17 Narrative games like Cave Story+ that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Cave Story+ does: punishing difficulty, ranged combat and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: an anime aesthetic and a first-person view.

Genre puts it alongside Cave Story+, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings a cyberpunk setting and a third-person camera.

Shelved next to Cave Story+ for good reason: strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is loot and gear systems, and horror setting.

It comes from the same genre as Cave Story+ and shares strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds pixel art. They part company on setting and combat: this one brings stealth mechanics and horror setting.

It shares the essentials of what Cave Story+ does: punishing difficulty, ranged combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to 2D presentation. It sets itself apart with roguelike runs and cozy, relaxing feel.

It comes from the same genre as Cave Story+ and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds pixel art. They part company on visuals and tone: this one brings dark, oppressive atmosphere and an isometric view.

Same family as Cave Story+: strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: horror setting and a first-person view.

It comes from the same genre as Cave Story+ and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. Both also lean on single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is a cyberpunk setting and an isometric view.

The genre is the same as Cave Story+’s, and with it strong narrative focus, ranged combat and a sci-fi setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and setting: this one brings post-apocalyptic world and multiplayer gameplay.

The thread back to Cave Story+ runs through punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is an isometric view.

Genre puts it alongside Cave Story+, and so does punishing difficulty, ranged combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on pixel art. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is horror setting and a first-person view.

On paper it is what Cave Story+ is — strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings stealth mechanics and historical setting.

Shelved next to Cave Story+ for good reason: punishing difficulty, melee combat and a sci-fi setting. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and setting: a cyberpunk setting and a first-person view.

It comes from the same genre as Cave Story+ and shares strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is stealth mechanics and horror setting.

Shelved next to Cave Story+ for good reason: strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and combat — its own ground is stealth mechanics and a third-person camera.