High Score Challenges

Below are the current high scores and the names of the individuals of whom have accomplished the best score/time possible of various challenges in Cave Story and other games by Pixel.

Some examples of these challenges are speed runs, (completing the game in the fastest time possible), and low hp runs (getting through difficult areas with the minimum level of HP or items) and pretty much any other challenge categories that other Cave Story fans can think of. Feel free to suggest new categories.

In order for a time or score to be listed here a video of the run must be available.

*Note* This section is somewhat difficult to maintain since it is hard to tell who was able to accomplish what deeds with/without using cheats such as infinite life, time alterations, et cetera. However the information presented is to the best of my knowledge, which in turn equals the best of the knowledge that has been presented to me. : ) Please feel free to send me what information you have as to what the best times/scores are for these categories.

Cave Story Hell Speedruns

This section is devoted to a secret bonus stage known as either Sacred Grounds, Sanctuary, or Hell. You can record your times in this stage if you have the Nikumaru Counter or 290 Counter.

The original Cave Story runs at 50 frames per second, while Cave Story+, Cave Story WiiWare, Cave Story+ Switch and the like run at 60 frames per second, so the best times between the two are kept separate. In addition Cave Story 3D is different enough to warrant a separate category, the most obvious differences being the rebalancing of the game versus the original and the increase in health.

Best Cave Story Sacred Grounds (Hell) Speedrun (50fps):
2'13"8 by ppu

Best Cave Story Minimal Items, 3HP Sacred Grounds (Hell) Speedrun (50fps):
3'42"4 by 3DPlayer

Best Cave Story Sanctuary (Hell) Speedrun (60fps):
1'55"8 by Altair357

Best Cave Story Minimal Items, 3HP Sanctuary (Hell) Speedrun (60fps):
2'42"3 by periwinkle

Best Cave Story 3D Sanctuary (Hell) Speedrun:
2'13"2 by MrLuckysan

Cave Story Full Game Speedruns

The Cave Story full game runs of are now following the same rules used by speedrun.com for starting and ending times for the sake of consistency. Best ending runs are considered finished on the island falling cutscene. Normal ending runs are considered finished when the hud disappears after jumping off of the island. Bad ending runs are considered finished on boarding the Sky Dragon.

Once again 50fps and 60fps runs are kept separate. Cave Story 3D and Cave Story+ Switch are also kept separate due to major differences.

Cave Story+ Switch Full Game Speedruns

Due to major differences such as puppy stacking, holding multiple jellyfish juice at once, cutscene skipping, and co-op amongst others, the switch port will also be treated as a separate category for full game runs, but not for Hell speedruns.

Best Ending

Best Cave Story Switch Normal Mode Best Ending Speedrun:
0:38:11 by periwinkle

Best Cave Story Switch Easy Mode Best Ending Speedrun:
0:38:00 by periwinkle

Best Cave Story Switch Hard Mode Best Ending Speedrun:
1:27:43 by periwinkle

Normal Ending

Best Cave Story Switch Normal Mode Normal Ending Speedrun:
0:40:08 by periwinkle

Best Cave Story Switch Normal Mode Normal Ending Co-Op Speedrun:
0:43:46 by Setonkeys and RepentMF

Best Cave Story Switch Easy Mode Normal Ending Speedrun:
0:33:35 by periwinkle

Best Cave Story Switch Hard Mode Normal Ending Speedrun:
1:00:37 by periwinkle

Bad Ending

Best Cave Story Switch Normal Mode Bad Ending Speedrun:
0:27:45 by periwinkle

Best Cave Story Switch Easy Mode Bad Ending Speedrun:
0:25:39 by periwinkle

Best Cave Story Switch Easy Mode Bad Ending Co-Op Speedrun:
0:54:40 by TheSarosCycle and Dark_Hydra7

Best Cave Story Switch Hard Mode Bad Ending Speedrun:
0:37:22 by periwinkle

Get Panties

Best Cave Story Switch Normal Mode Get Panties Speedrun:
0:12:50 by periwinkle

Best Cave Story Switch Easy Mode Get Panties Speedrun:
0:11:42 by periwinkle

Best Cave Story Switch Hard Mode Get Panties Speedrun:
0:15:52 by periwinkle

Cave Story+ Challenge Mode Speedruns

These are speedrun records for the challenge modes in Cave Story+, including the switch port.

Best Sanctuary Time Attack Speedrun:
2'10"1 by Quote

Best Cave Story Wind Fortress Speedrun:
1'34"6 by Altair357

Best Cave Story Sand Pit Speedrun:
2'09"6 by NatGoesFast

Best Cave Story Nemesis Challenge Speedrun:
1'29"8 by NatGoesFast

Best Cave Story Machine Gun Challenge Speedrun:
1'26"7 by NatGoesFast

Best Cave Story Boss Rush Speedrun:
5'35"9 by xCryptic

The Non-Stop Boss Rush is a mode in Cave Story+ that is only available using some rather specific TSC edits to the Boss Rush scripts. You can find more information on how to enable Non-Stop Boss Rush mode here.

While minor edits to one of the game scripts are necessary to enable this mode, it does not mean that anything goes. As with any run here, anything that affects the run itself will cause it to be disqualified.

Best Cave Story Non-Stop Boss Rush Speedrun:
4'39"5 by zxin

Cave Story Mod Speedruns

Sometimes Cave Story mods (game modifications) incorporate timed challenges that are widely adopted.

Best "Boss Rush (SeriousFace)" Non-Stop Mode Speedrun:
4'24"0 by periwinkle

SeriousFace submitted his mod to Nicalis, and it became the basis for the Boss Rush mode in CS+. Hence why this looks so similar to the Non-Stop Boss Rush mode in CS+.

Best "Fireball Challenge" Speedrun:
1'39"1 by RareBeeph

Best "video game" Speedrun:
1'21"9 by RareBeeph

Best "video game deluxe" Time Attack Speedrun:
1'11"0 by RareBeeph

Best "video game deluxe" Hard Mode Speedrun:
1'18"4 by RareBeeph

Best "video game deluxe" Shotgun Challenge Speedrun:
1'20"0 by RareBeeph

Best "The Air Is Spikes" Time:
2'36"2 by X-Calibar

Best "Task Force" Speedrun:
3'39"1 by X-Calibar

Kero Blaster Boss Rush Speedruns

Boss Rush is a bonus mode that can be found in Kero Blaster after completing Omake Mode.

Best Kero Blaster Boss Rush Speedrun:
1'23"80 by GIRakaCHEEZER

It was originally possible to beat the 4th boss (N577) in 0 seconds in boss rush mode because the timer didn't start until the boss emerged from its enclosure, but the boss could be damaged using the level 2 Kuro Blaster prior to emerging. This exploit was patched out in v1.4.0, so we are splitting runs that used this exploit into a separate category.

Best Kero Blaster Boss Rush (0 Second N577) Speedrun:
1'12"30 by GIRakaCHEEZER

The Death Beam is a weapon that can only be obtained in Kero Blaster by upgrading the Laser Uzi through save hacking. It is extremely overpowered, and hacking your save to include it in your arsenal will void you for a normal boss rush time, as such this category now exists.

Best Kero Blaster Death Beam Boss Rush (0 Second N577) Speedrun:
0'27"33 by GIRakaCHEEZER

Kero Blaster Full Game Speedruns

Full game runs of Kero Blaster are considered finished at the point in time where the final boss is defeated, except for zangyou runs, which are considered finished on picking up the last phone.

Best Kero Blaster Full Game Speedrun:
0:23:48 by CorgiFoxtrot

Best Kero Blaster Zangyou Mode Full Game Speedrun:
0:29:49 by SamPhantom

Ikachan Full Game Speedruns

Full game runs of Ikachan are considered finished when the credit image kicks in.

Best Ikachan Full Game Speedrun:
0:04:02 by bjw

Other

Best Guxt Score Attackrun:
18180 by BadBeholder
(part 2 link)