Boulder Dash

Boulder Dash: Classic Puzzle Arcade Game

Boulder Dash is a classic 2D puzzle arcade game first released in 1984. Players dig through caves full of diamonds while avoiding falling rocks and enemies. Its innovative gameplay and level editor helped popularize the puzzle genre.

What is Boulder Dash?

Boulder Dash is a 2D puzzle arcade game first released in 1984. It was hugely popular in the 1980s thanks to its innovative gameplay.

In the game, the player controls a small character called Rockford whose goal is to dig through caves and collect diamonds while avoiding lethal dangers. Falling boulders and enemies like fireflies can squash Rockford. The physics also allow the player to become trapped or crushed.

The game generates levels procedurally so no two playthroughs are the same. Later versions added new features like locks and keys, new graphics sets, and a level editor so players can build their own caves. The level editor in particular helped popularize user generated content.

Boulder Dash kickstarted an entire genre focused around digging and physics-based gameplay that inspired many clones and successors. It remains one of the most iconic puzzle games of the 1980s arcade era thanks to its simple but challenging gameplay.

Boulder Dash Features

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