Not every DOS classic needed to reinvent the wheel. Crystal Caves knew exactly what it wanted to be — a tight, colorful, underground platformer where you collect crystals and blast alien critters — and it executed that vision with cheerful precision.
About the Game
Crystal Caves was developed by David Joiner and published by Apogee Software in 1991. You play as Mylo, a space trader mining crystals on an alien planet to pay off his debts. The game spans three volumes, each with around 16 levels of underground platforming. All three are now available as freeware.
Gameplay
Crystal Caves is a side-scrolling platformer with a gun. Mylo can shoot in four directions to dispatch the various alien creatures inhabiting each level. Each level requires collecting a specific quota of crystals before the exit opens. Levels wrap horizontally — you can scroll off one side and appear on the other, opening creative navigation options.
Hazards include spikes, lava, moving platforms, and enemies that shoot back. The difficulty is gentle early on and gradually increases without feeling unfair.
Why It’s Worth Playing
Crystal Caves is the DOS equivalent of comfort food — bright, bouncy, and consistently enjoyable. The EGA graphics use a vivid underground color palette that still looks distinctive. For players new to DOS gaming, it’s an excellent entry point: accessible enough not to frustrate, deep enough to stay interesting across three episodes.
How to Download
All three Crystal Caves episodes are available free on the Internet Archive:
Download Crystal Caves on Archive.org
How to Run with DOSBox
See our DOSBox guide, then:
- Mount the folder:
mount c C:\Games\CrystalCaves - Type
c:thenCC1.EXE
