Cave Story®+

This Platventure has more of an emphasis on shooting than on upgrades and exploration. As such, the game doesn't mess around; it's not brutality incarnate, but it can be fairly challenging at times, especially if you're going for the best ending. The guns are all very diverse, and can be leveled up; there are tons of hidden secrets; and the atmosphere of the game feels so much like home. You'll also encounter a lovely cast of characters that maybe aren't super deep, but are more than charming enough to make a lasting impression. It was unbelievable that just one person made this back when it originally came out, and it still holds up today. Of course, everything above applies to the freeware version, which is still available. The question is whether or not you should shell out for this. The + version features new music, which is even better than the original chiptune in many cases, since it doesn't forget its origins; this particular version has 3 different versions of the soundtrack, but I prefer the one called "New", which is the same as the WiiWare release. You've got some spruced up graphics, which I don't think are all that great; they have that kind of melted crayon look to them that some pixel game ports have. What I find to be the big selling point is the inclusion of Hard and Easy Modes, the latter of which means that you might actually make it through Hell this time. There are some additional challenges, too, if you're into that sort of thing. For my money, this port is worth it if you can grab it on sale, but otherwise, I'd go with the original freeware version.

charming and cute classic graphics makes this game standout.

After all these years, Cave Story still holds up. The ability to choose between the original soundtrack and the new version is appreciated.

a fun game that plays like metroid.

"Arguably the most well-known indie game of all time" Rare moment when marketing is 100% correct.