Lode Runner II – The Bungeling Strikes Back is a 1984 arcade platformer released by Irem under license from Broderbund, picking up the run-and-dig formula of the original Lode Runner for a new set of 30 levels, ten of which are drawn from the first game’s original layouts. As Bungeling’s guards close in from every ladder and rope, the goal on each screen is the same: grab every piece of scattered gold while staying just out of reach.
How to Play
Run, climb ladders and hang from ropes to collect all the gold on a level before the exit opens. You can’t fight the guards directly, but you can dig temporary holes in the floor to your left or right to drop them into a pit — trapped enemies eventually climb out, so use the hole to slip past or dive on top of them for extra points before they escape. Watch for guards that flash: they’re carrying gold, and trapping one can make it drop. In the browser, the arcade’s 8-way joystick maps to the Arrow Keys, with Z to dig a hole to the left and X to dig one to the right. Press Enter to start and Shift to insert a coin.
Tips
- Digging isn’t just an escape tool — dropping a guard into a hole and hopping over it is often faster than running the long way around.
- Don’t dig yourself into a corner: a hole you create seals shut after a few seconds, so plan an exit route before you dig, not after.
- Ten of the thirty levels reuse layouts from the original Lode Runner, so patterns you learn there carry over directly.
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