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dig diamonds · dodge boulders · survive caves — 20 levels · keyboard & touch
LEVEL 1
◆ 0/10
SCORE 0
TIME 150
♥ 3
HI 0

Boulder Dash

Collect enough ◆ diamonds to open the exit

Avoid falling boulders and fireflies

Arrow keys / WASD / Swipe to move

←↑↓→ or WASD move  ·  R restart level  ·  P pause  ·  Esc menu
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about Boulder Dash

Frequently Asked Questions — Boulder Dash

What is Boulder Dash and where does it come from?

Boulder Dash is a classic puzzle-action game originally created by Peter Liepa and Chris Gray in 1984 for the Commodore 64 and Atari 400/800 home computers. The game became one of the most iconic titles of the 8-bit era, known for its unique combination of gravity-based physics puzzles, real-time action, and strategic cave exploration. Players control a character named Rockford who must dig through underground caves, collect a required number of diamonds, and reach the exit before time runs out — all while avoiding falling boulders, deadly fireflies, and other hazards. The original Commodore 64 version featured 16 caves and 4 intermission stages, with each cave requiring careful planning and quick reflexes. Boulder Dash spawned numerous sequels, clones, and remakes across virtually every computing platform, cementing its place as one of the most influential puzzle games in video game history. This free browser version faithfully recreates the core mechanics of the original game with 20 handcrafted levels, ASCII terminal-style graphics, and both keyboard and touch controls for modern devices.

How do the gravity physics work in Boulder Dash?

Boulder Dash features a gravity system where boulders and diamonds fall downward when the tile below them is empty. This is the core mechanic that makes the game both challenging and fascinating. When you dig away dirt beneath a boulder, it will immediately start falling until it hits something solid. Crucially, boulders and diamonds can also roll off rounded surfaces — if a boulder lands on top of another boulder, a diamond, or a brick wall, it will attempt to slide left or right if there is empty space beside and below it. This rolling mechanic creates chain reactions where one small dig can trigger a cascade of falling and rolling objects. Understanding and predicting these physics interactions is key to solving each cave. Some levels are designed specifically around chain reactions, requiring you to set up elaborate sequences of falling boulders to clear paths or crush enemies.

What are the different enemies and how do I deal with them?

This version includes two enemy types from the original game. Fireflies (shown as red ♦) patrol the cave by following walls, turning in predictable patterns. Touching a firefly means instant death. However, if a boulder or diamond falls on a firefly, it explodes — destroying everything in a 3x3 area and turning the center into empty space. Butterflies (shown as purple ♠) behave similarly but with an important difference: when a butterfly is crushed by a falling object, the explosion creates 9 diamonds in the 3x3 blast area. This makes butterflies extremely valuable — deliberately dropping boulders on butterflies is often the key strategy to collecting enough diamonds in later levels. Both enemy types cannot dig through dirt, so you can use dirt as a barrier to control their patrol routes.

Can I push boulders? What are the movement rules?

Yes, Rockford can push boulders horizontally — but only under specific conditions. You can push a boulder left or right if the space on the other side of the boulder is empty. You cannot push boulders upward or downward, and you cannot push a boulder into a wall, another boulder, or any other solid object. You also cannot push diamonds. Rockford moves through dirt automatically by walking into it, and can walk into empty space freely. Movement is grid-based — each press of an arrow key moves Rockford exactly one tile. Timing matters, especially around falling objects and enemies. A common advanced technique is pushing a boulder to block a firefly's patrol route, creating a safe passage through a dangerous area.

Is this Boulder Dash game completely free to play?

Yes, completely free. No account, no subscription, no ads, no in-app purchases. The game runs entirely in your browser with zero server communication — your high scores and progress are saved locally in your browser's storage. It is one of the free browser-based tools and games at jasperbernaers.com. The game works offline once loaded, supports keyboard controls on desktop and touch controls on mobile devices, and requires no installation whatsoever.

How many levels are there and how does scoring work?

This version includes 20 handcrafted caves, each with increasing difficulty. Every level has a diamond target (the number of diamonds you must collect before the exit opens), a time limit, and unique cave layouts with different combinations of boulders, enemies, and terrain. Scoring works as follows: you earn 10 points for each diamond collected normally, and 20 points for each diamond created by an explosion (crushing enemies). When you complete a level, you receive a time bonus based on how many seconds remain on the clock. An extra life is awarded every 500 points. Your highest total score is saved locally and displayed as the high score. Completing all 20 levels displays a special victory screen with your final score.

Does this game work on mobile phones and tablets?

Yes, the game is fully responsive and works on mobile devices. On touch-enabled devices, a virtual directional pad automatically appears below the game area with arrow buttons for movement. The game canvas scales to fit your screen width while maintaining the correct aspect ratio. For the best mobile experience, we recommend playing in landscape orientation on phones, as the wider view gives you better visibility of the cave. The game also supports swipe gestures as an alternative to the on-screen buttons. All features including level selection, scoring, and progress saving work identically on mobile and desktop.

What are some advanced strategies and tips for later levels?

Later levels in Boulder Dash require careful planning and precise execution. Here are some advanced strategies used by experienced players. First, always survey the cave before digging — removing the wrong dirt tile can cause a cascade of boulders that blocks your only path or crushes you instantly. Second, use butterflies as diamond factories by dropping boulders on them from above, as each butterfly kill produces 9 diamonds. Third, remember that boulders roll off rounded surfaces — you can use this to redirect falling boulders away from your path or toward enemies. Fourth, dirt acts as a support structure, so leave strategic dirt tiles in place to hold up boulders while you work elsewhere in the cave. Fifth, time your movements near enemies carefully: fireflies and butterflies follow wall-hugging patterns, so you can predict exactly where they will be several turns ahead. Finally, some levels have multiple solutions, but the most elegant solution usually involves the fewest digs and the most efficient use of gravity chain reactions.