Cave Story+VSShovel Knight: Shovel of Hope
Which is the smarter buy right now? We crunched all the metrics.
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope
Better Deal· KinguinWinner
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope wins the comparison based on the metrics. Takes 8 of 15 head-to-head metrics.
Not the best time to jump in. Prices tend to drop, and this one hasn't hit its sweet spot yet.
Head-to-Head Metrics
Direct metric-by-metric breakdown · no weights applied
Worth keeping an eye on. Currently sitting in a decent spot, but not quite a must-buy just yet.
Not the best time to jump in. Prices tend to drop, and this one hasn't hit its sweet spot yet.
Statistics Over Time
Synchronized historical data for both games
Player Count Trends
— Concurrent players over timeReview Score Trends
— Positive review ratio over timeReview Volume Trends
— Total reviews accumulated over time
Score Breakdown
Side-by-side value analysis for each game
Cave Story+
Quality
Excellent community reception — players and critics agree on the quality.
Value
Seen it cheaper before — consider wishlisting and waiting.
Popularity
Lost much of its active player base — community is quiet.
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope
Quality
Solid title that pleased most of its audience — general consensus is positive.
Value
Seen it cheaper before — consider wishlisting and waiting.
Popularity
Lost much of its active player base — community is quiet.
Game Details
Release information and metadata
System Requirements
PC minimum and recommended specs
Cave Story+
Recommended
- OS *:Windows 7
- Processor:Intel Core Duo 2.0 Ghz and above
- Memory:512 MB RAM
- Graphics:256MB RAM, non-integrated
- Hard Drive:200 MB HD space
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better: Cave Story+ or Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope?
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope won the comparison against Cave Story+ based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table — no weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Cave Story+ worth buying over Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope?
Based on the metrics, Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Cave Story+ currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
Analysis updated: Jun 5, 2026, 03:28 AM UTC