# Games like Cave Story+

> The closest matches to Cave Story+: Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, Kero Blaster, VVVVVV, Owlboy, and Axiom Verge. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.

## Similar games, ranked

The full ranked list, 24 games, best match first (the HTML page shows the top 8 as cards).

1. [Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove](https://imho.run/games/250760/shovel-knight-treasure-trove) — Shares achievement hunting with Cave Story+. 9,963 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/250760/)
2. [Kero Blaster](https://imho.run/games/292500/kero-blaster) — Shares weapon upgrade system with Cave Story+. 754 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/292500/)
3. [VVVVVV](https://imho.run/games/70300/vvvvvv) — Same atmospheric mood as Cave Story+. 4,463 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/70300/)
4. [Owlboy](https://imho.run/games/115800/owlboy) — Also Metroidvania, like Cave Story+. 2,379 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/115800/)
5. [Axiom Verge](https://imho.run/games/332200/axiom-verge) — A frequent pick in Cave Story+ players' libraries, and another Action. 4,057 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/332200/)
6. [Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo](https://imho.run/games/2870350/pipistrello-and-the-cursed-yoyo) — Shares metroidvania exploration with Cave Story+. 881 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2870350/)
7. [Narita Boy](https://imho.run/games/1069530/narita-boy) — Shares boss rush sequences with Cave Story+. 605 Steam reviews, 78% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1069530/)
8. [Aggelos](https://imho.run/games/717310/aggelos) — A frequent pick in Cave Story+ players' libraries, and another RPG. 280 Steam reviews, 76% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/717310/)
9. [La-Mulana](https://imho.run/games/230700/la-mulana) — Also Metroidvania, like Cave Story+. 1,446 Steam reviews, 82% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/230700/)
10. [Crypt Custodian](https://imho.run/games/2394650/crypt-custodian) — A frequent pick in Cave Story+ players' libraries, and another Adventure. 1,495 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2394650/)
11. [Hollow Knight](https://imho.run/games/367520/hollow-knight) — Also Metroidvania, like Cave Story+. 176,306 Steam reviews, 97% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/367520/)
12. [Castle In The Darkness](https://imho.run/games/262960/castle-in-the-darkness) — Also Metroidvania, like Cave Story+. 801 Steam reviews, 74% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/262960/)
13. [Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight](https://imho.run/games/428550/momodora-reverie-under-the-moonlight) — Also Metroidvania, like Cave Story+. 4,102 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/428550/)
14. [KUNAI](https://imho.run/games/1001800/kunai) — Shares boss rush sequences with Cave Story+. 175 Steam reviews, 76% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1001800/)
15. [Horace](https://imho.run/games/629090/horace) — Also Metroidvania, like Cave Story+. 276 Steam reviews, 85% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/629090/)
16. [ANIMAL WELL](https://imho.run/games/813230/animal-well) — Also Metroidvania, like Cave Story+. 12,616 Steam reviews, 95% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/813230/)
17. [Cuphead](https://imho.run/games/268910/cuphead) — Shares achievement hunting with Cave Story+. 62,740 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/268910/)
18. [BLADECHIMERA](https://imho.run/games/2671230/bladechimera) — Shares metroidvania exploration with Cave Story+. 694 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2671230/)
19. [Alwa's Legacy](https://imho.run/games/1205900/alwa-s-legacy) — Also Metroidvania, like Cave Story+. 279 Steam reviews, 87% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1205900/)
20. [1001 Spikes](https://imho.run/games/260790/1001-spikes) — Same retro mood as Cave Story+. 386 Steam reviews, 88% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/260790/)
21. [Tomba! Special Edition](https://imho.run/games/2851150/tomba-special-edition) — Shares metroidvania exploration with Cave Story+. 422 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2851150/)
22. [Salt and Sanctuary](https://imho.run/games/283640/salt-and-sanctuary) — Shares metroidvania exploration with Cave Story+. 7,119 Steam reviews, 88% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/283640/)
23. [Creepy Castle](https://imho.run/games/450440/creepy-castle) — Shares metroidvania exploration with Cave Story+. 160 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/450440/)
24. [Touhou Luna Nights](https://imho.run/games/851100/touhou-luna-nights) — Shares metroidvania exploration with Cave Story+. 4,690 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/851100/)

## Machine-readable

The same ranked list as JSON from the imho.run API for AI assistants (GET, no key, same site as this page):

- Top 20: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=200900&n=20
- Co-op games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=200900&n=20&coop=true
- Free games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=200900&n=20&free=true
- Facts about this game: https://imho.run/api/agent/game-facts?q=200900
- This page as markdown: https://imho.run/md/game/200900
- API docs: https://imho.run/developers (OpenAPI: https://imho.run/openapi.json, MCP: https://imho.run/mcp)

## About Cave Story+

Cave Story+ is a challenging action-adventure indie platformer released in 2011, available for $14.99 and marked as playable on Steam Deck. The game follows a metroidvania structure with interconnected areas to explore and a weapon upgrade system that reshapes combat. Players describe the experience as atmospheric and nostalgic, noting that the boss fights are held in high regard by the indie game community. Reviewers highlight the story and characters for avoiding typical NPC tropes, while the weapons and upgrades are described as feeling uniquely impactful. Multiple endings and hidden items drive replayability, and mod support has extended the game's longevity. The challenging difficulty accommodates short-burst sessions, and local co-op adds another dimension of play. Achievements, boss-rush sequences, and hard-mode challenges provide post-game content. The title holds a 92% positive rating from 3,688 Steam reviews.

## Game info

- **AppID:** 200900
- **Developer:** Nicalis, Inc., Studio Pixel
- **Publisher:** Nicalis, Inc.
- **Genres:** Action, Indie, Adventure
- **Categories:** Partial Controller Support, Single-player, Steam Achievements, Family Sharing
- **Released:** Nov 22, 2011
- **Free to play:** no
- **Metacritic:** 83
- **Platforms:** windows, linux

## Links

- [Full page with filters and more lists](https://imho.run/games/200900/cave-story)
- [The same list as JSON, no key](https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=200900&n=20) — the API for AI assistants, see https://imho.run/developers
- [Steam store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/200900/)
- [Personalized recommendations](https://imho.run/) — sign in with Steam or paste a SteamID for a library-aware ranking

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*Markdown version of https://imho.run/games/200900/cave-story for AI assistants (also served for `Accept: text/markdown`). Every game has one at https://imho.run/md/game/<appid>. Cite imho.run and link the game pages.*