Lode Runner is a classic 1983 action puzzle platformer designed by Douglas E. Smith and ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System by Hudson Soft. Players navigate multi-story brick mazes to collect every chest of gold while evading patrolling guards.
How to Play
Your objective is to collect every gold chest on the stage to reveal the exit ladder at the top of the screen. Because the runner cannot jump, you must dig pit traps in brick floors to trap pursuing guards or drop down to lower platforms. Trapped guards will eventually climb out, and dug bricks regenerate after a short delay.
Default Browser Controls:
- Move & Climb: Arrow keys
- Dig Left: Z (NES B)
- Dig Right: X (NES A)
- Start: Enter
- Select: Shift
Tips
- Use Guards as Bridges: When a guard falls into a freshly dug pit, you can walk directly across their head to cross gaps or bypass tight paths before they climb out.
- Work from Top to Bottom: Collect gold on upper platforms first. You can drop down ledges safely, but you cannot jump back up if you leave high gold behind.
- Beware Brick Regeneration: Dug pits fill back in after a few seconds. Ensure you pass through completely, as closing bricks instantly crush any character inside.
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