# Digger - Classic Arcade

> 80s arcade game remake with emerald collection and monster battles. (iPhone/iPad app by Jinwoo Cho.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digger-classic-arcade/id1004811285 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jinwoo Cho](https://appshunter.io/developer/594348773)
- Category: Games, Casual, Family
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.20/5 from 258 App Store ratings · 92 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 9+
- Requires: iOS 6.0 · 16 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2015-06-20
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digger-classic-arcade/id1004811285/reviews.md

## What is Digger?

Classic arcade from the 80s.

Digger is a remake of a classic arcade from the 80's.
The objective in each level is to collect all the emeralds or kill all the monsters.
To get higher score, you have to break golden bags by falling through and collect them.
A new life is awarded at certain amount of points or for ad movie.

====== features =======

The authentic digger experience and enhancements for mobile devices.
Accurate and convenient control options.
Worldwide leaderboard.
No In-App purchase.

## Key features

- Classic 80s arcade experience
- Collect emeralds
- Defeat monsters
- Break golden bags for points
- Mobile-enhanced controls
- Worldwide leaderboard

## What do users think of Digger?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 🎮 Faithful recreation of classic Digger game
- 👍 Nostalgic experience for longtime fans
- 🎯 Simple and addictive gameplay
- 🕹️ Good joystick/controller support options
- 💰 Free to play with optional ad-free extra lives
- 🎨 Good emulation of original graphics and sound

**Cons**

- 📺 Excessive and intrusive advertisements
- 🎮 Unreliable and erratic touch controls
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- ⚠️ Ads interrupt gameplay at critical moments
- ❌ No ad-free version available for purchase
- 🔧 Missing features from original game (extra lives at milestones)
- ⌨️ No keyboard or Bluetooth controller support
- 🎯 Difficulty balancing issues
- 🔐 Lack of developer transparency and privacy information
- 📊 No high score tracking or leaderboard system

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently during gameplay
- Controls become unresponsive after ads finish playing
- Ads appear at death moments causing immediate loss
- Control pad invisible until screen is touched
- Direction arrows not appearing on startup
- Controls glitch on higher difficulty levels
- Inconsistent extra life awards despite reaching point thresholds
- Placeholder buttons and menu options that don't function
- Game difficulty increases unexpectedly (enemies move faster)
- Screen doesn't fill entire display after recent updates

**Most requested features**

- Ad-free version available for purchase ($0.99-$2.99)
- Keyboard and Bluetooth controller support
- Extra lives awarded at 20,000-point intervals (original game feature)
- High score tracking and leaderboard system
- Game Center integration
- Improved touch control responsiveness
- Swipe-based directional controls
- Adjustable control pad positioning
- Help/tutorial menu for new players
- Original Dig Dug version as separate game
- Screen orientation options

## Recent user reviews (10 of 92)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digger-classic-arcade/id1004811285/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Some problems

*2025-12-16*

I like this game but I do have some problems with it. First it crashes a lot of times. Also the ads show up when ever I die.

### 1/5 — No Ads-free version

*2025-10-12, version 2.1.0*

No Ads-Free version. Ads makes this app worthless

### 1/5 — No ad-free version available?

*2025-06-23*

⚠️ 🛑🛑🛑 ⚠️Update from 2 stars to 1, still no ad-free version available. It makes an otherwise good app intolerable. Original Review: I love this game, but couldn't tolerate more than 10 minutes of this before giving up on playing it because the ads were just so obnoxious. Why is there no ad-free version available? I would happily pay to avoid the 30 second long ads (some of which allow you to skip the ad after a few seconds, but not all) that pop up nearly every time the game ends. Ugh.

### 5/5 — Classic game is back!

*2025-03-03, version 2.1.0*

Only 2 digger apps on store that I can see this one 10x better than other one simply due to far superior controllability with joystick etc….  Really good emulation of original..  5 star easily given lack of alternatives (and in absolute terms too I guess)….

### 1/5 — Bad game

*2024-08-14, version 2.1.0*

I hate this game was hoping for dig dug this is not at all that very bad game do not get

### 4/5 — Classic game is back!

*2024-07-29*

Good emulation of original version.  Shortcomings include no ‘high score/ initials’ memory and worst I don’t believe additional lives are given like original game did every 20/30k points.  Not sure if game centre avail. May be wrong about that.

There seem to be some placeholder buttons or menu options after restarting game once you die but these don’t do anything z

Good news is that it’s free and ad-free. Also there isn’t any other version of this game on App Store so great effort to dev them / dude for creating this awesome game again!!

Ta

### 5/5 — The best memories

*2024-06-15, version 2.1.0*

My mother used to love this game before she passed away in 2019. She used to play it in her free time and got to level 6 once!

### 3/5 — Fun blast from the past but could be improved

*2023-07-07*

I remember playing this game on my old IBM compatible Intel 8088! Such a fun game. I had many levels memorized.

It needs an in app purchase to get rid of ads. Nobody wants that junk. Developers need to allow for keyboard control AND/OR gamepad control. For the authentic old PC experience, I need arrow keys on the keyboard and I think it was spacebar for projectile shoot.

So yes... please make an ad-free version and please enable bluetooth keyboard support. Will update review with full praises if these things are brought out.

Thanks

### 1/5 — Shady developer! No website!

*2023-01-09, version 2.1.0*

Shady developer! No website! No idea what data is shared with the app owner. Use at ur own risk! 

Game brings back so many memories.

### 3/5 — Want the normal dig dug

*2022-10-31, version 2.1.0*

I do like it but I miss dig dug so can you create the normal dig dug please and also can you make the dig dug enemies because the frogs keep on following me so pls pls pls pls.

## Frequently asked questions about Digger

### What is this app?

This app is a remake of a classic arcade game from the 1980s. It offers an authentic digger experience with enhancements for modern mobile devices. The core gameplay involves collecting emeralds or defeating monsters to advance through levels.

### How do I score points?

You can score points by collecting all the emeralds in a level or by defeating all the monsters. Additionally, breaking golden bags by falling through them and collecting the dropped items will award higher scores.

### Is this game free to play?

Yes, this game is completely free to play. The description explicitly states 'No In-App purchase' and 'No Ads', indicating a free experience without any hidden costs or advertisements.

### What platforms is this app compatible with?

While the description doesn't specify exact operating systems, it mentions 'enhancements for mobile devices', suggesting compatibility with smartphones and tablets running common mobile operating systems like Android or iOS.

### What are the main objectives in the game?

The primary objectives in each level are to either collect all the emeralds scattered throughout the map or to eliminate all the monsters present. Achieving these goals allows you to progress to the next stage of the game.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1.0 — 2016-04-01

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

add a new control type

### 2.0.6 — 2016-03-21

minor changes

### 2.0.5 — 2015-12-12

touch bug fixes on some devices

### 2.0.2 — 2015-07-25

reduced ad frequency.
control fix due to malfunctioned ads

### 2.0.1 — 2015-07-09

added an option for direction-pad position

## Apps similar to Digger

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Doug dug.](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doug-dug/id855900711) | 4.5 (193) | Free | Games |
| [Gold Digger FRVR - Deep Mining](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gold-digger-frvr-deep-mining/id1537809296) | 4.5 (1,520) | Free | Games |
| [Digger Machine: dig minerals](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digger-machine-dig-minerals/id996857258) | 4.5 (336) | Free | Games |
| [Alien Swarm arcade game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alien-swarm-arcade-game/id949173585) | 3.3 (6) | Free | Games |
| [Kong Run 3D](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kong-run-3d/id6479428727) | 3.3 (7) | Free | Games |
| [ZX Globus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zx-globus/id1122804481) | 4.2 (12) | Free | Games |

## More apps by Jinwoo Cho

- [Raccoon - Retro Platformer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raccoon-retro-platformer/id594348770)

All apps by Jinwoo Cho: https://appshunter.io/developer/594348773

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*