Play LodeRunner Online

Lode Runner came out on the Amiga in 1983, developed by Doug Smith and published by Broderbund. It was one of those games that felt perfectly suited to the machine, a clever puzzle-platformer that stood out among the arcade ports and simpler action titles of the time.

You control a small character who must collect all the gold pieces on each screen while being chased by relentless guards. Your main tool is the ability to dig holes directly to your left and right; these traps temporarily stop enemies, and they can also be used to drop through the floor to another level. The objective is straightforward, but the execution demands quick thinking and careful planning, as a single mistake often means getting caught. The pacing is tense, the difficulty steadily increasing with more complex level layouts and smarter enemy behavior. It feels incredibly satisfying to outmaneuver your pursuers and solve each stage through timing and strategy.