Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 88 | 5 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 85% | 79 | 187 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 1, 2026) · 187 reviews sampled · 170 total reviews in window · weighted 106.2 up / 18 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (16)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“If you haven't played Cave Story yet, you need to; it's an essential title for any fan of Metroidvania style games. Its wonderful pacing, fantastic controls and charming visuals make it a must-have for fans of the genre, especially those that have yet to play it. If there was the equivalent of a required reading list for games, Cave Story+ would be on it.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Cave Story+ isn't just a good game in 2017; it's downright impressive.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Cave Story+ isn't the definitive version of Cave Story, I think that crown still belongs to the WiiWare version, but then again, that version isn't portable. I do miss the ability to switch graphical styles, but it's really the only regrettable absentee. The real takeaway here, though, is Cave Story is great and you should play it.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Cave Story+ is a magnificent metroidvania style with emphasis on platforming action and which brings forth fantastic boss fights, a perfectly designed difficulty curve and overall, a charming and engaging adventure that is set to captivate newcomers and veterans alike. Even if Cave Story+ has existed in previous formats before, it is still a very recommended option to everyone.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The biggest addition is to the price tag, but Cave Story itself is still a masterclass in minimalist video game design.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“It’s a sensitive reworking, and Cave Story is entirely deserving of the attention. Huzzah, as a dear old friend of mine used to say.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It’s a testament to what an incredible achievement Cave Story+ was, or is, that it still holds up so well, remaining to be an engaging and well-paced adventure from start to finish. I had never expected to fall head over heels for the game as much as I did, wrongly believing that perhaps it wasn’t really for me. But, now that the Mimigas have been saved, all is right the world once more.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Cave Story is not in vain called the most famous indie game, she's great to tell a compelling story about the adventures of a nameless robot, with lots of different mechanic in wrapper the classic non-linear platforming and skillful juggling the stories of the characters together the above, the players get a worthy adventure that the passage of time.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The fact that I can only come up with one negative point for Cave Story+ speaks volumes for it's worth: it's charming, fun, and is a story worth playing over and over again.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“All in all, for $29.99 Cave Story+ is still a great deal. It takes all the aspects that make it a classic and further refines them in small ways to offer fans a reason to be excited again. I also personally appreciate that it’s on the Nintendo Switch, especially since the physical version came with sexy preorder bonuses. My only minor complaints are that you can’t skip dialogue and that it’s unclear how to unlock more challenges. Regardless, if you’re a fan of Cave Story already or are just a fan of retro games, I can’t recommend Cave Story+ highly enough. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does remind fans why this game is still relevant today.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Cave Story+ is arguably one of the best metroidvania game and despite having released years ago, it still holds up very well even today.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cave Story+ is a game most people will have played in one form or another. If you haven't and you are looking for a decent Mega Man fix, then Cave Story+ is for you.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
FNintendo
Metro GameCentral
PC Gamer
Nintendo Insider
ZEFGame.ru
Geeks Under Grace
oprainfall
GearNuke
Gamers Heroes…and 4 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Cave Story+ 260630 UpdateJul 1, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Cave Story+ Update 2026Apr 11, 2026significant · resets scoring window