Summary
The classic puzzle game that first launched in 1984 for Atari 8-bit computers,Boulder Dash, will be making a return sometime at the end of 2024. The maze-based puzzler, whose name is a play on the word balderdash, or nonsense, was quickly ported to a variety of now-retro consoles. Over the years, it made its way — in the form of ports, re-releases, and remasters — to the Commodore 64, Atari 2600, ColecoVision, arcades, and eventually Game Boy,Nintendo Entertainment System, Switch, Xbox, and PC.
Boulder Dashsticks players in a series of caves, where the protagonist Rockford is on amission to collect diamonds. He digs his way through various environments, dislodging boulders and generally creating a hazard for himself. While endeavoring to avoid being crushed, he finds gems, power-ups, and other tantalizing collectibles, as well as a few enemies. Only upon gathering enough goodies will the cave entrance open so that Rockford can escape.
Originally developed by Peter Liepa and Chris Gray, theBoulder DashIP is currently owned by BBG Entertainment, which purchased the rights from the original publisher, First Star Software, in 2017. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the highly rated classic game, BBG will be debutingBoulder Dash 40th AnniversaryatGamescom 2024 in the Retro Areafrom August 21-25. Dubbed the “ancestor of all puzzle games,” the anniversary edition ofBoulder Dashwill be released for Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 sometime this fall/winter season.
BBG Will Present Boulder Dash and a Couple Other Classic Games
The classic maze gamehas served as an inspiration for many other titles, be it directly or indirectly, in the 40 years since its original release. There is now an entire subgenre of games, known as rocks-and-diamonds, that feature tile-based gameplay centered around collecting gems while avoiding being crushed. Even 2023’s popularpuzzle platformerHumanityhas a trial called “Boulder Dash,” and there’s of course a level in the originalCrash Bandicootcalled “Boulder Dash” that has the orange marsupial channeling his inner Indiana Jones.
BBG Entertainment will also be introducing the modern reboots of twoclassic Intellivision gamesat Gamescom this year.AstrosmashandShark! Shark!,both hailing from the early 80s, made their way to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam in late 2023.Astrosmashis a fixed shooter in the vein ofSpace InvadersorAsteroidsthat has players take out meteors, bombs, UFOs, and the like. It ranks as one of the bestselling Intellivision games ever.Shark! Shark!puts players in the role of a fish who’s out to feast on smaller fish while evading jellyfish, crustaceans, and the fabled shark.
