Lode Runner

Lode Runner is a puzzle platformer created by Douglas E. Smith and released initially for the Apple II, Commodore 64, Vic-20, and Atari 8-bit in 1983. It's one of the most popular video games ever created.

Douglas Smith started working on the concept when he was still a student. The first version was called Kong; it was programmed in FORTRAN and ran on ASCII terminals (the hero was a dollar sign "$"). Trying to convince some publishers, he rewrote the game in 6502 Assembler for the Apple II+, changing the name to Miner. But it was still black & white, with rough animations (despite stealing the frames of the running men from Dan Gorlin's Choplifter!), so not good enough to publish commercially. He accepted the offer from Brøderbund, taking $10,000 to finish the game, adding proper animations, sound effects, and 150 levels.

Finally, at the end of 1982, a new version was ready, with all the features requested by the publisher. To design all the levels, Smith asked some friends to help him. But to do that, he had to create a screen editor. This is why Lode Runner is one of the first games to include a proper level editor.

As you know, the game's goal is to collect all the gold on the screen. You have to do that without getting caught by the guards.

Each level presents new puzzles, making the game progressively more difficult. Understanding the guards' AI, trying to trap them, is fundamental.

Lode Runner was hugely successful and was Brøderbund's second best-selling game until 1987. Since its release, it was also ported to Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, and all other home computers.

From GamesNostalgia, you can download the Commodore 64 version, packed with the emulator and ready to be played!