Some versions, particularly on older consoles, experienced framerate drops, and controls are sometimes described as "floaty" or imprecise. The Cave REVIEW!

Multiple playthroughs are encouraged and required to see all character-specific levels, though some players find the repeated "general" levels make this monotonous.

The game supports local co-op for up to three players, which is often considered the best way to experience it.

The Cave (2013), developed by Ron Gilbert and Double Fine, is a 2D puzzle-platformer that blends modern exploration with traditional point-and-click adventure logic, focusing on item management and character-specific puzzles. The game is generally praised for its charming visual style, snarky narration, and creative, character-themed levels, but it is often criticized for tedious backtracking and repetitive gameplay, particularly when playing alone.

A major complaint is the lack of a traditional inventory system, which often forces players to run back and forth to transport items.

It is a 2D side-scrolling puzzler where you pick 3 characters out of 7, each with unique abilities used to solve specific puzzles.

The game features a sentient, talking cave that narrates the story with a dark, humorous tone.