Choose Cave Story+
Choose Cave Story+ if you want an Adventure experience. 3,688 Steam reviews back the pick.
Cave Story+ vs Wake
Cave Story+ and Wake both land in Action, Indie on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Indie on Steam. Cave Story+ (2011) is 2 years older than Wake (2013). Cave Story+ scores higher on Steam reviews (91.8% positive) than Wake (28.2% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Wake
Choose Wake if it's currently about 67% cheaper on the Steam Store. Wake launched in 2013.
Both Cave Story+ and Wake sit in Action and Indie on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Cave Story+ |  Wake | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2011 | 2013 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91.8% positive (3,688 reviews) | 28.2% positive (71 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Nicalis, Inc., Studio Pixel | Boss Baddie |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Cave Story+ (2011) is 2 years older than Wake (2013).
- Cave Story+ scores higher on Steam reviews (91.8% positive) than Wake (28.2% positive).
- Wake is currently ~67% cheaper on Steam than Cave Story+ (4.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
Cave Story+ vs Wake — FAQ
- Should I play Cave Story+ or Wake first?
- If you want chronology, Cave Story+ (2011) came out before Wake (2013). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Cave Story+ and Wake similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.