About Cave Story
The legendary freeware indie platformer about a robot who wakes up in a cave of rabbit-like Mimigas.
Cave Story (2004) was made over five years by Daisuke Amaya alone and became one of the most influential indie games. A robot with no memory explores a floating island, levels up weapons and uncovers a dark story about the Mimiga people.
It runs in the browser through the open-source NXEngine. Play with a keyboard.
Available browser projects
Cave Story at a glance
- Genre
- Platformer
- Original release
- 2004
- Developer
- Studio Pixel (Daisuke Amaya)
- Publisher
- Studio Pixel
- Browser version
- rgc.zone
- Price
- Free
- Download
- Not required — runs in the browser
- Devices
- PC or laptop with keyboard and mouse
- Online play
- No — single-player
How to play Cave Story in your browser
- Press Play in browser — the game opens on rgc.zone in a new tab.
- Wait while the game files load. The first start can take from a few seconds to a few minutes depending on your connection; later starts are faster because the browser caches the files.
- Click inside the game window so it captures the keyboard and mouse, then switch to fullscreen (F11 or the host's fullscreen button).
- Open the in-game settings to adjust controls, graphics and sound. Progress is normally kept in your browser storage, so don't clear site data if you want to keep your saves.
Cave Story controls
Default layout for this browser version. Keys can differ between builds, and most hosts let you rebind them in the settings. A USB or Bluetooth gamepad usually works too.
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move | Arrow keys |
| Jump | Z / Space |
| Action | X / Shown in the game menu |
| Pause | Esc |
| Gamepad | Recommended — connect it before starting |
What to expect from the browser version
The browser version of Cave Story is an independent web project — a port, recompilation or fan remake — hosted on rgc.zone. It is not an official release from Studio Pixel, and MePlayable does not host any game files: we describe the game and link to the project.
Because the game runs inside a browser tab, some features of the 2004 original may be missing or work differently: online modes, cutscenes, saves, mods and graphics options depend on the build. If something doesn't work, check the host's own notes.
Requirements
A modern desktop browser — Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera or Safari 16+ — with WebAssembly and WebGL enabled, at least 4 GB of RAM and a stable connection for the first load. Hardware acceleration should be switched on in the browser settings.
If Cave Story doesn't start
- Black screen or endless loading — update the browser, enable hardware acceleration and reload the page with Ctrl+F5.
- No sound — click inside the game window: browsers only allow audio after you interact with the page.
- Lag or low FPS — close other heavy tabs and programs, then lower the resolution or graphics settings in the game.
- The site doesn't open — the host may be temporarily down or blocked in your region. Try again later or use another project link on this page.
Screenshots (6)
Videos and trailers
Cave Story: frequently asked questions
Which site hosts the browser version of Cave Story?
The playable web version of Cave Story runs on rgc.zone. MePlayable doesn't host game files: we check the link, explain controls and point you to the project page.
Can I play Cave Story online for free?
Yes. The browser version on rgc.zone is free to open, and MePlayable doesn't charge anything — we simply link to the project.
Do I need to download Cave Story?
No. Cave Story runs directly in a browser tab using WebAssembly and WebGL, so there is no installer and nothing to download. The browser only caches files to make the next launch faster.
Can I play Cave Story on a phone?
The browser version is made for computers and expects a keyboard and mouse or a gamepad. Some phones and tablets can open it, but performance and touch controls are not guaranteed.
Can I play Cave Story with friends?
No. Cave Story is a single-player game, and the browser version focuses on the solo experience.
Is this the official Cave Story?
No. The original Cave Story was developed by Studio Pixel (Daisuke Amaya) and released in 2004. The browser version is a third-party project, and all rights to the game belong to their owners.
Will my progress be saved?
Usually yes: saves are stored in your browser's local storage on this device. They are lost if you clear browser data, use private mode or switch to another browser or device.
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