The OG one-man indie project, Cave Story remains one of the PC's gaming treasures and unarguably one of the most influential games of the 2000s as it codified the potential of independent game development as well as setting the stage for a plethora of pixel art Metroidvanias to follow it. A 2D sidescrolling action game, Cave Story follows the story of Quote and his exploration of a mysterious cave-bound civilization in which he wakes. Before too long he comes across the villainous Doctor and leaps into action as he attempts to thwart the Doctor's plans to enslave the local folk, the Mimiga. Boasting both gorgeous spritework and an incredible soundtrack, Cave Story is also a joy to play, with smooth movement and an engrossing rapidfire experience system that rewards aggressive, precise shooting and dodging. Creative, stylish, and brilliant.