This Is No Cave Review
This Is No Cave is an atypically complex and graceful runner.
This Is No Cave. Credit: monome.studio
This Is No Cave from monome.studio is a parkour game in space that distills platforming to its essence with one-click controls that deliver surprising depth and addictive "just one more time” gameplay. Stranded on an uncharted planet, you must navigate underground labyrinths to reach your ship. You must move quickly, lest you encounter one of the worms that dug these tunnels.
The mechanics are simple. Click to engage thrusters for propulsion, right click to use your grapple to swing. That's it. Yet from this minimalism, complex acrobatic movement emerges as you slingshot through intricate levels, leveraging alien flora and fauna for momentum. The genius lies in how these simple inputs create a flow state where you're effortlessly zipping through caves. The smoothness and complexity of the acrobatics and physics elevate the game over typical runners.
This Is No Cave. Credit: monome.studio
When the slightest miscalculation violently ends your run, quick respawns mean you're immediately back in action to try again. For those inclined, you can also try to shorten your time for the leaderboards. Beyond the main campaign, endless mode adds roguelike tension as you flee perpetually from the worm, collecting power-ups that also strengthen it. Accessibility options let you adjust lives, burst charges, and game speed if you’re struggling with the default difficulty.
The hand-drawn art keeps focus squarely on gameplay while ensuring interactive elements and dangers remain clearly identifiable. The pixellated art is clean and prioritizes readability. This doesn’t mean it’s simplistic. It’s pretty, almost making you want to stop and admire the environment’s grand scale as you bound through levels, with excellent particle effects adding some crunch to your actions and their effects on the environment.
This Is No Cave. Credit: monome.studio
This Is No Cave proves that complexity doesn't require complicated controls. Its one-click parkour delivers genuine depth, creating a speedrunning experience that’s addictive and rewarding no matter how many times you crash and burn.
This Is No Cave is available now on Steam.
Overall Score: 8/10
Played on: Steam Deck
