What’s the best part about cave diving? The fact that you don’t have to do it at all. It’s no wonder that after hearing the stories about extremely narrow passages, endless mazes, and, of course, various accidents that happened in the caves, many people began to view this activity as their worst nightmare. It was this fear that became the foundation for the creation of The Cave Diver, a horror game whose demo I had the opportunity to try out.
No turning back
The Cave Diver is a punishing physics-horror adventure in which you crawl down a suffocating cave system using only your arms. In order to find a rare flower that can cure your paralyzed legs, you need to traverse a labyrinth of crushing stones and constricting passageways. Not to mention that some morbid force starts to call you deeper into the heart of the caves…
Not being able to move the legs of your character and having to rely only on their upper body strength instead is something we’ve seen before. The first association is certainly a very demanding title and the bane of many players, namely Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy. This game’s insanely difficult to master gameplay inspired other developers to replicate the exhausting but rewarding experience – an example of this is A Difficult Game About Climbing. Contrary to appearances, The Cave Diver has a lot in common with the above-mentioned titles: it features punishing gameplay, physical puzzles, and exposure to the darkest aspects of psychological horror.
Stuck? Try again!
The basic mechanic involves moving our hands and controlling their grip, which is essential for overcoming obstacles and crawling further. While I understand that in this case the controls have to be a bit clunky and weak in order to pose a challenge to the player, in my opinion they are overdone – our character feels more like a ragdoll than an actual human being. Moreover, the lack of proper power and coordination while dragging forward or pulling yourself up often leads to getting stuck between passages or pieces of debris.
Another interesting feature is the need to restart the game. In the very first minutes we realize that starting from the beginning is not optional, but necessary in order to make progress. The idea of this being a “trial and error” kind of game feels fitting to the overall theme, but at the same time quite unfair to the player – because each time they will have to go back to the beginning of the maze and laboriously try different paths. However, I liked the idea of counting attempts on the board – what at first seemed like a creepy detail turned out to be a counter that responded to our gameplay.
A suffocating nightmare
One thing cannot be denied about this game: its atmosphere. Tight spaces, disturbing notes, and suspicious sounds—all of this creates a claustrophobic and oppressive atmosphere. At the end of the demo, there is also a moment when we find ourselves under the pressure and have to make quick decisions – the game showed that, in addition to feelings of overwhelm and helplessness, it can also give players a rush of adrenaline. I hope that the story and moments of horror like this will be able to surprise us more in the future.
Overall, the demo version of The Cave Diver may evoke mixed feelings. On the one hand, the trailer promised terrifying moments and unknown dangers—and it’s fair to say that it delivered on that promise. On the other hand, however, the gameplay itself leaves much to be desired – in this case, it’s not about the difficulty level, but about the basic mechanics lacking precision and polish. However, if you are intrigued by the concept of this game, I recommend playing it for at least a little while to see for yourself. We will probably have to wait until the full release to find out what the final verdict will be – for now, I leave the assessment in your hands. Remember: you enter at your own risk.
