Play Crystal Caves Online

Crystal Caves is a side-scrolling platform game released in 1991 for MS-DOS. Developed and published by Apogee Software, Ltd., the game is structured as a trilogy following the adventures of space trader Mylo Steamwitz. The initial shareware release contained only the first episode, with the full registered version comprising three separate installments.

Players control Mylo as he navigates through 16 levels per episode, with the primary objective of collecting every crystal in each stage. The gameplay involves running and jumping across platforms while avoiding environmental hazards like stalactites, leaking pipes, and poisonous mushrooms. Mylo is equipped with a missile pistol to defend against various enemies, including bats, robots, and dinosaurs, though this weapon is not effective against all threats. The player must manage Mylo's health, represented by three hit points, and although lives are unlimited, losing all health or becoming trapped necessitates restarting the level, requiring careful planning and timing.

Beyond crystals, levels contain numerous collectible items. These include ammunition for the pistol, score-boosting pickaxes and purple mushrooms, and eggs that transform into letters when shot. Gathering all five letters to spell "BONUS" awards significant points. Temporary power-ups also appear, such as one that reverses gravity, another that makes the pistol lethal to all enemies, a stop sign that freezes foes, and a red mushroom that allows Mylo to defeat enemies by contact. These power-ups are time-limited, adding a strategic layer to their use during exploration and combat.