Play Crystal Mines II Online

Summary

Crystal Mines II feels like a handheld mash‑up of Chip’s Challenge and Boulder Dash, where you pilot a tiny robot through a maze of wooden blocks, boulders and dirt while blasting away demons. The overhead view lets you plan routes, drop TNT, and collect colored crystals that each carry a different point value, all while juggling shields and radioactivity protection to survive the mine’s hazards.

The game packs 150 main levels and 31 bonus stages, each crafted by a small team that includes Scott Davis, Danny Sosebee, Lee Rider, Joel Byers, Jim Treadway, Gabriel Beckett and Ron Degen. Ken Calderone’s catchy tunes and the pixel art from Nina, Dan Burke and Ken Beckett give the mines a surprisingly vibrant personality for a 1990s Lynx title.

Crystal Mines II has lingered long after its original launch, spawning a Windows‑based sequel that required a Lynx‑to‑PC cable, a 2003 cartridge expansion with 125 fresh levels, and a 2020 Evercade re‑release that adds even more content. Critics have generally praised its clever puzzles, reflected in scores ranging from 6/10 to 91% across magazines and retro sites.

Storyline

In Crystal Mines II you control a robot navigating the abandoned crystal mines, collecting crystals while evading the underground demons that lurk within. Each level ends when you meet a crystal quota, but the quota rarely covers the whole map, so finding extra crystals rewards you with bonus points. Gravity works like in Boulder Dash, pulling boulders, crystals and other debris down, which you can strategically use as weapons against the foes. Some enemies are disguised as "Dormant" demons that look exactly like ordinary boulders, adding a deceptive twist to the challenge. The robot is also equipped with its own weapons, allowing you to clear certain obstacles and keep the mining operation alive.