Play Lode Runner (J) [h1] Online

Lode Runner came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1983, developed by Brøderbund. It was one of those early puzzle platformers that felt different from everything else at the time, built around clever movement and planning rather than just running and jumping.

You control a small character who must collect every piece of gold on each single-screen stage while evading enemy guards. Your main tool is a laser-like beam that digs temporary holes in the terrain, which you can use to trap pursuers or create new paths. The challenge comes from figuring out the order to grab the gold and where to dig to stay safe, since the enemies respawn if they fall into a pit. It feels tense and thoughtful, a game where every move matters.