Summary
Not every game is set above ground, some take place in an entirely subterranean environment. Others simply feature large cave systems as part of anopen-world mapthat players can explore. Often, caves are used as the spawn locations for bosses, or rare loot and resources.
Developers often populate caves with tough enemies,puzzles that must be solved, and environmental hazards the player must overcome to survive. Some games have integrated the underground aspects of the map so well, that they stand out in front for having the toughest, most dangerous caves to explore, and, of course, the best rewards for overcoming this challenge.
Since its launch,Terrariahas become something of a surprise hit, considering it was created by a small indie developer. Exploration is absolutely vital in this game, and this means heading into the dangerous cave systems.
Some of the caves in Terraria are very deep, and the further down into the cave the player goes, the morehazardous the environmentbecomes. This includes dangerous monsters to fight, and nasty traps to uncover and avoid. The risk and reward balance in these caves is excellent, and the reasonTerrariamade this list.
Ark: Survival Evolvedis one of the most successful open-worldsurvival gamesto date, with a huge following, and a pretty big esports scene. InArk: Survival Evolved, players have to learn to survive on an island inhabited by prehistoric creatures.
There are numerous caves dotted around the map, and many of these are the best locations to find the best resources and battle the most dangerous creatures. Good preparation is key before descending into the most dangerous of the caves inArk: Survival Evolved.
The second game on this list that features prehistoric creatures,Far Cry: Primal, takes place in the Stone Age. Players need to survive whilst competing against other Stone Age tribes, in a unique survival scenario.
Caves in this game are a major part of the gameplay. They are great for providing shelter, and many players make their home inside of caves However, the larger cave systems can be very dangerous, and are generally used as locations for major combat encounters. But of course, there is a reward for exploring these caves, in the form of valuable resources.
Deep Rock Galacticis a pretty unique game in many respects. The premise is simple in this first-person shooter. Players explore procedurally generated cave systems on alien planets, and mine the valuable resources found within.
But of course, the reality is a little more complex. The cave systems inDeep Rock Galacticall have environmental hazards and are populated by hostilealien creatures. Furthermore, there is always a risk of a tunnel collapsing, which causes its own set of problems. The cave systems are exceptionally well crafted, despite the fact they are all procedurally generated.
Blends Puzzle Solving With Combat
Tomb Raider Reloaded
Tomb Raider blasts onto mobile. Play as the legendary Lara Croft like you’ve never seen her before!Inspired by the original Tomb Raider games, wield Lara’s iconic twin-pistols and get ready for a globetrotting adventure!Travel through the golden arch-shaped doors of the treacherous underground tombs, across hazardous mountain caves, flourishing jungles, lush waterfalls, even an ancient temple, and dungeon or two!On your quest you’ll avoid hidden traps, discover ancient relics, solve a wide variety of puzzles and face off against different enemies and dungeon bosses (is that a T-Rex I hear!?) both new and familiar to the Tomb Raider series. Jump into battle with bloodthirsty wolves, poisonous snakes, epic dinosaurs, skilled archers, fearsome golems and magical elemental creatures, escaping certain doom!Gameplay features roguelike and procedurally generated adventure stages for a new and varied dungeon run experience with every run. As you progress through each level, you’ll be able to stack abilities and perks such as piercing shots, experience boosts, grenade throws and arch shots for more powerful battle attacks, quicker character leveling and a wider range of damage. If you are a fan of adventure games this is the rouge like shooter gun game for you.
TheTomb Raiderfranchise encapsulates movies, books, and, of course, video games. The first game in the franchise was released way back in 1996. However, this list entry is focused on the 2013 reboot of the original game. Playing as Lara Croft, the player has to explore and overcome the treacherous cave environment.
The underground cave systems inTomb Raiderrequire puzzle-solving skills, and combine a platformer style of gameplay with combat mechanics. Caves are cram-packed with traps and puzzles that the player must solve. There is a real sense of exploration in Tomb Raider, as the player never knows what lies just around the corner in the next cave.
Hollow Knightis another smash-successindie game. It has a unique, dark, and foreboding aesthetic, taking place entirely underground. This is a 2D action-adventure game, that combines solid platformer gameplay with fiendishly challenging puzzles, and plenty of hidden secrets to uncover.
The cave system itself has been lovingly hand-crafted, and the attention to detail is evident everywhere. Combat is surprisingly complex for a 2D game as well. However, it is the dark, dangerous cave system that steals the show in Hollow Knight. Even players who prefer 3D games might like to giveHollow Knighta try, as it is truly exceptional.
This survival horror game is renowned for being tough. The player finds they have survived a plane crash, and are now stranded on a strange island that is inhabited by cannibalistic natives, and strangely mutated creatures. Thus begins the quest to unlock the secrets of this island and its strange inhabitants.
The Foresthas some of the toughest cave systems of any video game. Unfortunately, the player can’t simply avoid going into the caves in The Forest. Much of the game lore and clues are found within the cave systems, as are the most powerful weapons and rare resources.
Set on an ocean planet, almost entirely covered in water,Subnauticaoffers a different take on survival gameplay mechanics. Oxygen is always a consideration, but there are other, different hazards, such as depth pressure that must be kept in mind to avoid death.
The open-world map features many underwater cave systems, many of which won’t be accessible until the player can craft the equipment they need to safely explore them. These caves contain many hazards, including hostile monsters and increased pressure, which can crush the player.
