The Cave

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 91 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 91
  3. Negative: 10 out of 91

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  1. IntrepidEmu
    Jan 24, 2013
    10
    The Cave is incredibly fun. The puzzles can, at times, be ridiculously hard, but so few games have those kinds of puzzles any more, so it was a nice change. I thought all the playable characters are all great, even the ones that initially seemed boring. The narrator and characters you meet along the way are fun, well-written and interesting. The controls can occasionally be annoying butThe Cave is incredibly fun. The puzzles can, at times, be ridiculously hard, but so few games have those kinds of puzzles any more, so it was a nice change. I thought all the playable characters are all great, even the ones that initially seemed boring. The narrator and characters you meet along the way are fun, well-written and interesting. The controls can occasionally be annoying but are otherwise good. And I loved the graphics and music! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes puzzle games.… Expand
  2. Vite
    Jan 24, 2013
    10
    Quite a game should i say. Interesting, astonishing, with a splendid humor (even black humour sometimes), a great addition to those games created by Shafer and Gilbert. Lot of puzzles. Haven't seen such a game for a very long time. Oh, yeah, and there is also a bit of moral for every story you will hear from The Cave.
  3. Dynamithix
    Jan 25, 2013
    9
    The Cave is a charming little puzzle-platformer that features interesting areas to explore, unique art design, and a bunch of quirky characters to play as. It might seem like a short game at first, but it has a huge amount of replay value to offer if you want to find out every character's origin story and unlock all the achievements/trophies. The humour in the game is also very funny andThe Cave is a charming little puzzle-platformer that features interesting areas to explore, unique art design, and a bunch of quirky characters to play as. It might seem like a short game at first, but it has a huge amount of replay value to offer if you want to find out every character's origin story and unlock all the achievements/trophies. The humour in the game is also very funny and even quite dark at times, and the narrator (who is a talking cave!) makes it even funnier. Well worth the money if you're looking for a light and fun game to play!… Expand
  4. DudeManGuy
    Jan 24, 2013
    9
    Play this for the art and animation alone. Holy crap. It's also pretty funny and presents a nice level of puzzle challenge. I really don't understand why this game is getting middling scores. It's fantastic. My only problem is the terrible mouse and keyboard control, but that's rectified by plugging in a controller.
  5. setz
    Jan 27, 2013
    10
    This game is the first game in a LONG time that the moment I finished it I wanted to instantly play through it again. See you can only pick 3 out of the 7 characters each time and each has different puzzles throughout. This game is brilliant, the puzzles are tough but dont require digging around online for solutions (if you think about it you can figure it out) and the humor is top-notch.This game is the first game in a LONG time that the moment I finished it I wanted to instantly play through it again. See you can only pick 3 out of the 7 characters each time and each has different puzzles throughout. This game is brilliant, the puzzles are tough but dont require digging around online for solutions (if you think about it you can figure it out) and the humor is top-notch. A must pick up for puzzle/platformer fans.… Expand
  6. taltamir
    Jan 28, 2013
    3
    It tries really hard to be funny, it isn't.
    Overly short.
    Character abilities are near insignificant with few exceptions.
    Puzzles are underwhelming (there is the occasional moon logic one but those aren't hard to figure out either)
  7. calcipher
    Feb 15, 2013
    8
    I bought this game off Xbox Live Marketplace without expecting much: I'm not a fan of platforms, nor puzzle-based games. I just wanted something funny and not too hardcore to play with my girlfriend. Well, we ended up finishing the game with all available characters and I also found myself playing alone just to get all of the trophies/objectives. "The Cave" isn't extremely challengingI bought this game off Xbox Live Marketplace without expecting much: I'm not a fan of platforms, nor puzzle-based games. I just wanted something funny and not too hardcore to play with my girlfriend. Well, we ended up finishing the game with all available characters and I also found myself playing alone just to get all of the trophies/objectives. "The Cave" isn't extremely challenging since all of the puzzles can be solved without the need of looking for a walkthrough online, provided you have the patience to think about them and the will to experiment sometimes. This game is not intended for the "hardcore gamer" (whatever it means): if you're looking for an extreme challenge, look elsewhere. There's no difficulty level setting, that should tell you something. It's, however, very funny, full of jokes (even dark humor) and comedy I won't say anything about not to spoil them. Some of the puzzles will require you to stop and actually think, that is a nice variation from "grab the controller and smash buttons until everything in sight is dead". If you have kids, i mean small kids, even the easier puzzles will help them improve their logical skills while still being funny and entertaining. Again, if you're looking for a dark adventure, look elsewhere: this game is not to being taken seriously and if you can't get it, I suspect you fall in the "grown up kids" category that won't like "The Cave". Of course, you'll notice some flaws. First of all, you won't be playing much. The game can be finished really quickly and, once you completed it with all characters, there's not much to do apart looking for hidden/very hard objectives (like the full run without dying). Second, a couple of puzzles requires some out of the box thinking, and I mean *really out of the box*, to the point we get near nonsense. A better tutorial, especially regarding the characters' special powers would be a nice addition, since in the first runs it's not very clear how you use them and what they exactly do. Finally, the multiplayer mechanic is not great: the camera is always centered on one character, thus meaning (while playing in 2 like I do) even if you're both running in the same place, the player ahead has to stop sometimes not to leave the other one out of sight. I payed this game 1200 MSP, that is around 10€ where I live and I think I got what I've payed for: a nice, funny game to play with my girlfriend as a filler during my mighty campaign in Skyrim or whatever I am hooked at the moment. Take it for what it is… Expand
  8. djvampyre
    Jan 28, 2013
    3
    This is pretty much a kids game only IMO. For an adult I felt that the platforming was very tedious in the sense that it was slow and clunky. Climbing a ladder in this game is just brutal and it has to be done quite often. The puzzles were not very well designed. If you were looking for clever puzzles that give you a huge sense of satisfaction after solving this is not it (unless you are aThis is pretty much a kids game only IMO. For an adult I felt that the platforming was very tedious in the sense that it was slow and clunky. Climbing a ladder in this game is just brutal and it has to be done quite often. The puzzles were not very well designed. If you were looking for clever puzzles that give you a huge sense of satisfaction after solving this is not it (unless you are a kid of course). The characters unique special abilities mattered so little I'm really not sure why they wasted time putting them in the game at all. Kinda frustrating to see all that wasted potential there. The scenrey was cool though and the art really had me sucked into the game. I would have rather dealt with bad art than bad gameplay though.… Expand
  9. McBeesj
    Jan 27, 2013
    9
    Me and my two boys played it, I would say 9 and up with some guidance is fine, I would suggest not using the twins pretty grim story. For teens and adults it is funny, clever and challenging. The puzzles make sense so with some thought are solvable. Great Great game. Says hell multiple times and Blood is splattered on walls. Fun to play around with a few people or solo.
  10. orosznyet
    Jan 26, 2013
    8
    First of all this is a really cool game. It was nice that I could choose 3 from 7 characters in the beginning. The voices, sounds, music and visuals are also good. But honestly it's not a long game (even if you do all the 7 characters). Most of the puzzles are pretty easy but definitely not for children. The second time when i played through I was bored because the three extra mission wasFirst of all this is a really cool game. It was nice that I could choose 3 from 7 characters in the beginning. The voices, sounds, music and visuals are also good. But honestly it's not a long game (even if you do all the 7 characters). Most of the puzzles are pretty easy but definitely not for children. The second time when i played through I was bored because the three extra mission was not enough to make the main missions still exciting. Highly recommended game.… Expand
  11. pkstormy
    Jul 7, 2014
    9
    Like Valiant Hearts, this is a very, very fun side scrolling puzzle type game. I love the puzzles and use of multiple characters to solve them. My only complaint is that some of the puzzles get really involved (with a bit of back-tracing) but for a puzzler that is this fun and offers this many hours of solving one variation after another, and for less than $10, it would be a shame, a bigLike Valiant Hearts, this is a very, very fun side scrolling puzzle type game. I love the puzzles and use of multiple characters to solve them. My only complaint is that some of the puzzles get really involved (with a bit of back-tracing) but for a puzzler that is this fun and offers this many hours of solving one variation after another, and for less than $10, it would be a shame, a big shame for you to pass this game by and not give it a try. If you're a developer, you'll appreciate the work that went into this game. If you like working on crossword puzzles or rubrics cubes or just multi-level puzzles in general, you'll enjoy this side-scrolling puzzler that gives you a real sense of accomplishment after solving each puzzle. My only complaint is that it took me a bit to realize what I was supposed to do and how to move/solve some puzzles. I am a dba/developer and this is shear fun,… Expand
  12. cstrickland
    Mar 20, 2013
    9
    The cave is one of those games with a silly narrative and a narrator with an awesome voice that has lines that are well written and witty at times and kept me giggling through out the whole game. There's a bunch of characters to choose from (You play with three at a time) and depending on which ones you choose it changes the puzzles you face, my favorite was the hillbilly's carnival levelThe cave is one of those games with a silly narrative and a narrator with an awesome voice that has lines that are well written and witty at times and kept me giggling through out the whole game. There's a bunch of characters to choose from (You play with three at a time) and depending on which ones you choose it changes the puzzles you face, my favorite was the hillbilly's carnival level which had me scratching my head one moment and then laughing the next, some puzzles are not as easy as they seem like the monk's water jug puzzle which gives you a link to a real website with the answer to the puzzle if you get stuck.

    This is one of those games that if you have the money/points that you NEED to pick up, no collection is complete without it.    … Expand
  13. Numelon
    Feb 26, 2015
    9
    This game is just another complete rip-off of angry birds. The game itself is exactly the same except the graphics quality is much lower and the gameplay is significantly less user friendly.
  14. Broyax
    Sep 1, 2019
    0
    La daube indé du soir est une petite daube insignifiante qui mêle jeu d'aventure à deux balles et puzzles de mes deux dans une caverne à la con. On contrôle 3 personnages débiles dans ce machin scrollant en 2D et 256 couleurs.

    La débilité ne s'arrête pas là puisque la caverne parle... assez souvent et se croit très spirituelle. On se fait vite chier là-dedans et on est rapidement    La daube indé du soir est une petite daube insignifiante qui mêle jeu d'aventure à deux balles et puzzles de mes deux dans une caverne à la con. On contrôle 3 personnages débiles dans ce machin scrollant en 2D et 256 couleurs.

    La débilité ne s'arrête pas là puisque la caverne parle... assez souvent et se croit très spirituelle. On se fait vite chier là-dedans et on est rapidement assommé par tant de débilité tous azimuts. Ce sous-produit est bien sûr signé Double Fine, coutumier du fait et spécialiste en daubes indés depuis nombre d'années.    … Expand
  15. CenkAlp
    Jan 3, 2018
    7
    Hikaye = 5
    Oynanış = 8
    Grafikler = 6
    Sesler = 6
    Keyif = 7
    Atmosfer = 6
    Süre = 7
  16. brendo214
    May 30, 2019
    7
    The Cave has some pretty great humor, but the puzzle designs are pretty lackluster.
  17. drlowdon
    Feb 3, 2015
    7
    A puzzle-platformer from Double Fine productions, The Cave has all the usual charm and humour you’d expect from the Tim Schafer founded company. Truth be told the platforming is very basic but the puzzles are generally logical and fun to solve and, particularly when played with a friend or two, it makes for an entertaining experience.
  18. BeatHour
    Jul 4, 2018
    4
    One of the worst games I've ever played. It's essentially a point-and-click turned into a platformer, with the inventory system removed. The 'puzzles' consist of grabbing item, running with the item to a spot, using it, then having two of your character press a button while the third one progresses. Over and over you repeat this process. Despite long walks, there's no way for yourOne of the worst games I've ever played. It's essentially a point-and-click turned into a platformer, with the inventory system removed. The 'puzzles' consist of grabbing item, running with the item to a spot, using it, then having two of your character press a button while the third one progresses. Over and over you repeat this process. Despite long walks, there's no way for your characters to move automatically toward the terrible busywork set before you.

    How do you like 1990s direct-to-video cartoon movie sequels? Because the humor in this game is dead on if they were going for "complete afterthought" with the writing. The game's writers actually thought "I have to fire that shopkeeper, I think he's stealing from me" and a gold minor saying "Back to hoarding more gold" are funny lines. They repeat the same joke of naming the torches random things like "torchy mctorchson" over and over again throughout the entire game, but even that lameness is poorly executed. They recycle the names in a loop. Wow, randomly generated joke! Who doesn't love humor that's dependant on odds and localizations?

    On XBOX 360 (I played the version emulated on Xbox One), the game runs terribly, and that only compounds the fact that the platforming (ie, trying to speed up the incessant climbing ladders of ladders required to get anywhere by falling down shafts and grabbing the ladder/rope at the last second) even more annoying. Framedrop after frame drop.

    I'm not sure how so many people love this. It's like a bad custom map of Little Big Planet. The only redeeming feature is the model art.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2013
69
#69 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2013
41
#41 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 44
  3. Negative: 2 out of 44
  1. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Mar 8, 2013
    70
    The Cave is a game worth experiencing at least once. Truly funny games are rare, much less funny games that cover themes as diverse as sin, murder, redemption and desire. The fact that it covers these topics with a sense of style and ease (and without feeling like you’re being bludgeoned with a philosophy textbook) is praiseworthy.
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  2. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Feb 27, 2013
    80
    A brilliant adventure, platform and puzzle game. [Issue#95, p.84]
  3. The Digital Fix
    Feb 25, 2013
    50
    More a disappointing rocky hole than a glorious crystal cavern.
    Read full review
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