Cave Story Mimigathread

[Ikagura]

This indie game (also know as Doukutsu Monogatari in Japanese) has been released in December of 2004 and features the journey of a robots in various places underground while using weapons that could level up thanks to those triangles dropping upon defeating enemies. You'll have a variety of weapons through the game as well as meeting many friends and foes in a semi-linear path.

The game is freeware (with an english translation by Aeon Genesis) and sold by Nicalis under the name Cave Story+ on Steam, the Switch e-shop or physically in Japan. Sadly the Wiiware, DSiware and 3DS shop versions are no longer available in sales. A 2.5D version got physically released on the 3DS known as Cave Story 3D.

It's also known as one of the earliest indie games ever produced (before the term itself was coined) and has a nice retro style reminiscent of old japanese computers.

PS: The source code has leaked online in 2024 (possibly by Pixel himself) for the 20th anniversary and there has been many homebrew ports made (like on the Genesis as a demake or the DS via a linker). You can try Doukutsu-RS which is an enhanced version for modern computers (and Android).

 

[Yousef Yousef]

Sweet, stickied.
I truly appreciate this game for inspiring my favorite 2D franchise; momodora.

 

[Ikagura]

Sweet, stickied.

I was hesitant on making this thread because I didn't know if this would've been better to talk about it in an indie game focused thread or if it wasn't retro enough to be in there.

Thanks a lot for sticking it!

I truly appreciate this game for inspiring my favorite 2D franchise; momodora.

I need to get more into this as I own III and Reverie Under Moonlight.

I wouldn't be surprised if Toby Fox got inspired by it for Undertale as well.

 

[Yousef Yousef]

I was hesitant on making this thread because I didn't know if this would've been better to talk about it in an indie game focused thread or if it wasn't retro enough to be in there.

Thanks a lot for sticking it!


I need to get more into this as I own the first and third games.

Momodora is in such a good state to get into right now, not only do we have a new game, but we even have Minoria, a spiritual successor that didn’t go anywhere but was fun either way! And the dev engages with the steam forum posts a lot which is really helpful for discussing bugs and such.
Reverie of the Moonlight even possesses a hidden difficulty modifier in its gameplay. If you beat the bosses without taking anj damage, you get an overpowered weapon as reward.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Stop everything and watch peak

 

[MajesticSiN]

Love it!

 

[Ikagura]

I was hesitant on making this thread because I didn't know if this would've been better to talk about it in an indie game focused thread or if it wasn't retro enough to be in there.

And maybe the big update on the Steam version (as a beta branch though) that brings up the stuff from the Switch release.

I hope modding will get easier and bring many new content (and new fans).

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

I wouldn't be surprised if Toby Fox got inspired by it for Undertale as well.

It’s more likely than you think. Their titles are synonyms.

Under = Cave (natural systems that are subterranean often with many layers going downward)

Tale = Story (or Fable. All are terms used for reading/retelling fairy tales)

 

[Ikagura]

It’s more likely than you think. Their titles are synonyms.

Under = Cave (natural systems that are subterranean often with many layers going downward)

Tale = Story (or Fable. All are terms used for reading/retelling fairy tales)

And just by looking at the mimiga design and Toriel/Asgore/Asriel (and Ralsei since he's technically part of the same species in Deltarune) it was also a given.

Some people could even see other nods like Balos' single red eye mirroring Sans' blue one among other things but some others may be a bit of a stretch.

 

[ArchienineArchienine's icon]

Is a great game.
Fun fact: the PPSSPP homebrew store have it included

 

[shaggi]

It is very good game. I played Mega Drive port.

 

[Ikagura]

Is a great game.
Fun fact: the PPSSPP homebrew store have it included

I'll download it for mobile PPSSPP since the mobile port of Doukutsu-rs sadly lacks gamepad support.

 

[ArchienineArchienine's icon]

I'll download it for mobile PPSSPP since the mobile port of Doukutsu-rs sadly lacks gamepad support.

Cave Story have a mobile port?

 

[Ikagura]

Cave Story have a mobile port?

doukutsu-rs had one but it's not on the play store but as an APK

 

[Bakuma1997]

Hoping it wins, has been looking for a excuse to replay it soon

If a game wins, ¿it needs to be the version on the Repo? because i got the GOG update

 

[ArchienineArchienine's icon]

Hoping it wins, has been looking for a excuse to replay it soon

If a game wins, ¿it needs to be the version on the Repo? because i got the GOG update

Wins on what?

 

[Ikagura]

According to the wiki, all versions available:

So there are like 6 major versions: Cave Story, Cave Story+, DSiware, 3DS, Cave Story 3D and the Switch port.

 

[ArchienineArchienine's icon]

According to the wiki, all versions available:
View attachment 177706
View attachment 177707
View attachment 177708
So there are like 6 major versions: Cave Story, Cave Story+, DSiware, 3DS, Cave Story 3D and the Switch port.

Also the DSi and Mega Drive homebrews ports are avaliable on the Repo

 

[Ikagura]

Also the DSi and Mega Drive homebrews ports are avaliable on the Repo

Oh I was talking about the official versions but I agree. The DS homebrew is quite nice too.

It's like with Doom, you get many ports made by fans. I'd be curious to see a GBA one as well.

 

[ArchienineArchienine's icon]

Oh I was talking about the official versions but I agree. The DS homebrew is quite nice too.

It's like with Doom, you get many ports made by fans. I'd be curious to see a GBA one as well.

Don't knew about a DS homebrew, i was referring the DSiWare version.

 

[Ikagura]

The Genesis homebrew is almost accurate, only the music and color palette is different
Current version is 0.8.8 (Sep 3, 2025)

GitHub - andwn/cave-story-md: A fan port of Cave Story for the Sega Mega Drive

A fan port of Cave Story for the Sega Mega Drive. Contribute to andwn/cave-story-md development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

And the DS homebrew for the linkers (which I own)
Current version is from 2022 sadly

Release Cave Story DS v0.4 · tilderain/CaveStoryNDS

v0.4: This version adds the option of the SD card ROM, which supports basic mods. See the SD card folder readme for instructions on how to use it. There are also many fixes and quality of life impr...

github.com

Edit: there's apparently a GBA homebrew as well

Release gbaalpha1 · tilderain/cave-story-gba

A port of Cave Story Mega Drive to the GBA. Contribute to tilderain/cave-story-gba development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Post automatically merged: Apr 24, 2026

Via PPSSPP (Gold) on mobile

Via doukutsu-rs on mobile

 

[Ikagura]

Monster X is an annoying boss but I love their sprite upon defeat

Spoiler

For those struggling with this boss: never let yourself ran over by the tracks and use the Blade (and Missiles when possible during the second phase).

 

[jesterodoll]

surprised nobody has mentioned this goofy ass project yet

CaveStoryRap

A full length, step by step journey into the indie masterpiece that is Cave Story. Join me on a lyrical walkthrough that not only pays tribute to Daisuke Amaya's groundbreaking work, but some pretty incredible hip-hop producers, as well.

www.youtube.com

 

[Yousef Yousef]

The mid 2010s also had a brief period of tone of “cave story-likes”, something I wouldn’t mind seeing return.

 

[Ikagura]

The mid 2010s also had a brief period of tone of “cave story-likes”, something I wouldn’t mind seeing return.

Aside from Momodora which games were inspired of Cave Story?

Don't answer Undertale lol.