Choose Cave Story+
Choose Cave Story+ if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 3,688 Steam reviews back the pick.
Cave Story+ vs Rail Recon
Cave Story+ and Rail Recon both land in Action, Indie, Adventure 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, Adventure on Steam. Cave Story+ (2011) is 7 years older than Rail Recon (2018). Cave Story+ scores higher on Steam reviews (91.8% positive) than Rail Recon (87% 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 Rail Recon
Choose Rail Recon if it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Rail Recon launched in 2018.
Both Cave Story+ and Rail Recon sit in Action, Indie, and Adventure 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+ |  Rail Recon | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2011 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, Adventure | Action, Indie, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 91.8% positive (3,688 reviews) | 87% positive (23 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Nicalis, Inc., Studio Pixel | Triggered Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie, Adventure on Steam.
- Cave Story+ (2011) is 7 years older than Rail Recon (2018).
- Cave Story+ scores higher on Steam reviews (91.8% positive) than Rail Recon (87% positive).
- Rail Recon is free; Cave Story+ is paid (14.99 USD).
- Cave Story+ is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Rail Recon has no Deck rating yet.
Cave Story+ vs Rail Recon — FAQ
- Should I play Cave Story+ or Rail Recon first?
- If you want chronology, Cave Story+ (2011) came out before Rail Recon (2018). 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 Rail Recon similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie, Adventure 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.
- Is Rail Recon free?
- Yes — Rail Recon is a free-to-play Steam title. Cave Story+ is paid (14.99 USD).
- Does Cave Story+ run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Cave Story+ is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Rail Recon doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.