Boulder Dash

Boulder Dash is a maze-based puzzle-action game where you control Rockford, a prospector digging through caves in search of diamonds. The objective in each level is to collect a required number of diamonds, which then opens an exit tunnel to the next cave. The environment is fully destructible—Rockford can tunnel through dirt, but removing the ground beneath boulders causes them to fall, creating an avalanche hazard that can crush him. Boulders roll and bounce, adding realistic physics. Later levels introduce fireflies, butterflies, and a growing amoeba that must be contained by dropping boulders on it. When crushed, creatures transform into diamonds. The game features 16 caves, each playable at five difficulty levels.

Atari 8-bit

Released in March 1984 by First Star Software, this is the original version created by Canadian developers Peter Liepa and Chris Gray . The Atari 8-bit version features Rockford as a prospector collecting diamonds in caves labeled A through P, with five difficulty levels affecting diamond quota and time limits . The controls are widely considered slightly better than later ports . Gameplay elements include pushing boulders horizontally, collecting diamonds to open exits, and crushing enemies with falling rocks to clear paths or generate more diamonds . The graphics use the Atari's distinct color palette, which some critics found oddly bland compared to the Commodore 64 version . The game was originally written for Atari hardware, and all 1984 ports were based directly on this code, making them extremely similar outside sound and graphics differences . This version later appeared on the Exidy Max-A-Flex arcade cabinet, marking the first home computer game converted to arcade format .