades or branching paths may leave some players wishing for additional content or expanded mechanics. Nevertheless, the game’s simplicity also keeps the experience focused and prevents it from becoming repetitive during its relatively short runtime.
Overall, Cave Crawler stands as a charming example of a small indie project that prioritizes straightforward gameplay and retro presentation. Its blend of classic platforming mechanics, responsive controls, and simple level design makes it approachable for players of all skill levels while still offering moments of challenge. Although the game does not attempt to reinvent the genre or provide a large amount of content, it succeeds in delivering a concise and enjoyable underground adventure that celebrates the fundamentals of 2D action platformers. For players who appreciate short retro-style games or want a quick platforming experience with a nostalgic feel, Cave Crawler provides a satisfying and focused journey beneath the surface.
Rating: 8/10
простенькая стрелялка
5/10
I have a review channel on YouTube and this game was a blast to play!!
A short free game. Not much to say really, not bad, not great, it's just there. Fun for a while.
A mini precision platformer with cute ultra-retro graphics. Not too hard, and you'll literally finishing it in about 10 to 15 minutes. It actually shows potential to become a full game.
She crawling on my cave
Crab/10
Se ve fácil, es fácil, pero a veces me provocó desinstalarlo. Me gusto, esta muy bueno. Para pasar el aburrimiento esta chido, son como 30 minutos de juego así que cumple.
i crawled in a cave
10/10
รีวิว Cave Crawler
เกมลุยด่านในถ้ำขนาดสั้นมากๆประมาณ 5-6 ด่าน ภายในเกมเราจะได้ยิงศัตรูด้วยปืนเลเซอร์ กระโดดหลบกับดัก รวมไปถึงสู้บอสตัวเดียวในเกมที่จะถล่มเราด้วยปืนบาซูก้าจนปี้ป่น เห็นเค้าเคลมว่าตัวเกมจะมีการบังคับที่ลื่นไหล responsive แต่พอเล่นจริงไม่ใช่ แบบนี้บ้านผมเค้าเรียก ลื่นแบบ slippery โว้ย!! คือกระโดดทีเดียว ลื่นพื้นตกเหวตาย เพราะฉะนั้นใครจะมากระโดดสบายๆ บอกได้คำเดียวตายบ่อยชัวร์ อันนี้ผมเล่นคีย์บอร์ด จอยเกมอาจจะให้ผลลัพธ์ที่ต่างกันก็ได้ ขี้เกียจลอง ส่วนการบังคับ ผมไม่ค่อยชิน เอาปุ่มโจมตีไว้ทางซ้าย ปุ่มกระโดดไว้ทางขวา เหมือนให้คนถนัดซ้ายเล่น คนถนัดขวาอย่างผมก็ต้องมาปรับตัวกับการบังคับใหม่เข้าไปอีก โดยรวมก็ถือว่าพอเล่นฆ่าเวลาได้
A fun challenge finish the game quickly and for free :)
alright short game. nothing special but not bad.
很不错的一款游戏，就是有点短，我不到半小时就通关了。但是免费的游戏咱要求也不能太高，玩起来有点像I wanna，但是没I wanna坑，推荐一试！
QUE JOGO BOM DO KARAI! 10/10
Nice short game inspired by Mario and Mega-Man, no doubt.
Only has one soundtrack that loops ad nauseum (not annoying, though, the music is cool) and a single boss battle. Game also has 7 levels, in total and checkpoints.
I downloaded the wrong game.
This was fun though. It's worth trying out!
«Cave Crawler» — это захватывающая пиксельная игра. Она сразу привлекает внимание: простое управление, мрачная стилистика в пиксельной графике. Каждая пещера (новый лвл) — это новая проверка на ловкость и умение быстро адаптироваться. Звуковое сопровождение и музыкальное оформление идеально передают ощущение опасности. Несмотря на сложность, оторваться от игры невозможно. Это отличный выбор для любителей данного жанра.
It can run on my school chromebook and It is quite fun to play. EVEN THO I suck at it.
Pretty easy and a good time waster for a few minutes, no complaints
Lindo, cortito, simple, con lindos gráficos y buen control del personaje.
good game
cool game, great for being free.
ta wapo speedrunearlo
FOR WHAT THIS GAME IS, IT IS A 10 OUT OF 10. PLEASE MAKE A SEQUEL WITH POWERUPS
無料ゲームなので、ボリュームはないですが、すぐにクリアできて、サクッと楽しめます。
上手い人は、所見でも10分程度でクリア可能かもしれません。
フリーゲームなので、コントローラーの起動チェックなどにもオススメです。
Chill game
Niestety, odpadłem w pewnym momencie, gra stała się zbyt frustrująca.
spoko krótka gierka ale bądźmy szczerzy ludzie grają w to bo są łatwe osiągniecia
Despite it's short length (I completed the game in under an hour), I enjoyed playing Cave Crawler. 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! (:
It is barely playable for a short free platformer, even if you compare to old flash games.
Character's movement inertia feels a bit weird, and the gun has no impact. No interesting enemies.
Grounded movement has acceleration and stopping is a bit slippery.
Jumping has a bit of coyote time, but air control is limited.
For some reason, if you beat the last level but didn't beat the bonus stage, you have to re-beat the last level before you can jump back into bonus stage. Bonus stage was very frustrating because of one specific trick jump in the middle/end that if you failed, forces you to replay the entire start of the bonus stage - you're not supposed to land on the thin platforms, you're supposed to skip and just go straight for the middle.
Overall, not recommended. There are way better free platformers.
Note that the creator has made a free sequel (Cave Crawler 2) that seems quite different, though I have not played it.
wiele tu nie ma do oceniania. gierka za darmo mi zajela godzine do przejscia. zwykla platformowka jakich wiele. moze kiedys sprobuje speedrun tej gry
6
nada, corto pero buenísimo 10/10
Coloquei minha sobrinha pra jogar, 15 minutos depois tive de tirar ela da frente do pc pq ela começou a espancar meu teclado KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
Joguinho bão esse aqui.
This is a short, free, platformer with a gun... it has all the elements of greatness!
mid ahh game
if you just want to play something quick, then play this
Игра Cave Crawler — это настоящий глоток свежего воздуха в жанре roguelike, который затягивает с первых минут. Разработчики проделали отличную работу, создав атмосферу таинственных пещер, наполненных опасностями и сокровищами. Управление простое и интуитивно понятное, но при этом игра обладает достаточной глубиной, чтобы каждый забег был уникальным.
Боевая система динамичная и требует тактического подхода: нужно грамотно использовать способности персонажа, уклоняться от атак врагов и собирать полезные предметы. Прокачка персонажа предлагает множество вариантов развития, позволяя экспериментировать с разными стилями игры. Визуальный стиль игры, хоть и не претендует на фотореализм, очень приятен глазу и отлично передает атмосферу подземелья. Музыкальное сопровождение также на высоте, оно усиливает погружение и добавляет адреналина в напряженные моменты. Cave Crawler — это тот случай, когда хочется возвращаться снова и снова, чтобы исследовать новые уровни, открывать секреты и ставить новые рекорды. Отличная игра для любителей жанра и тех, кто ищет что-то новое и захватывающее.
Taka krótka gierka, fajna na krótke sesje.
Da sie ją ukończyć w niecałe 20 minut
nice, simple, short, but challenging. awesome game!!
Easy Achievements baby!!!
Buen juego la verdad tiene un buen desarrollo de nivel, aunque es un plataformero del montón y con poca identidad y no te toma muchos intentos en aprenderte la cosa me gusto mucho el final boss junto al nivel bonus siendo de estos juegos para completarte en menos de 1 hora consiguiendo logros gratis para subir de nivel en tu cuenta de Steam.
this game though simple was challenging and fun would recommend
I had to crawl through this cave.... alright, i'll put the fries in the bag
It's short. It's neat. The Slippery patch makes it actually completable, coming from someone who is not good at platformers such as Celeste and Hollow Knight. Worth it for the achievements and to support a free game from an independent developer.
Fun and short platformer with around 30 mins worth of content featuring six levels to test your platforming skills while shooting down various dangers along the way.
Cave Crawler — это та игра, которая с первой же минуты затягивает с головой. Это классический платформер с роуглайк-элементами, который бросает вызов и не прощает ошибок, но при этом невероятно забавен.
Что сразу покоряет, так это атмосфера. Мрачные, подсвеченные лишь факелами пещеры, таинственные звуки и пиксельная графика, выполненная с большой любовью к деталям, создают неповторимое чувство опасности и азарта. Каждый спуск вглубь — это новое приключение, ведь уровни генерируются процедурно. Вы никогда не знаете, что ждет за следующим поворотом: сундук с сокровищами, ловушка или орд врагов.
Геймплей прост и гениален: пробивайся как можно дальше, собирай ресурсы, открывай новые способности и оружие. Умер — начинай сначала, но с новыми знаниями и, возможно, постоянными улучшениями. Управление отзывчивое, что крайне важно для такого жанра.
👍
this game is the definition of this JUST WORKS
This game is extremely simplistic, yet surprisingly fun! Cave Crawler gives off that good kind of retro game vibes and I think for a free game it is super worth of your time! The only downside in the whole game is that the physics are a bit ice like and some one block jumps are semi hard to do.
Неплохая короткая игра на вечер
clunky movement but good way to spend an 1hr
Not much really to note here. It's not bad, but it's just so basic that i can't recommend wasting time on it. No innovation whatsoever and the only real challenge comes from getting accostumed to the slippery character movement. I guess its free though and as far as time wasting it shouldnt take more than 30 to 100%
Fun little game to spend a couple hours on!
What makes it frustrating are the "slippery" feel of the platformer along with how each level progressively gets harder to get through. Still a pretty good short game.
Its a good game!
Fun for a free game but i cant find or beat the bonus level :(
Muy bueno.
Un juego bastante corto pero suficiente para pasar el rato
Juego corto, podría a ver cosas para mejorar, soy fan del estilo MegaMan pero a veces siento que la movilidad podria mejorarse, aun así es un juego para pasar el rato y pesa poco
Não esperava nada, e me entregou nostalgia junto com estresse, aquela maldita fase bonus e essa dinamica de controlar a distancia de pulo, o jogo em si foi em 5 minutos, mas 20 minutos foi a fase bonus, chatinha demais, jogo é legalzin e +1 pra lista de jogos perfeitos, All achievements.
A really fun, exciting, adrenaline pumping and short platformer. The length of this game doesn't affect the quality and sound design, which is really good considering the retro style.
A lot of people complain about the difficulty, especially the boss on Level 5, but it isn't that difficult, after learning how to evade his attacks, like the rest of Cave Crawler, it gets easier.
Absolute masterpiece.
10/10, would recommend.
крабы, музыка. босс изи. Дизайн любимых старых игр! платформинг на бонусном уровне порадывал умирал... крайне рекомендую очень хороший проект! Понравилась цветовая гамма! НУ ЭТО КРУТО
very cute short game :)) not too hard yet nicely done
short and fun
[h1]
Very basic, there's nothing more to it. Better play some old school Game Boy games.
[/h1]
Nice short game, Fun to play!
Fue entretenido mientras duro. Realmente no puedo destacar mucho del juego ya que no tiene historia ni tiene una jugabilidad excesivamente innovadora. Si estas empezando en plataformeros y quieres un titulo que te enseñe las bases, este esta bien, ya que no tiene hitboxes muy bien echas y sufre de movimientos de Velmont.
Esta bien para un rato y gratis. Úsenlo entre varios para ver quien se lo pasa mas rápido.
Short and competent. Nothing much stands out. But it teaches you new mechanics in a safe way then ramps them up, which a lot of games don't bother to do. Completely fine for free. Wish there was more than one music track though.
好玩上头，适合一小时内速通解压。
p.s. Bonus有一段居然需要利用滞空，看视频才知道的，牛牪犇。
A good 20 minute time waster. 5/10
oyun 30 mb ve 30 mb lik bir oyuna göre 25 kat falan iyi
goty
good- really needed longer length tho-
better than valorant
The game looks decent and enjoyable, and trust me, it can be, even in its limited longevity.
Sadly, I didn't have a nice time because of the tremendous lag spikes that make you take damage and the uncomfortably rigid yet slippery movement.
I appreciate the level design and how it introduces new features by progressing, but man oh man, I would never play this again.
Cool short game.
fajne
Неплохой бесплатный платформер на 15-20 минут)
so ez
sarmadı
simple but fun game
Easy game, took about 1 hour to get platinum, but the hitboxes are made like ♥♥♥♥
A game to 100% in about 15 minutes!
7/10
Fun little title
Cortito pero entretenido.. estaría bueno que agreguen niveles con más dificultad.
Mais curto que meu pau.
17 dakikada bitirdiğim eğlenceli ve çerezlik bir platform oyunu, zordu ama eğlendim. Alın indirin ekleyin kütüphaneye.
Прикольна коротка грулька. На один вечір рекомендую!
good game, solid movement, fun levels
🎮 Petit jeu de type action-platformer en 2D side-scrolling, rapide à terminer et plutôt sympa à jouer. Parfait pour une session courte sans prise de tête.
É um joguinho estilo mario, bem curto mas que vale a pena jogar pra passar o tempo.
Un juego corto y bastante divertido, con requisitos muy accesibles, una buena jugabilidad retro, lo único malo es que como es demasiado corto tienes ganas de más, sin embargo, para eso jugate la secuela 9/10
half hour of gameplay and its free. now hopefully theres anothe 10 000 of these so i can have a lifetime of gaming for free
nice
It has #سرطان
Best game ever
entretenido
