Cave Story+

Overview

You wake in a dark cave with no memory, and Cave Story+ wastes none of that setup. This 2011 Windows action-adventure sends you into Mimiga Island, where rabbit-like Mimigas are in danger and a quiet boy with a blank past is the only one in position to help. It mixes run-and-gun platforming with exploration, weapon upgrades and the kind of story that keeps pulling you onward.

The game is built around movement and momentum: run, jump, shoot, fly and keep pushing deeper through the island’s caverns and ruins. Along the way you find weapons to upgrade, crystals to collect and enemies to blast apart, while the world keeps unfolding around you. Cave Story+ also adds upgraded HD graphics, remastered music, original artwork and music options, plus six new play modes and four unique endings.

There is a lot packed into the package: over 20 boss battles, 15 levels to explore and 10 unique weapons to find and improve. The result is a fast-moving adventure with a strong sense of place, a mystery at its core and enough optional variety to keep the trip from feeling like a straight line from one cave to the next. Conveniently, the rabbits are not the only ones having a bad day.

Why play it

• Fast platforming with shooting and flight.
• A mystery story built around amnesia and rescue.
• Over 20 boss battles and 15 levels.
• HD graphics, remastered music and extra play modes.

Quick facts

Beginner walkthrough

Learn the rhythm early

Cave Story+ is about moving cleanly through platforming spaces while shooting enemies in your path. You control the character directly with a keyboard or gamepad, so the basic loop is simple: keep running, jump across hazards, fire at threats and use what the world gives you to push ahead. Enemy drops can restore health, refill missile ammunition or feed your weapons experience.

Build your weapon set

Weapons can be collected, switched at any time and upgraded up to level three. Crystals improve weapon experience, but taking damage can knock that progress back, so staying safe matters as much as aiming well. Health and missile capacity upgrades are hidden across the world, which gives exploration a practical edge rather than just extra scenery to admire.

Use the extra modes

Cave Story+ includes six new play modes, along with upgraded HD graphics, remastered music and the option to mix new and old artwork and music. If you want more than the main story, there is also USB controller compatibility and support for multiple play styles through the included mode selection.

Key characters

• Quote Amnesiac hero

  You guide a quiet boy who wakes in a cave with no memory and ends up at the center of Mimiga Island’s troubles.

• Mimigas Rabbit-like race

  These innocent creatures live on the island, and their safety becomes the heart of the conflict.

• Doctor Maniacal scientist

  He threatens the Mimigas and drives the story’s danger from behind the scenes.

• Curly Brace Female robot

  She appears as another memory-lost character and becomes part of the escape from the island’s depths.

• Jenka Old witch

  She guards the red flowers and pushes the player toward stopping the Doctor’s plan.

Our take

Cave Story+ bundles an influential indie adventure with a sharp movement-and-shooting loop, a memorable mystery and plenty of extras. The upgraded visuals, remastered music and multiple play modes add flexibility without burying the original game’s personality. If you want a compact but busy action-adventure on Windows, this one has enough momentum to keep the cave walls moving past you.

FAQ