Pixel has gone on to create Kero Blaster, which can be seen as a Spiritual Successor. In December 2021 ( and ONLY for the holidays), Nicalis, without any input from Pixel, released a Christmas Episode spin-off Stealth-Based Game entitled Cave Story's Secret Santa. It's ( unsurprisingly) been given a 2❝ overhaul, but otherwise is identical. There's also a Video Game Remake for Nintendo 3DS (in addition to the standard port that's on the eShop) entitled Cave Story 3D.

This version was then brought to DSiWare, Steam, the 3DS eShop, and Nintendo Switch, with each version stacking on extra modes, levels, soundtracks, and tweaks along the way - the Nintendo Switch version in particular adds full widescreen support and Co-Op Multiplayer. The game has also seen quite a few commercial re-releases over the years - First on WiiWare, which added an updated graphics option, dubiously remastered music, multiple difficulty levels, the ability to play as Curly Brace, and a Boss Rush mode.

Multiple source ports note NXEngine, NXEngine-evo, and CSE2 also exist, pushing said ubiquity even further. That, as well as its freeware nature, has led the game to become the 2D platformer equivalent to Doom in terms of sheer ubiquity - ports are available for Mac, Linux, PSP, Xbox, Amiga, Mega-Drive/Genesis, and much, much more. While the source code for the game was never officially released, it's extremely easy to reverse engineer and disassemble. Its breeding ground on the English-speaking Internet is here.

Let that sink in Daisuke spent ten years of his life, a full decade creating this game, and released it for free. When they were unsatified with his work, he took what he had and refined it over the course of the five years that most people know the game for. Daisuke made a game in five years and had people playtest it. While fullscale development of the game lasted five years, Cave Story started being made five more years prior. Daisuke Amaya wrote the scenario, drew the artwork and scenery, animated the sprites, designed all of the levels, composed all of the music, and programmed the entire game engine, all by himself over the course of five years. This game was created entirely by one man in his spare time.

Cave story snake