Cave Story+

18 Narrative games like Cave Story+ that you should try

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We filtered the 42 games similar to Cave Story+ down to the 18 that fit the “Narrative” category. The Void Rains Upon Her Heart, Hotline Miami and Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Cave Story+.

iRank86/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

Tags

HardcoreNarrativeSolo

Year 2010Dev Nicalis

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗Epic ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Narrative” category, the closest game to Cave Story+ is The Void Rains Upon Her Heart — scoring 99/100 on our similarity scale. Hotline Miami and Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number follow close behind.

#1The Void Rains Upon Her Heart99 #2Hotline Miami97 #3Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number95 #4SuperHot: Mind Control Delete95 #5MDK295

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The best narrative games like Cave Story+

18 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Cave Story+. Each one has been evaluated across 14 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1The Void Rains Upon Her Heart

99

The Void Rains Upon Her Heart

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeHardcoreNarrative2DPixel Art

Steam👍 99%· 1.9K

Year 2018Dev Veyeral Games · The Hidden LevelsPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, cozy, relaxing feel and procedural generation, while skipping precision platforming

#2Hotline Miami

97

Hotline Miami

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedHardcoreNarrativePixel Art2D

Steam👍 97%· 122KRAWG👍 90%· 2.6KMC85IGDB86· 10

Year 2012Dev Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings puzzle design, dark, oppressive atmosphere and visual isometric, while skipping precision platforming

#3Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

95

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreNarrativePixel Art2D

Steam👍 94%· 78KIGDB71· 13OC74· 70

Year 2015Dev Dennaton Games · Devolver DigitalOn Xbox · PlayStation 3 · PS4

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, visual isometric and visual topdown, while skipping precision platforming

#4SuperHot: Mind Control Delete

95

SuperHot: Mind Control Delete

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreNarrativeSci-Fi

Steam👍 84%· 13KIGDB84· 10OC81· 70

Year 2020Dev SUPERHOT TeamOn Xbox · PS4 · Linux

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, setting cyberpunk and visual first person, while skipping precision platforming

95

MDK2

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreNarrativeSci-Fi

Steam👍 81%· 237IGDB90· 1

Year 2000Dev BioWare · Interplay EntertainmentOn PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings third-person shooting, puzzle design and linear, story-driven structure, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

94

Neon White

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeHardcoreNarrative

Steam👍 98%· 20KRAWG👍 91%· 245MC88IGDB89· 6OC89· 81

Year 2022Dev Ben Esposito · Annapurna InteractivePlaytime ~7hOn PC · PS · Nintendo

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and precision platforming

≠ Stands apart with visual novel storytelling, card game strategy and setting anime, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

93

Ruiner

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeHardcoreNarrativeSci-Fi

Steam👍 89%· 12KIGDB76· 12OC77· 88

Year 2017Dev Reikon Games · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: action RPG combat, deep RPG systems and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping precision platforming

#8Condemned: Criminal Origins

92

Condemned: Criminal Origins

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedNarrativeHardcore

Steam👍 87%· 4.3KRAWG👍 78%· 423MC80IGDB74· 5

Year 2005Dev Monolith Productions · SEGAPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, puzzle design and survival mechanics, while skipping precision platforming

#9Devil Daggers

91

Devil Daggers

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeHardcoreNarrativePixel Art

Steam👍 95%· 9.3KRAWG👍 78%· 160MC83IGDB78· 3OC83· 12

Year 2016Dev SorathPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and punishing difficulty

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, survival mechanics and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping precision platforming

#10Hitman: Contracts

91

Hitman: Contracts

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeNarrativeHardcoreStealth

Steam👍 87%· 3.5KIGDB70· 1

Year 2004Dev IO Interactive · Eidos InteractiveOn PC · Mac

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, stealth mechanics and visual third person, while skipping precision platforming

#11The Binding of Isaac

89

The Binding of Isaac

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedNarrativeHardcoreExploration2D

Steam👍 95%· 62KRAWG👍 76%· 1.2KMC84IGDB84· 2

Year 2011Dev Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl · Edmund McMillenPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, deep RPG systems and survival mechanics, while skipping precision platforming

88

DEADBOLT

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeRangedNarrativeHardcorePixel Art2D

Steam👍 96%· 5.6KRAWG👍 84%· 90MC76IGDB75· 2

Year 2016Dev Hopoo GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and precision platforming

≠ Where it differs: brings dark, oppressive atmosphere, stealth mechanics and horror setting, while skipping Metroidvania exploration

#13Hello Neighbor

86

Hello Neighbor

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeNarrativeHardcoreStealth

Steam👍 86%· 29KIGDB37· 8OC42· 53

Year 2017Dev DYNAMIC PIXELS · tinyBuildOn Xbox · PS4 · Android

✓ Same family of arena shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings horror tension, sandbox freedom and puzzle design, while skipping precision platforming

84

Mafia

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloMeleeNarrativeHardcoreExploration

Steam👍 87%· 16KIGDB63· 4

Year 2002Dev Illusion Softworks · Gathering of DevelopersOn PC

✓ Both are arena shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: racing gameplay, third-person shooting and fighting mechanics, while skipping precision platforming

#15S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

84

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS

SoloRangedMeleeNarrativeHardcoreSci-FiExploration

Steam👍 95%· 48KRAWG👍 86%· 1.4KMC82IGDB80· 2

Year 2007Dev GSC Game WorldPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the arena shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, survival mechanics and sandbox freedom, while skipping precision platforming

Complete list of narrative games like Cave Story+

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Cave Story+, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Postal

Postal

Shooter · FPS

Doom

Doom

Shooter · FPS

Returnal

Returnal

Shooter · FPS

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