Keke in the Caves of Peril is a free-to-play puzzle game from indie developer Hempuli. Fashioned in true retro style, experience this 2D platformer lets you play as the titular Keke the explorer. Dive deeper into the Caves of Peril, survive traps and enemies, and find a way to the exit. Enter the deeper levels and find greater treasures.

Its colorful yet pixelated graphics, use of chiptune music, and difficulty scaling all make Keke in the Caves of Peril a great way to pass the time. It’s a good alternative to I Wanna Be The Guy or Sonic Mania.

Survive, collect gems, and get to the bottom

The first thing about Keke in the Caves of Peril is its retro-inspired aesthetics. It has simplistic and colorful graphics that make it appealing, even to younger players. Still, it has a pretty smooth animation for a retro game. Its character design is also something that clearly references low-resolution games where developers need to make use of the limited space available.

As a puzzle game, it has a steady progression across the levels. It starts with an easy-to-follow tutorial stage before it leaves you on your own. Levels start out short and easy, but as you progress, you start finding more challenges and more enemies standing in your way. The game also continues to introduce new mechanics as you go along.

Be warned that there are levels more difficult than others, which poses a challenge for puzzle fans. Make sure to take note of the mechanics introduced earlier in the game, especially since there are situations where the game feels broken. Still, for all the fun and challenges it offers, it feels quite short for a puzzler with only 22 levels.

Short and fun

Overall, Keke in the Caves of Peril is one of those indie games that you can’t miss, especially if you’re a fan of the puzzle genre. It caters to a wide range of players through its visually appealing design choices, with simple artwork and bright colors. Be warned about its puzzles, though. Get ready for a pit of varied puzzles—some of them being extremely difficult.