This article is about the fourth world inDonkey Kong Country Returns. For theSubspace Emissary stage inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, seeThe Cave.

Cave
Game	Donkey Kong Country Returns (3D/HD) Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Number of levels	7
World progression ← Previous Ruins Next → Forest Donkey Kong Country Returns worlds

“I've been trying to figure out just what they mine in those mines, but I've got nothing.”

—Cranky Kong,Donkey Kong Country Returns

TheCave is the fourth world ofDonkey Kong Country Returns and itsNintendo 3DS andNintendo Switch ports. As the name suggests, the levels take place in the caverns. Excluding the secret level,Jagged Jewels, every level in this world either involves theKongs riding inMine Carts orRocket Barrels. In both level types, the main enemies areMole Miners andMole Guards, who often change the Kongs' surroundings and attack them often. The Cave shares similarities toChimp Caverns fromDonkey Kong Country. When asked if they were the same location, senior designer Kynan Pearson approved of the idea.^[1]

The world's boss is a mole namedMole Miner Max, who attacks from hisMole Train.

Appearance[edit]

The cave, as its name suggests, takes place underground, and all its levels appear as such. From the world map, the cave is rather small, featuring five main levels, the boss level, the secret level, and Cranky's Shop. Strangely, it appears to not be underground at all, as if the player uses the "Free Look" option on the map and positions the camera like a bird's-eye view, it has no visible ceiling, likely so it is easier to see. It also appears to be the home world of theMole Miners, as various houses can be seen inBombs Away andMole Patrol. A crystal mine also serves as the setting of Bombs Away, where various collapsing crystals appear.

The Cave reappears inDonkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze but does not return as a world. However, it is featured as a representative level,Blurry Flurry.

Levels[edit]

Code	Image	Level	No. ofPuzzle Pieces	Description
4-1		Rickety Rails	5	A stage where the Kongs have to trek a series of fragile railways inside aminecart.
4-2		Grip 'n' Trip	5	A level where the Kongs journey from minecarts to large locomotives that hold metallic girders, which ferry the Kongs over abysses.
4-3		Bombs Away	5	A minecart stage where the Kongs venture inside a crystal mine. AMole Guard throws bombs onto the railtrack in an attempt to hinder the characters.
4-4		Mole Patrol	5	The secondRocket Barrel stage of the game, weaving through a mine populated bymoles.
4-5		Crowded Cavern	5	The third Rocket Barrel stage, located inside the home of theSqueekly family.
4-K		Jagged Jewels	5	The fourth temple stage of the game, featuring various spike mechanisms.
4-B		The Mole Train	–	The fourth boss stage in the game, taking place on a series of banana-filled minecarts. After fighting three waves ofMole Miners, the Kongs face their leader,Mole Miner Max.

Extras[edit]

The Cave diorama, unlocked after collecting all Puzzle Pieces inJagged Jewels and defeatingMole Miner Max

The following is extra content that can be unlocked in the Cave. The unlockables can be seen in their respective galleries after selecting the "EXTRAS" option in a file's menu. For a full list of extras in the game, seeList of extras inDonkey Kong Country Returns.

Images[edit]

Images are unlocked by collecting allPuzzle Pieces in certain levels. All images that can be unlocked in the Cave are listed below, along with their titles and the levels wherein they can be unlocked (mentioned in parentheses).

• 

  Stu
  (Rickety Rails)

• 

  Tiki Pop
  (Grip 'n' Trip)

• 

  Mole Guards
  (Bombs Away)

• 

  Tiki Buzz
  (Mole Patrol)

• 

  Squeekly Family
  (Crowded Cavern)

Music[edit]

A soundtrack selection for this world can be unlocked after beatingMole Miner Max.

• "Mine Cart Cruise" – plays inGrip 'n' Trip. It is an arrangement of "Mine Cart Madness" fromDonkey Kong Country.
• "Mine Menace" – plays inCrowded Cavern; also plays inPeaceful Pier earlier in the game, andGear Getaway later.
• "Rickety Rails" – plays inRickety Rails andBombs Away; also plays in theCloud level,Mischievous Moles.

Names in other languages[edit]

References[edit]

• Mines
• Underground areas
• Donkey Kong Island
• Donkey Kong Country Returns worlds

• Articles with unsourced foreign names