Split-screen on PC

Cave Story

Up to 5 players on one PC, with controllers or keyboard and mouse.

5Verified handler

Handler “Cave Story Multiplayer” by Talos91, version 2

P4+1 more players

What works

With Nucleus Co-op, up to 5 players can play Cave Story together on one PC, each in their own part of the screen, with controllers or keyboard and mouse. The free community handler “Cave Story Multiplayer” by Talos91 does the setup and was checked by hub moderators: version 2, updated 1 Jun 2023. Cave Story is a shooter, platformer and adventure game from 2004.

Players5
ControllersSupported
Keyboard and mouseSupported
Several keyboards and miceNot supported
Hub moderatorsVerified

How to play Cave Story split screen on PC

Get Nucleus Co-op
Download Nucleus Co-op, free for Windows 10 and 11, and unzip it into its own folder, for example C:\NucleusCo-op. There is no installer.
Keep it out of Program Files, your user folder and OneDrive.
Download Nucleus Co-op
Install the Cave Story handler
In Nucleus Co-op, search the Hub for Cave Story and install its handler, or download the handler file from this page and drop it on the Nucleus window. Then show Nucleus where Cave Story is installed.
Download the handler file (.nc)
Take a seat
Each player presses a button on their own controller to join and takes a spot on the screen. Pick a layout that fits your players.
Launch and connect
Press Launch: Nucleus opens one copy of Cave Story per player and lays the windows out on your screen. Then link them in game, usually one player hosts a LAN or online session and the others join it. The handler notes say how.

What you need

A Windows 10 or 11 PC
Nucleus Co-op runs on Windows only. System requirements
Cave Story for Windows
Installed on that PC. Nucleus starts every player's window from that one install.
Nucleus Co-op, free
With .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later and the Visual C++ 2015–2022 runtimes (x86 and x64). Download
Something to play with
One controller per player; one player can use the keyboard and mouse. Controllers
A PC that can run 5 copies
Each player runs their own copy of Cave Story, so the PC carries several times the usual load. Lower the graphics settings if it struggles. Performance tips
A multiplayer mode
Nucleus links the windows through the game's own LAN or online mode; the handler takes care of it.

Handler notes

Guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/nucleuscoop/comments/rrmn0s/cave_story_multiplayer_splitscreen_coop/

Authors and Contributors of this handler: Talos91 from the Split Screen Dreams Discord.

About Cave Story

A side-scrolling platformer in which a robot traverses a strange world that has been thrown into disorder due to its violent history and a doctor that is attempting to exploit the inhabitants to aid him in his own pursuit for power.

Summary from IGDB