Play Crystal Caves online — free shareware episode Works — shareware Episode 1 runs via DOSBox in your browser
Guide updated July 2026 · Runs via DOSBox + WebAssembly
Crystal Caves — Apogee's 1991 platformer, in which intergalactic prospector Mylo Steamwitz descends into a series of mines to collect enough crystals to fund his next business venture. Each level is a self-contained puzzle box: find every crystal, avoid the hazards, get out. The complete shareware Episode 1, "Troubles with Twibbles", is hosted here — click Play and the original DOS game boots in your browser.
D-pad: move · JUMP: ctrl · FIRE: alt · ESC: menu
⌨ Keyboard — for menus & name entry
Controls — what does what
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse / touch |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Arrow keys | — |
| Jump | Ctrl | Right-click |
| Fire pistol | Alt | Left-click |
| Skip the intro | Space | — |
| Menu / back | Esc | — |
| Sound | — | Use the Sound button under the screen to mute |
Runs in your browser tab with DOSBox + WebAssembly — nothing is uploaded. Click the screen to capture input; press Ctrl+F10 to release mouse.
Episode 1 of Crystal Caves is Apogee's freely-distributable shareware episode. Episodes 2–3 are commercial and not hosted here. Provenance: /apps/crystal-caves/NOTICE.md.
Get the full trilogy
Episode 1 plays here free. Episodes 2 and 3 were the commercial release:
How it works & what to expect
The original 1991 DOS release, running in a WebAssembly build of DOSBox. It's tiny — under 200 KB — so it boots almost instantly. There's a story intro before the menu (Mylo's ship steering fails again); press Space through it to reach the level select.
Playing tips
Every crystal on a level must be collected before the exit will let you leave, so sweep the whole map rather than heading for the door. Your pistol has unlimited ammo but a slow rate of fire — shoot from a distance and keep moving. The floating platforms and conveyor floors carry you, so use them rather than fighting them, and watch for the stalactites that drop when you walk underneath.
Shareware episode — and the full trilogy
Episode 1 is the free shareware episode Apogee distributed. Its VENDOR.DOC permits sharing that episode and forbids distributing any registered version, so only Episode 1 is here. The full trilogy is still sold — look for Crystal Caves on Steam or GOG.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crystal Caves legal to play here?
Yes. This is the official shareware Episode 1, distributed freely by Apogee under its shareware model — the same basis as the Commander Keen, Cosmo and Hocus Pocus episodes we host. Episodes 2 and 3 are commercial and are not included.
What are the controls?
Arrow keys move, Ctrl jumps, Alt fires your pistol. Esc opens the menu. The full control table is under the game.
Why won't the exit work?
You need every crystal on the level first. If the exit seems inert, there's at least one crystal you haven't reached — often behind a conveyor or up a set of floating platforms.
There's a long intro before the menu — is it stuck?
No, that's the game's story sequence. Press Space a few times to skip through it to the level select.
Does my progress save?
Yes — saved games and high scores persist in this browser between visits, best-effort.
More you can play in your browser
Related guides
- Cosmo's Cosmic AdventureApogee platformer with suction-cup climbing.
- Hocus PocusApogee's wizard platformer — shareware episode.
- Monster BashApogee's gothic monster-hunting platformer.
- Commander KeenThe shareware platformer that started it all.
- Bio MenaceApogee run-and-gun — freeware.
- Games that need nothing installedThe full list of titles that run on a locked-down school or work network.