Gold Rush draws its inspiration from Lode Runner, a 1983 action-puzzle platformer designed by Douglas E. Smith and published by Broderbund Software. Smith originally wrote the game for the Apple II under the title Kong and spent over two years refining the level designs before publication. Lode Runner was notable as one of the very first commercial games to ship with a built-in level editor, allowing players to create and share their own stages — an early form of user-generated content decades before the term existed. The game was ported to over 20 platforms, sold over 2.5 million copies, and spawned numerous sequels across three decades. Its core mechanic — using a drill to trap guards in holes, then collecting gold while they are incapacitated — remains uniquely clever and fully intact in Gold Rush. Classic Arcade's version features multiple progressively challenging levels with a retro neon aesthetic.
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Left / Right Arrow | Run horizontally |
| Up / Down Arrow | Climb ladders and ropes |
| Z | Dig hole to the left of your character |
| X | Dig hole to the right of your character |
| P | Pause / resume |
| On-screen buttons | Move and dig (mobile) |
Each gold bar collected awards points, with a bonus multiplier applied when you collect all gold in a level quickly. Guards that fall into dug holes and are then buried by the refilling earth award bonus points. Completing a level earns a time bonus — the faster you collect all gold and reach the escape ladder, the higher the reward. Lives are lost by guard contact or by falling too far from a height without a ladder.
Dig strategically — a well-placed hole can trap multiple guards at once if you lead them into a queue above a single gap. Always plan an escape route before digging, as refilling holes can trap you as easily as they trap guards.
Q: Can I dig anywhere in the floor?
You can dig through brick tiles — the brown brick blocks that make up most of the floor. Solid gold or concrete tiles cannot be dug through. Dug holes refill after a few seconds, so timing is critical to trap guards and then escape before the hole closes around you.
Q: What happens if a guard falls in a hole I dug?
A guard who falls into your dug hole is temporarily incapacitated. While trapped, they drop any gold they were carrying. If the hole refills before the guard climbs out, the guard is eliminated and respawns at the top of the level after a short delay.
Q: Do I need to collect every piece of gold?
Yes — the escape ladder only becomes accessible once every gold bar on the level has been collected. The ladder is typically hidden at the top of the level and reveals itself as the last gold bar is taken.
Fan-made tribute · Not affiliated with or endorsed by any original game publisher