Cave Crawlers

Cave Crawlers

Early access since Jul 2023

Cave Crawlers is a 1-10 player rogue lite set deep underground in a system of randomly generated caves. Players use weapons, spells, and talents to defeat the unique bosses and enemies found in each biome.

92% positive · 3,809 reviews
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Evaluation

Cave Crawlers is an Early Access game that launched on July 10, 2023 and has been receiving a consistent and accelerating stream of major updates. The history of major content drops includes: Hammers, Perks, and Achievements (March 29, 2024); the Molten Collapse biome and third boss Volacno (December 19, 2024); a campfire and gear system overhaul with 23 new items (May 23, 2025); the Goblin Arena and Gladiator miniboss (August 6, 2025); the Ironfang Mines minibiome with new questlines (January 11, 2026); and the massive 0.9 update (July 12, 2026) featuring new event rooms, a redesigned character creator, a torch expertise tree rework, new spells and questlines, and sweeping quality-of-life improvements. On May 30, 2026, the developer announced they are now working on Cave Crawlers full-time, explicitly targeting a version 1.0 release by the end of 2026. The publicly shared roadmap lists substantial remaining content including Mining, a Bow Rework and Crossbows, Shields, Looping Biomes, a full graphics and art update, a UI refresh, Localization, and a Questlines rework. The developer also confirmed that a purchasable DLC biome — a jungle/plant-themed area with a new Fishing mechanic — will launch alongside 1.0. The July 6, 2026 announcement previewed update 0.9 as the first major update developed at full-time speed, describing it as representative of the pace players can expect leading into 1.0. That update shipped on July 12, 2026, followed by hotfix 0.90.10 on July 27, 2026 adding new items, balancing changes, and additional fixes. Development is clearly active and the roadmap to 1.0 remains extensive.
Evidence
Major Update 0.9 shipped: 3 new event rooms, overhauled character creator, massive torch expertise tree rework with new spells, new questlines, item set bonuses, 19 new items, and significant quality-of-life improvements. Developer described this as the first major update at full-time development speed.
news post · Jul 12, 2026 source content shipped
high
Developer sneak peek for 0.9 explicitly framed the update as a preview of the new, faster development pace leading into the full 1.0 release planned for later in 2026.
news post · Jul 6, 2026 source content planned
high

Content

2 of 2 released · no outstanding content
Released
Dec 2024
Released
Jul 2023

Media

Details

Publisher
Heroic Pyxel LLC
Achievements
54
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op

About this game

In Cave Crawlers you and your friends play as Dwarves searching for glory, power, and loot in the form of armor, weapons, potions, and items hidden underground from the world above. Your player has a fun, complex talent and stat system that you will use to fight powerful bosses and enemies. You'll find all kinds of mysteries along your journey, exploring different biomes, mobs, and items along the way.

As a dwarf searching for treasure and glory, you'll find that your journey can be quite tough without some allies at your side. Each player uses their own personalized talents, spells, and items to help defeat treacherous bosses.

CO-OP UP TO 10 PLAYERS

Crawl through the caves alone or with a group of friends! Cave Crawlers supports up to 10 players in one game. You must rely on the great strength and wit of your teammates to defeat the threats deep in the caves. Be careful though, the power of the caves grows as more dwarfs adventure together.

BIOMES

As you explore, players will find complete environment changes, new enemies, and new items in each biome. In these biomes, you may stumble upon trapped rooms that contain magnificent rewards.

BOSSES

Biomes will include their own themed boss. Each boss has its own challenging mechanics that must be overcome to gain access to the next biome. Bosses drop their own unique loot.

DEATH

At the beginning of your journey, you create a new character and begin that character's journey. Each character has its own set of items and expertise talents. When a character dies, they are permanently dead.

LIGHT

The caves are extremely dark, players must make use of their limited light. Torches burn out over time, yet players may use their flint and steel in the darkest of situations.

TALENTS, SPELLS, PERKS

Choose your character's path with over 100+ weapon-specific talents at your disposal. Will you ravage enemies with an axe? Swing extremely fast with a dagger? Heal allies with a torch? Become a tank and block attacks? Try each path and forge your own builds.

ITEMS

Many unique and powerful items can be found throughout your journey. Each weapon has its own unique talent effect tied to it, helping you defeat increasingly difficult enemies.

Last evaluated Sep 17, 2026
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