Play Super Pitfall (Japan) Online

Super Pitfall came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, developed by Micronics. It was one of those early NES titles that tried to bring a more complex, exploratory action game to the console, following the success of the original Pitfall on older systems. The game arrived at a time when many developers were still figuring out how to design for the hardware, and it shows in both its ambition and its rough edges.

You control Pitfall Harry, moving through a large, interconnected world of underground caverns and jungle settings. Your goal is to find a hidden diamond and a magic chest while surviving hazards like snakes, bats, and rolling boulders. The game uses a screen by screen exploration structure, with ladders and vines connecting different areas. You have a pistol with limited ammo for dealing with enemies, and you spend a lot of time jumping across gaps, though the jumping feels heavy and imprecise. The pacing is slow and deliberate, partly because the layout is confusing and there is no in game map, which makes backtracking a frequent necessity. It feels like a game that doesn't give away its secrets easily, and playing it is a mix of frustration and stubborn curiosity.