Classic NES game makes a comeback after 40 years

Highlights

Boulder Dash, a classic maze puzzle game, returns in 2024 and allows players to guide Rockford through caves to collect diamonds.
The rights to the game were acquired in 2017 and a special 40th anniversary edition will be released this fall/winter for Steam, Switch, Xbox and PS.
The game has inspired a subgenre of rock-and-diamond games, as well as modern remakes of other classic games such as Astrosmash and Shark! Shark! at Gamescom.

The classic puzzle game, which first appeared in 1984 for Atari 8-bit computers, Boulder Sprintwill return sometime in late 2024. The maze-based puzzle game, whose name is a pun on balderdash, or nonsense, was quickly ported to a variety of now-retro consoles. Over the years, it found 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 Sprint traps players in a series of caves where protagonist Rockford is on a mission to collect diamonds. He digs through various environments, dislodging boulders and generally creating dangers for himself. While trying not to get crushed, he finds gems, power-ups and other tempting collectibles, as well as a few enemies. Only once he’s collected enough goodies will the cave entrance open, allowing Rockford to escape.

Nintendo Switch orange assembled with Nintendo Entertainment System NES Famicom dark brick wall background

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Originally developed by Peter Liepa and Chris Gray, Boulder Sprint IP is currently owned by BBG Entertainment, which acquired the rights from original publisher First Star Software in 2017. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the highly rated classic game, BBG 40th Anniversary of the Boulder Dash at Gamescom 2024 in the Retro Area from August 21 to 25. The anniversary edition of Boulder Sprint will be released sometime this fall/winter for Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

BBG presents Boulder Dash and some other classic games

The classic labyrinth game has directly or indirectly served as inspiration for many other titles in the 40 years since its original release. There is now an entire subgenre of games known as Rocks-and-Diamonds, which revolve around collecting gems while avoiding getting crushed. Even 2023’s popular puzzle platformer humanity has a test called “Boulder Dash”, and of course there is a level in the original Crash Bandicoot called “Boulder Dash,” in which the orange marsupial channels his inner Indiana Jones.

BBG Entertainment will also be presenting modern remakes of two classic Intellivision games at Gamescom this year. Astrosmash And Hey! Hey!, Both date back to the early 80s and found their way to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam in late 2023. Astrosmash is a fixed shooter in the style of Space Invaders or Asteroids where players have to eliminate meteors, bombs, UFOs and the like. It is one of the best-selling Intellivision games of all time. Hi! Hi! puts players in the role of a fish that hunts smaller fish while avoiding jellyfish, crustaceans and the legendary shark.