Download Cave Story

Note: For Cave Story WiiWare, Cave Story+, Cave Story DSi, or Cave Story 3D please click here.

Note on NXEngine: NXEngine is an open source reproduction of the Cave Story engine. Most of the other ports here are built using the original source code from Pixel, but NXEngine ports are built from a fork of the NXEngine source core, at any stage of NXEngine's development. Chances are that the differences will be unnoticeable or really minor to most, but it is worth keeping in mind.

Note on NXEngine-evo: NXEngine-evo is a fork of NXEngine whose primary feature is widescreen support.

Note on CSE2: CSE2 is another open source reproduction of the Cave Story engine, except it is designed for accuracy and faithfulness to the original. Sadly, the source code was subject to a DMCA takedown.

Note on doukutsu-rs: A reproduction of the Cave Story engine written in Rust.

 

Windows

English Fan Translation (Pre-patched)

Japanese Original

Misc Fan Translations

Misc

Cave Story DXGL fix (Windows 11 transparency fix) by Alula
(Extract to the same folder as Doukutsu.exe)

Cave Story WASD by voxl (Website Archive   )
(A Cave Story executable with keys remapped to a WASD config)

doukutsu-rs Download

Windows 64-bit port by alula, dawnDus and jozsefsallai   (Website   )

NXEngine Downloads

Windows NT 3.51/4 NXEngine Port by gameblabla

Windows NXEngine Port by EXL (English) (Website   )

Windows NXEngine Port by EXL (Russian)

Windows NXEngine Port Source Code by EXL  

NXEngine-evo Downloads

Windows 32-bit port by isage   (Website   )

MS Visual C++ 2015 redistributable 32-bit (required for 32-bit Windows port)

Windows 64-bit port by isage  

MS Visual C++ 2015 redistributable 64-bit (required for 64-bit Windows port)

64-bit UWP port by tunip3  

Deluxe Package

In 2006 Wadeizzle made an installer for Cave Story called Cave Story Deluxe. The name caused misconceptions because it didn't add anything new to Cave Story that wasn't already present... it just housed a bunch of extra stuff (like Ikachan, Orgmaker, etc.) under one installer. However... putting Cave Story in the Program Files folder makes save management painful, as such the installer download link has been removed and you can instead download the contents of the package below if you wish to.

Cave Story English translation by Aeon Genesis (pre-patched)

Org Maker v2.1.0 English translation by Bavi_H

Ikachan English translation by pheonixj

Cave Story Icon Set by platinumwade

Cave Story's credit illustrations

Balrog papercraft

Cave Story Midis by S. P. Gardebiter

Cave Editor v0.99d by Wistil

Booster's Lab v0.5.0.0 by Noxid (see here for current versions)

Version History

These are all Windows and all in Japanese. For versions older than v1.0.0.0 you will need to use DoDefuse to remove the time limit.

v1.0.0.7 (exe only)

v1.0.0.6

v1.0.0.5

v1.0.0.0

v0.9.1.5

v0.9.1.4

v0.9.1.3

v0.9.1.2

v0.9.1.1

v0.9.0.9

v0.9.0.8

v0.9.0.6

DoDefuse by patapancakes

Various Cave Story Ports

 

Amiga

Main Downloads

Cave Story for AmigaOS 4 by Johan Samuelsson

Note: There are reports of a bug that may make the game unwinnable.

NXEngine Downloads

Classic Amiga Port by Arczi (English) (Website   )

Classic Amiga Port by Arczi (Polish)

 

GP2X

Main Downloads

Cave Story ~ Doukutsu Monogatari GP2X build by Simon Parzer and Peter Mackay (openhandhelds.org Listing   )

Compatibility Layer

This can also be played on Caanoo and/or Pandora by using a compatibility layer called GINGE.

GINGE for Pandora by notaz (Website   )

GINGE for Caanoo by notaz  

 

GP2X Wiz

Main Downloads

Cave Story ~ Doukutsu Monogatari GP2X Wiz build by Simon Parzer and Peter Mackay (openhandhelds.org Listing   )

Compatibility Layer

This can also be played on Caanoo and/or Pandora by using the compatibility layer known as GINGE, however it is better use GINGE with the GP2X port above.

 

XBox

Main Downloads

Cave Story X by Xport

Note: Some users report slower gameplay/lag.

 

XBox One

NXEngine-evo Downloads

64-bit UWP port by tunip3  

 

XBox Series X/S

NXEngine-evo Downloads

64-bit UWP port by tunip3  

 

Playstation (PSX)

 

Playstation 3

 

Webassembly

 

Nintendo DS

 

Megadrive

Custom Engine Download

Megadrive Port by andwn  

 

RetroArch

NXEngine Downloads

RetroArch download  

RetroArch Port Source Code by twinaphex  

Note: The best way to obtain a up to date build of this port is to open Retro Arch and navigate to Main Menu > Online Updater > Core Updater > Cave Story (NXEngine).

Select the NXEngine Core by going to Main Menu > Load Core > Cave Story (NXEngine). Download and extract the source files above, then in Retro Arch go to Main Menu > Load Content > Select File, navigate to your source file folder, open the datafiles folder and then open the file Doukutsu.exe.

 

SerenityOS

NXEngine-evo Downloads

SerenityOS Port by gloof (listing page)  

Note: You can install Cave Story on SerenityOS by running the following commands in sequence within SerenityOS's build directory:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install imagemagick
git pull origin master
Meta/serenity.sh rebuild-toolchain
cd Ports/cavestory
./package.sh
cd ../..

The next time you run this command:
Meta/serenity.sh run
...Cave Story will be available on SerenityOS.

 

Gamecube

 

Dreamcast

Incomplete Cave Story Ports and Tech Demos

Incomplete Ports

Tech Demos

Cave Story DS Demo 1 by Ravenworks

Cave Story DS Demo 2 by Ravenworks

Cave Story DS Demo 3 by Ravenworks

Note: These 3 tech demos are unlikely to ever result in a finished product.

Cave Story GBA Map Demo by Ravenworks

Cave Story GBA Sound Demo by Ravenworks

Note: Ravenworks' GBA port was dropped back in 2006 in favour of his DS port, which was also dropped. These tech demos are listed here only for the sake of completion and are unlikely to result in a complete port.

Cave Story Gameboy Tech Demo by NopeY