Colossal Cave

 PC
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 9 out of 24

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  1. DrGuillotine
    Feb 6, 2023
    10
    Colossal Cave Adventure with its 3D graphics brings a fresh and modern touch to this classic game. The game's beautifully rendered environments, combined with its challenging puzzles and sense of adventure, provides players with a fun immersive experience. I highly recommend this updated version of the game to fans of classic point and click adventures and difficult puzzle games, as wellColossal Cave Adventure with its 3D graphics brings a fresh and modern touch to this classic game. The game's beautifully rendered environments, combined with its challenging puzzles and sense of adventure, provides players with a fun immersive experience. I highly recommend this updated version of the game to fans of classic point and click adventures and difficult puzzle games, as well as newcomers to the series who are looking for a new and exciting gaming experience.… Expand
  2. BeanDip80
    Feb 6, 2023
    10
    The game is faithful recreation of the original text adventure Colossal Cave Adventure, which is basically THE original adventure game. Faithful to the original, but now rendered in 3D graphics, you can fully explore the cave and collect treasures just like the original… without needling to dial in to ARPANET!
  3. PsyTrigger
    Feb 6, 2023
    10
    Colossal Cave is a bit of a breath of fresh air if you just want to relax and explore without the toxicity of some of the other games on the market. It's wholesome, fun for all ages, and surprisingly challenging!

    This game does its best to match the original text adventure without adding or twisting too much. It does a great job of conveying that silly, almost classic dungeon master    Colossal Cave is a bit of a breath of fresh air if you just want to relax and explore without the toxicity of some of the other games on the market. It's wholesome, fun for all ages, and surprisingly challenging!

    This game does its best to match the original text adventure without adding or twisting too much. It does a great job of conveying that silly, almost classic dungeon master style, but with a relaxing point and click interface. It's a game that doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't inject anything unnecessary, it just stands on its own. You can tell that the designers loved the original enough to stay true to it. The original game had its flaws of course, but that's part of what made it a part of history.

    For what it's worth, I think it's very impressive for such a small indie team to release on this many platforms. Even though this game started out as a pet project, I can appreciate the effort that went into this to get it out the door.    … Expand
  4. TheLastAtarian
    Feb 9, 2023
    10
    Colossal Cave is Awesome! This game is not just a love letter to the past - it's a brilliant, fun, imaginative game. My daughter and I are spending a lot of time playing it together and it's been a great bonding experience. It's an authentic recreation of the original game, but it's also a fresh take. The narrator is absolutely perfect and brings the game to life.

    The ending is 100%    Colossal Cave is Awesome! This game is not just a love letter to the past - it's a brilliant, fun, imaginative game. My daughter and I are spending a lot of time playing it together and it's been a great bonding experience. It's an authentic recreation of the original game, but it's also a fresh take. The narrator is absolutely perfect and brings the game to life.

    The ending is 100% Roberta and a real callback to the imaginative days of Sierra. I'm honestly surprised by the negative reviews - they clearly didn't play this game all the way through.    … Expand
  5. Durango_Steve
    Feb 11, 2023
    10
    Great game incredible graphics! Lots of fun. Much better than anything I expected! So much fun!
  6. Pmstz
    Jan 30, 2023
    6
    OK game.
    Just for fans.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
  7. miyagami
    Feb 3, 2023
    9
    This games is a special game created by a special breed of people. People who once led the industry in game design and pioneered technologies we now take for granted. People who came out of retirement to create a game that was as close to a perfect recreation of the game that is responsible for the entire adventure genre of gaming. People who I personally believe are the only reason thisThis games is a special game created by a special breed of people. People who once led the industry in game design and pioneered technologies we now take for granted. People who came out of retirement to create a game that was as close to a perfect recreation of the game that is responsible for the entire adventure genre of gaming. People who I personally believe are the only reason this game is as good as it is.
    I went into this game with a full understanding of the game it comes from. I can say with all honesty, it is a faithful game interpretation that unless you have an old microcomputer laying around or understand emulation, will be the best chance of ever playing the original.
    It is hard, it is obtuse, it is everything the original was, but with beautiful graphics. It will make you feel alone, it will try you, it will confuse you, it may even anger you--but if you beat it, it will give you a sense of accomplishment most modern games will never give you.

    The graphics are beautiful for a AA game release. You will see some problems. If the tree in BOTW bugged you, the trees here may too. There are seams in some textures--which I am hopeful they will work out in future patches. The creature textures are gorgeous--a little shiny in a few but scales reflect light more than rocks--though the movement of a few creatures are a bit wonky. But, hey, if that is your only complaint, you are doing quite well.
    Ambient sound shines. Dialogue is very well done--especially the narrator who reads the original 70s era text to you. When I first played it I thought the gain might have been a bit too high on a few things, but I adjusted easily enough.
    Controls are great, with two options. One is the traditional point and click controls like you would find in classic 90s Sierra Adventures. The other is WASD and Mouse, which is more modern and more familiar to me. I played with that setup. I did not try for a controller, but if it is not there, I would hope they add it in in future patches.

    As for negative, I only have one real thing to say. This game is not for everyone. If you thrive on needing others in your game with you, know this is a single player game only. It is spelunking a cave. You are alone almost the whole time. Encounters are rare as most of the game is exploring and finding your way through puzzles. This is a feature as the original game was built that way. If you can not handle a game designed that way, you will not like this game. If you are okay with that kind of challenge, or you grew up on microcomputer text adventures and/or classic graphic adventures from Sierra or Lucas Arts--then this game is calling out your name.

    My overall advice: Buy it. Play it. Beat it. Do something only a rare segment of the world has done: conquer the Colossal Cave.    … Expand
  8. Sglauser10
    Jan 27, 2023
    1
    This is pretty bad. Yes they were legendary creators, but the Williams have no business making a modern game.
  9. Glic2003
    Jun 8, 2023
    5
    This is one of the few, rare games that seemed to give me motion sickness after a while. So, I didn't get too far in it, and I have to say my first impressions of it were pretty underwhelming.
  10. EvilNobody
    Jul 1, 2023
    1
    Absolute disaster with frustrating puzzles, random encounters with random outcome, terrible graphics and no consistent story or world building.
  11. PointNClickGeek
    Feb 8, 2023
    8
    This game is special, not only because it marks the most welcome return of Ken and Roberta Williams to game design, but also playing it made me feel like I did as a kid experiencing King's Quest for the first time - a sense of wonder while exploring a world full of surprises round every corner. The objective of the game is simple - find all the treasures hidden in the cave - but findingThis game is special, not only because it marks the most welcome return of Ken and Roberta Williams to game design, but also playing it made me feel like I did as a kid experiencing King's Quest for the first time - a sense of wonder while exploring a world full of surprises round every corner. The objective of the game is simple - find all the treasures hidden in the cave - but finding your way through its mazelike passages and great caverns is far from simple. Fortunately there's an automap feature that maps your progress as well as any items you've dropped, as unlike most other adventure games you can't put an infinite number of items down your pants ;) I was thrilled to play the game as it was being developed and got totally hooked exploring every nook and cranny of the cave, and even when you reach the end it feels like there's something else to discover. I would have liked to see more NPC interaction or expansion in certain areas, and players may not fully appreciate it without any knowledge of the text adventure. However as Ken and Roberta Williams have stated, this is not just a game it's like a historical document of a fundamental part of gaming history that deserves to be preserved!… Expand
  12. SamWoo
    Feb 11, 2023
    10
    I play a lot of video games. But I have to say that this game is colossally awesome!

    Great to explore and so cool someone was thoughtful to create a game like this. I used to be into spelunking as a kid. But now as an adult, I am not exactly in the greatest shape and cool to kinda relive my youth.

    Fun game. Recommend to all!
  13. RockerMike
    Mar 13, 2023
    10
    There are few games that give you historical insight into game design like Colossal Cave! The visuals are iconic and the devotion to staying true to the original can't be understated! Patient gamers who have played the original are missing out if they pass up this reimagining!!
  14. Fortefyre
    Mar 30, 2023
    9
    If you enjoyed the original Colossal Cave Adventure, you're going to love this game. It is a faithful 1:1 revision of the game, and I loved it. To see this gem return to the modern era is a breath of fresh air for retro gaming. The puzzles are hard, but that's okay. I didn't mind it at all.

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 6 out of 14
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 23, 2024
    40
    Wandering through the game's cavernous twists and turns has an ending, of course, and there's a bit of good ol' fun in the misery. The question is, however, why choose it when it got somewhat lost along the way and other and more accomplished cave adventures could be recommended instead. [Issue#326]
  2. Movies Games and Tech
    Mar 2, 2023
    40
    Overall, I would say my time spent with Colossal Cave was well spent. It was a fun way to experience an older title brought up to modern times. Unfortunately, the charm is lost on those who don’t have any experience with this style of game and may be extremely off putting for those who like a little more guidance without having to be penalized for using the hint system. This is a wonderful nostalgia trip for many but unfortunately, Nostalgia isn’t enough for everyone.
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  3. GameCritics
    Mar 1, 2023
    70
    It’s tough to say exactly who Colossal Cave is for. ‘Experienced’ fans who remember it might be overjoyed to explore its passages once again, now visualized, but the novelty will wear off once they’ve blazed through an adventure they likely know the answers to — it’s possible to speedrun the game in under an hour. Younger fans of adventure games may be curious to see a revamped version of how the genre started, but may become frustrated by the bizarre ‘logic’ behind the challenges. Ultimately, it’s a fascinating look back in time, but it doesn’t always translate to enjoyable play.
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