Lode Runner

1983 · Platform / Puzzle · Apple II / Multiple

Overview

Lode Runner (1983) is Douglas E. Smith's puzzle platformer for Broderbund: dig temporary holes to trap guards and collect all the gold, with 150 levels and an editor.

Deep Dive

Lode Runner's hero cannot fight. He collects gold across a screen of bricks, ladders and ropes, digging holes that trap pursuing guards before the bricks refill; once all the gold is taken, an escape ladder appears. The guards follow predictable rules, so skilled players steer them precisely. Douglas E. Smith built 150 levels and shipped the level editor he used to make them, one of the first commercial games to let players design their own stages. It was ported to many platforms.

Developer Story

Lode Runner was designed by Douglas E. Smith in 1983. Smith created the game on an Apple II and sold it to Broderbund after demonstrating it at a computer show. The mechanic of digging temporary holes to trap enemies — rather than shooting them — was original. Smith also included a level editor, making Lode Runner one of the first commercial games with user-created content tools. Over 150 levels were included, plus infinite custom ones.

Did You Know?

Lode Runner included a level editor, making it one of the first commercial games with built-in tools for user-created content.
Smith designed all 150 levels himself over many months, testing each for difficulty and flow.
The enemy AI followed a specific hierarchical pathfinding algorithm — knowledgeable players could manipulate enemy movement precisely.
The game was ported to over 20 platforms, making it one of the most-ported games of the early computing era.
A sequel, Championship Lode Runner, featured only the hardest levels, aimed at players who found the original too easy.

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