Play Lode Runner Online

Lode Runner came out on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1984, published by Broderbund. It was one of those games that felt different from the typical platformers and shooters of the time, offering a more cerebral kind of challenge that really made you stop and think.

You control a small character whose goal is to collect all the gold bars on each screen while avoiding the relentless enemy robots. Your only tool is a laser that can blast temporary holes in the floor, which you use both to trap your pursuers and to access hard-to-reach treasure. The game progresses screen by screen, with the layouts and enemy patterns becoming increasingly complex and demanding precise timing and planning. It feels incredibly rewarding to finally solve a difficult stage after several failed attempts.