Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Summer Game Fest
  • New games for 2025
  • Upcoming Switch 2 games
  • Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken screenshot
Survival Horror Games Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken puts an Inception spin on PS1-era survival horror games, and I totally get why it's winning pre-launch awards
A walking lighthouse runs across a barren environment while the sunsets in a screenshot from Keeper.
Adventure Games You simply will not guess the main character of the Psychonauts studio and Brutal Legend art director's new mind-bending adventure
Out of Words
Platforming Games This co-op platformer was a "boyhood dream" for the self-taught stop-motion animator now directing it, and it might just rival It Takes Two with a more earnest story and action less likely to destroy your relationships
End of Abyss Summer Preview
Survival Horror Games I played 30 minutes of the new game from the original Little Nightmares devs, and it turns out a twin-stick survival horror Metroidvania is a recipe for spooky heaven
The Bureau of Fantastical & Arcane Affairs appearing in Future Games Show
Adventure Games Set the stage for the hero in narrative-driven exploration game The Bureau of Fantastical & Arcane Affairs
A Cairn screenshot shows an impressive mountain during sunset
Adventure Games The best new game I've played all year is a 30-minute demo where I just climbed rocks and ate chocolate bars – and I still care about it more than Borderlands 4 and GTA 6 combined
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 screenshot of J.J. Hardwell standing with a handgun and looking warily at the shadow of Evil J.J. looming behind him
RPGs Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 is the first "survival horror comedy RPG metroidvania" I've ever played, and that sure is a lot of words
  1. Games
  2. Adventure
  3. The Cave

The Cave preview - 5 ways it's not your average adventure game

Features
By Lorenzo Veloria published 4 December 2012

Explore a mysterious, talking cave

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Step into the Cave

Step into the Cave

Double Fine has a new adventure title in the works from the creative mind of Ron Gilbert. The Cave does away with some of the staple gameplay mechanics that come with the adventure genre and strives to streamline the adventure game experience. Players will choose three of the seven characters to explore the Cave, including a Hillbilly, Monk, Adventurer, and Knight, to discover each one's personal motivations for entering and solve plenty of puzzles along the way.

Outside the genre innovations, The Cave still feels like a Double Fine game with the humor and quirky characters placed odd story set in a sarcastic, talking cave. We were able to get our hands on the title, play through a carnival-themed level, and got to experience some of the changes Double Fine has made to the typical adventure formula.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
There are platforming elements

There are platforming elements

When you think of an adventure game (especially one by adventure game design legend Ron Gilbert) you typically think of a point-and-click adventure like The Secret of Monkey Island or Maniac Mansion. Well, that's not the case for The Cave. Double Fine is making the the exploration a bit more active, allowing players to navigate the environment by jumping to ledges, climbing ropes, and swimming underwater.

However, the platforming isn't a huge focus or even challenging like it would be in a Mario game (this is an adventure title after all). You'll have to navigate your way through the Metroid-like cave environment uncovering clues, solving puzzles, and finding secret pathways. Having direct control over the characters gives the game a much faster pace than a point-and-click, so you won't have to wait for your character to walk across the screen trying to investigate an object.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Inventories do not exist

Inventories do not exist

In a typical point-and-click adventure game, you'd explore the world, gathering everything you can like wrenches, valve cranks, and other bits and bobs to open up the next section. In The Cave, there's still a ton of exploration, but you won't be loading up a fanny pack full of items that you'd soon forget the purpose of.

The lack of inventory is the prime example of the way Double Fine is streamlining the game. In one section of a carnival-themed level, a path could be opened by turning on the power to a clothed ladies dance show (don't ask). A fuse needed to be inserted into a circuit then powered by a far off generator. One character carried the fuse to the plug and another had to find a monkey wrench, travel to the generator, and use the wrench to flip on the power. Each of the three characters can only carry one item, you see exactly what everyone in your group is carrying, and what they are capable of doing with it. This keeps you from having to dig through an inventory and keeps the gameplay flowing.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
You'll have to pay close attention to the environment

You'll have to pay close attention to the environment

The Cave makes it easy to find items you can interact with, showing identifying floating text above items you can use, like picking up a barbell or pressing a button, but that doesn't mean that solving a puzzle is going to be easy. Sometimes finding the solution to opening a door or finding a quest item can be right in front of your face and you wouldn't know it.

In one area of the carnival level, a color wheel game challenges you to predict the correct color based on three choices, red, blue or green (which is impossible without knowing the trick). But before you reach the color wheel, you encounter a fortune teller that subtly displays one of the three color wheel colors after your fortune is told. It was easy to miss the small detail, but after spending time revisiting the puzzle, it's extremely rewarding once you finally figure it out.

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
The characters you choose determine the paths you can take

The characters you choose determine the paths you can take

Every character has a unique story, motivation for entering the cave, and special ability you can use to solve puzzles. Depending on which characters you choose for your party entirely affects the path you travel. For instance, the Hillbilly was used to access a carnival using his ability to hold his breath underwater and destroying a boulder with dynamite only he could reach. If the Hillbilly was not in the party the carnival would just be passed by and you would find an alternate path using the other characters.

The characters' abilities also have an impact on how certain puzzles can be solved. Instead of going through the complicated process of finding a fuse and powering on the clothed ladies dance show mentioned before, if the Monk was in the party, the character's telekinesis power could grab the item behind the barrier and the group could continue on with the adventure. You'll have to choose your characters carefully. Depending on the party you choose, you could have a completely different experience on a second or third playthrough.

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
There is three player co-op

There is three player co-op

The characters you choose to take on your adventure through the Cave can be individually controlled by additional players in drop-in drop-out, local co-op. In co-op, you'll be forced to coordinate and often take turns with your partners to solve puzzles. The camera always focuses on one character (which can be toggled), so sometimes you might have to leave your partners off-screen while you flip a switch. Having some buddies by your side to help solve puzzles is extremely entertaining, since putting your heads together to solve a tough puzzle can often result in horrible (yet hilarious) death and failure.

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
What do you think?

What do you think?

That was a quick look at the upcoming adventure title The Cave. What sparked your interest? Are you excited any adventure games coming in the near future. Let us know what your thoughts are on The Cave or adventure games in general in the comments below.

Want to find other great adventure games like The Cave, check out the Best Point-and-Click adventure games. Also have a look a this week's Top 7 - Most brotastic bros in gaming.

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming PlayStation Xbox Platforms
Lorenzo Veloria
Lorenzo Veloria
Social Links Navigation

Many years ago, Lorenzo Veloria was a Senior Editor here at GamesRadar+ helping to shape content strategy. Since then, Lorenzo has shifted his attention to Future Plc's broader video game portfolio, working as a Senior Brand Marketing Manager to oversee the development of advertising pitches and marketing strategies for the department. He might not have all that much time to write about games anymore, but he's still focused on making sure the latest and greatest end up in front of your eyes one way or another.

See more PC Gaming Features
Read more
Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken screenshot
Deep Sleep: Labyrinth of the Forsaken puts an Inception spin on PS1-era survival horror games, and I totally get why it's winning pre-launch awards
A walking lighthouse runs across a barren environment while the sunsets in a screenshot from Keeper.
You simply will not guess the main character of the Psychonauts studio and Brutal Legend art director's new mind-bending adventure
Out of Words
This co-op platformer was a "boyhood dream" for the self-taught stop-motion animator now directing it, and it might just rival It Takes Two with a more earnest story and action less likely to destroy your relationships
End of Abyss Summer Preview
I played 30 minutes of the new game from the original Little Nightmares devs, and it turns out a twin-stick survival horror Metroidvania is a recipe for spooky heaven
The Bureau of Fantastical & Arcane Affairs appearing in Future Games Show
Set the stage for the hero in narrative-driven exploration game The Bureau of Fantastical & Arcane Affairs
A Cairn screenshot shows an impressive mountain during sunset
The best new game I've played all year is a 30-minute demo where I just climbed rocks and ate chocolate bars – and I still care about it more than Borderlands 4 and GTA 6 combined
Latest in Adventure
Death Stranding
6 years too late, I bring lukewarm takes: Death Stranding rules, and we should all play more games outside of our comfort zone
Hytale
Reviving Hytale is such a risky proposition, its founder kind of "wants Riot to say no" to his offer for the Minecraft rival because it "makes no business sense"
After 11 years of development, 6 years of marketing, and a full reboot, Rare's Everwild has been canceled amid mass Xbox layoffs – 5 months after Phil Spencer's assurances it's making "progress"
Minecraft's copper golem reaches inside a copper chest
Minecraft is finally making copper useful with a new tier of tools bridging the gap from stone to iron, and a long-lost mob returning as the automatic item sorter fans have wanted for years
Screenshot from Hytale, showing three warriors with a sword, bow, and staff sighting a big, icy dragon.
Saving Hytale isn't something Stardew Valley's ConcernedApe is "thinking about too much" thanks to Haunted Chocolatier, but "If something were presented to me, I would be open to entertaining the idea"
Pokemon
Pokemon's hardest challenge has finally been completed after 15 months and "easily over 100k" collective attempts, and it took an absolute monster Crobat to do it
Latest in Features
Alexej Manvelov as Akram Salim in Dept. Q
I’ve seen countless crime dramas, but Netflix’s Dept. Q and Poker Face season 2 are rewriting the sidekick archetype for the better
Emma Mackey and Fiona Shaw as Sofia and Rose in Hot Milk
Sun, sea, and strained relationships: Andor's Fiona Shaw and Barbie's Emma Mackey play a mother and daughter on the brink in new drama Hot Milk
Two menacing gingerbread men look intimidating while a candy person waves from a cage
I didn't expect to like the latest D&D book, but after an utterly stupid adventure I'm all in on Dragon Delves
Mion and Rena look uneasy in the classroom in Higurashi: When They Cry
The Silent Hill f writer's debut game was basically the original Doki Doki Literature Club, and it's still terrifying me 23 years later
Quantum Witch screenshots
This stunning 2D "plotformer" is the ultimate cottagecore fantasy with an extra dose of mystery, sapphic witches, and a giant lady who fights you
Superman
Krypto the Superdog - The comic history of Superman's best friend
  1. Sam fires at the ghost mech squid boss in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
    1
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  2. 2
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  3. 3
    Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat"
  4. 4
    FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"
  5. 5
    Dune: Awakening review: "Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter"
  1. A T-rex in Jurassic World Rebirth
    1
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  2. 2
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  3. 3
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  4. 4
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  5. 5
    From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...