The Cave (video game)

The Cave
DeveloperDouble Fine Productions
PublisherSega
DirectorRon Gilbert
ProducerMatt Hansen
DesignerJP LeBreton
ProgrammerChad Dawson
ArtistAndy Wood
WritersRon Gilbert
Chris Remo
ComposerBrian Min
EngineBuddha
PlatformsPlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360, Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS, Android
Release
January 22, 2013
  • PlayStation 3, Wii U
    • NA: January 22, 2013
    • PAL: January 23, 2013
    Xbox 360
    • WW: January 23, 2013
    Windows, OS X
    • WW: January 24, 2013
    Linux
    • WW: February 19, 2013
    iOS
    • WW: October 3, 2013
    Android
    • WW: December 2, 2013
GenresPuzzle-platform, adventure
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

The Cave is a puzzle-platform adventure game developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Sega in January 2013 on the PlayStation Network, Nintendo eShop and Xbox Live Arcade storefronts via the PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360 consoles and on Steam for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux. It was later released on October 3, 2013 on iOS devices and Android. On December 2, 2013 it was also released on the Ouya. The game has been delisted from console storefronts as of April 2, 2018, making it a Steam exclusive until 2023.

The game was created by Ron Gilbert, building on an idea he had had for nearly twenty years about a cave that lures people into it to explore their darker personality traits. The game is rated "teen" for blood and violence. The game borrows concepts from his earlier 1987 game, Maniac Mansion, such as the player initially selecting three different characters from a cast of seven to explore the Cave. Many of the game's puzzles require the three characters to work in coordination to complete, while some puzzles are specific to the unique abilities of a character; in this manner the Cave can only be fully explored through multiple play-throughs.