Classic Games Database
ClassicGames DB

Lode Runner

Review
Also known as
Kong LR Lode Runner Classic Lode Runner for WonderSwan Miner Suicide ロードランナー 淘金者

This puzzle platformer demands strategic digging to trap robots and collect gold.

Lode Runner was originally released for the Apple II in 1983. The NES version was released in Japan by Hudson Soft in 1984.

About Lode Runner

Lode Runner is a platform game where the player must recover stolen gold from the Bungeling Empire across 150 distinct screens. Each screen presents a layout of platforms, ladders, and ropes that must be navigated.

Robotic guards patrol the areas, and contact with them results in the loss of a life. The primary method of evasion is to dig holes directly into the platforms, temporarily trapping the guards so the player can pass. Success requires collecting all gold in a screen, which then reveals an exit ladder to progress. This objective makes the gameplay challenging, as it demands careful planning and precise execution.

A notable feature for its time was the inclusion of a level editor, enabling players to design new screens without needing programming knowledge.

Lode Runner Screenshots

8 images
Title screen (US release)
Title Screen (Jpn release)
Grab all the gold to finish each level.
Making a bridge...
Trap enemies by making holes.
Out of luck.
End of stage bonus
Level edit mode