# Cavern — user reviews > 131 indexed App Store user reviews of Cavern by Sami Sierla, rated 4.60/5 from 68 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cavern/id346653564/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cavern/id346653564.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 52 · 4★ 10 · 3★ 4 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 1 ## What do users think of Cavern? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🎮 Engaging roguelike gameplay with high replayability - 👍 Simple, intuitive controls designed for mobile - 🎨 Charming retro pixel art graphics - 💰 Excellent value for the price - 🔄 Procedurally generated dungeons ensure variety - ⚔️ Challenging difficulty with permanent death mechanic - 🏆 Leaderboard system for competitive play - 👻 Unique ghost mechanic featuring fallen player characters - 🎯 Well-balanced turn-based combat system - 🔧 Developer actively updates and improves the game - 🎵 Satisfying sound design and audio effects - 📱 Optimized for mobile play sessions **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues - 📱 Tap-to-move controls feel imprecise and frustrating - 🎮 Lacks depth in character customization and RPG mechanics - 📖 Insufficient explanations of game mechanics and effects - 🔤 Text and UI elements too small on some devices - 🎯 Difficulty spikes and unbalanced enemy encounters - 👥 Follower NPCs don't persist across dungeon levels - ⚙️ Game performance degrades during extended play sessions - 🎮 Limited variety in weapons, items, and equipment - 🔊 Cannot fully mute sound effects during gameplay - 🎮 Class balance issues (Mystic class overpowered) - 🚫 No save system or checkpoint mechanics **Commonly reported bugs** - Game crashes when approaching deeper dungeon levels - Crashes when talking to friendly NPCs - Crashes after character death - Crashes on inventory screen - Game freezes and requires restart after extended play - Touch response lag and unresponsiveness - Character becomes stuck unable to move after teleporting to town - Character ends up in walls after teleporting back from town - Walk out of bounds in cave shop level - Incorrect arrow graphics displaying as other weapons - Random instant death from invisible damage sources - Item selection bugs causing wrong items to be used - Game fails to boot up at certain dungeon depths - Stairs down missing on some randomly generated floors - Game doesn't resume properly after interruption - Slow gameplay after extended play sessions **Most requested features** - D-pad or button-based movement controls - Zoom in/out functionality for better visibility - Level counter display during gameplay - Endless mode or additional challenge modes - More character classes and races - Expanded weapon and equipment variety - New Game+ mode with increased difficulty - Multiplayer or cooperative features - More shops and NPCs throughout dungeons - Visual representation of equipped gear on character - Tutorial improvements and better onboarding - Customizable button layout and controls - Additional dungeon levels and content - Secret room indicators or hints - Persistent followers across all dungeon levels ## Newest reviews (15 of 131) ### 4/5 — Great rogue-like *2024-07-10* Great retro style rogue-like. I like the fact that the dungeon levels aren't all rectangular (which makes sense given the name). Also like coming across previous hero bodies to loot and find the hero's spirit fighting monsters for you. One complaint is that followers will follow you back to town but not to other levels? The king gave me two followers, but because I'd teleported to town right before going down the stairs to the next level (which happened to be the last level), they were useless. ### 3/5 — Fun ……. but it’s got bugs still *2024-02-06* Playing the game a few times and found that certain times, usually as I approach farther than half way into the dungeon my game fails to boot up and I have had to retire the game. Not sure what that’s about but it’s not that great after I spent money to buy it. lol ### 3/5 — Basic roguelike *2023-05-11* Decent roguelike made for the iPhone with its controls. There are better on the market, but this is well made and will keep your interest. Do hate the fact that you have to talk to king each time to start. ### 4/5 — Great game for the price. *2022-11-28* I had a great time playing the game through, but it is tremendously easier to play the Mystic class, as it’s base damage is twice that of the other classes, along with the fact that it’s a raged attack. I’ll be trying the other two classes for a personal challenge, but I highly recommend a balancing fix. ### 4/5 — This game is GREAT! But I have just one or two gripes… *2022-02-20* 1.) I cannot zoom in and out :( I do not have the best vision and sometimes it’s a little difficult to see my own character. 2.) I am not sure what level i am on. I do not know if i am missing something or not but it would be cool if you can add a level count in the corner or something. 3.) game crashes after death. Otherwise, A hidden gem in the store. This game is easy to get a hang of, easy to get lost in, and awesome pixel graphics! Keep up the amazing work :) ### 4/5 — How to find secret rooms? *2021-11-03* The game seems fun, but how do I find the secret rooms? There’s supposed to be a tell, but the only way I find them is by clicking in every single wall panel. It makes the game annoying. ### 4/5 — 難易度は優しめの入門用ローグ系。 *2020-09-15, version 2.6.4* 最初に注意しておくのはシレンやトルネコの様なランダム生成のダンジョンを潜って…というものではありません。フロア移動してもその状態が保存され、死んだらデータ消去される元祖ローグに近いダンジョンものです。 わかりやすく言うと、ローグライクのシステムで一般的なRPGのダンジョンを潜ると言った感じでしょうか。 回復手段は豊富にあるので慣れれば確実にクリア可能です。バランスも良好で優しくはあるものの、適当にやっていてはクリアできない適度な難易度になっています。 難を言えば、ダンジョンの形状が同じ為展開が変わらないことでしょうが値段分は楽しめると思います。 ローグの派生作品は数多くあるので興味がある人は手始めにこの作品を遊んでみてはいかがでしょうか。 ちなみに全編英語ですが、読めなくても慣れるので問題ないと思います。 ### 5/5 — 面白い！！ *2019-12-26, version 2.6.4* コウモリの回避率に笑っちゃうけどすごく楽しい！ ### 5/5 — Tutorial fixed with latest update! *2019-10-25, version 2.6.4* Hey guys thanks for fixing the tutorial with the latest update! Now I can get back to exploring those caves! ### 5/5 — great and fun game *2019-03-23* Fantastic dungeon crawler for a short break ### 5/5 — Amazing Rogue!!! *2019-01-21* For having tried EVERY rogue on IOS, this one is by far one of the best!!! ### 4/5 — Elegant and accessible *2019-01-17* It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of Nethack but it streamlines the roguelike genre into a very smooth yet still satisfyingly deep game. The controls are the most elegant of any roguelike I’ve played. My suggestions for improvement would be: 1. More items, especially weapons. Not a lot, but the current selection feels a little repetitive. 2. More cross-class applicability for the attributes. For instance, something the wizard can do with strength other than just carry more stuff. 3. More shops at random intervals in the cavern. ### 5/5 — Finally a good one *2018-08-08* I must say I have tried allot of rogue likes on the phone now and this one for me does it completely. If you have tried Pixel Dungeon and we’re left unsatisfied with the difficulty and overall randomness of the runs, this is what you are looking for. I’m not saying the game is easy but once you start to wrap yourself on how the dungeons play out, how to manage inventory , know what to sink stats into, then the game becomes very satisfying in crawling through these dungeons knowing that death can be around the next corner . This is what I have been looking for in a game for my phone, if I could want anything more it would just be more , items, magic ,characters , deeper dungeons , a new game + . This game is gold , all they need to do is just encrust some other gems into it to make it a true classic. Make more of this game please. ### 5/5 — Best Rogue-like, dungeon crawler game *2018-04-19* I love this game, although it’s intensely difficult; even when you think you have won, it pulls an almighty surprise! Lots of replayability, and I love spending time on this! ### 5/5 — Love the game, high score? *2018-04-04* Live the game and recently won and was hoping to beat my high score. How are high scores calculated? Can’t figure it out. I see people above me with lower levels and longer play times. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Warning you can not save your game! *2023-02-24* Tread lightly my friend. Although not listed as a rogue game, you will die and will need to start all over with a new character. It may take several hits by an enemy and there is a warning to use a healing g potion or eat before getting destroyed, but the warning comes to late. I played with a wizard class - if an enemy gets too close they can wipe you out. Next was a warrior class- I got down to about level 6- could not avoid a gang of enemies and one shot from an enemy took me out. There is no save option. The game is without mercy. No starting with the same character or where you left off, just your character is placed In the hall of fame. A reminder of your wasted efforts! Will not play again. Save your frustration and your $2.00 ### 1/5 — No d pad or buttons *2020-12-15, version 2.6.4* Unplayable as retro gamer unless you are new age gamer(gen z or alpha) and like to spam tap without seeing the screen or see what your doing. Unbelievable that such a good what should be retro game wasted for new age gamers. ### 1/5 — Very boring and unavoidable tutorial *2020-03-17, version 2.6.4* I want to play the game, not ducking unskippable tutorial after each reinstall. Here is a setting for that but it doesn’t have any effect until first playthrough. For now every launch of Cavern ends with the same result: i’m playing Brogue instead. ### 1/5 — Talking to first Friendly NPC crashes to Home page *2019-10-20* Talking to first Friendly NPC crashes to Home page. Running on a 2018 iPad Pro. ### 1/5 — ゲーム内容はよいけれど *2013-03-30, version 2.0* 町と洞窟を往復しながら装備を強化しつつ、すこしづつ進んでいくというゲーム内容はシンプルだが楽しい。が、頻繁にアプリが落ちてロールバックしてしまいゲームにならないのでこの評価。この状態でお金を払わせる形で公開するのは厳しい。 ### 1/5 — Roguelike *2011-01-17* I think I could love this game, but it's really quite tiring on the finger to play. It could do with a mode where you can wAlk to the place you click, or maybe just holding the finger moves once, then after a short delay continues moving in that direction. I don't think I can face 101 levels of dungeon, pressing once per square move :( Recommended though, it sure has promise :) ### 1/5 — Don't bother *2010-02-23, version 0* Worst controls I've seen in an iPhone/iPod game, period. Basically, the controls are completely random. Trying to attack enemies doesn't work. Trying to move closer to them doesn't work. Author needs to make the controls precise otherwise game is unplayable. Worst $3.99 I ever spent on my iPhone. Hopefully there will be a patch released that allows some degree of precision. Until then it's unplayable. ### 2/5 — Killed during training *2022-08-18, version 2.6.5* …must have missed something, because in my first training bout, I did about 20 rounds of battle with a big, but it seemed to suffer no damage, although I was destroyed. …moving on. ### 2/5 — Совсем скучно *2016-05-11, version 2.5.4* Очень однообразно, pixel dungeon гораздо бодрее ### 2/5 — Probably not worth 3 dollars *2015-09-02, version 2.1.2* Mildly interesting, too simplistic. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — WOW *2026-05-18* The best roguelike for iOS hands down. I heard about 9th dawn series but I’m so stuck on this one for now and haven’t tried it yet. I see people complaining about melee but fail to understand how these types of games work. Just give it a try you won’t be disappointed. ### 5/5 — Solid Game *2025-05-03, version 2.6.5* Solid game, simple controls, wish there was more explanations of what some effect meant or did. ### 5/5 — Great little roguelike *2025-04-30, version 2.6.5* It may not be Baldur’s Gate 3, but for a good game to whittle away some hours on a trip or something it’s perfect. ### 5/5 — No d pad is my only complaint. *2024-09-03* I hate tap to move but at least there is an action button. I love this game I just wish at the very least your character didn’t have to finish moving before you can tap again. Also I wish they had an endless mode because once you beat the game it’s not as fun to replay unless there are more challenges or something. Still 5 stars. ### 5/5 — Great game but stuck at anthill *2022-11-08* Im down to anthill and can't go lower and neither found the mystery item help ### 5/5 — Unexpectedly fun... and a bit buggy *2022-06-19* I've found a "walk out of bounds" issue in the "cave shop" level... the area where the exit is located was also generated so far south that the south wall is completely missing, exposing the out of bounds area... oops! That said, still enjoying it, 500+ playthroughs in! ### 5/5 — One of the best roguelikes on iOS *2022-02-22, version 2.6.5* Dont pass it up. It rules ### 5/5 — a gem! *2021-07-24, version 2.6.4* it’s a full-fledged dungeon crawl. very difficult at first, but oh so fun! i’ve played off and on for years. ### 5/5 — Best rougelike in AppStore *2020-06-19* This game is awesome. Very well done. ### 5/5 — Great game *2020-03-31, version 2.6.4* But texts are too small in iPhone XR --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*