Lode Runner Classic vs Gold Hunter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lode Runner Classic
Navigate maze-like levels, collecting gold while dodging enemies. Blast blocks to create paths or trap pursuers. Enjoy 150 classic levels with modern enhancements like zoom and adjustable speed.
- 150 classic levels
- Two game modes
- Screen magnification
- Adjustable play speed
- Customizable color palettes
- Worldwide leaderboards
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DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON FOOL’S GOLD Play the authentic Lode Runner… this is the real deal! AWARD WINNING GAMEPLAY Lode Runner Classic combines the game play and all 150 levels of the award-winning Apple II original Lode Runner with graphics and features engineered for today's advanced smartphones. The game's frantic action takes place in maze-like, static levels, where a single player dodges enemies while running and climbing to reach and claim stacks of gold. No jumping is allowed. And shooting enemies is forbidden, but you can blast blocks to access lower platforms or trap pursuing enemies. Winding your way through ever-increasing levels of complexity makes for a superior challenge, but now you can choose to play any one of the 150 levels at any time. EXCITING NEW FEATURES Although the gameplay remains true to the original Apple II version, there are plenty of new features to enhance the experience. You can magnify the screen around the Runner, set the play speed, adjust the coloring of the art and compete for top spot on the worldwide leaderboards. •150 puzzling levels – all unlocked and accessible •Two game modes – Expedition and Time Attack •New magnification effect – zoom the action around the Runner •Multiple play speeds – super slow to superfast action •Fully adjustable color palettes •Worldwide leaderboards •Multiple control schemes •Illustrated How to Play section "When the first Lode Runner came out on the Apple II, the last thing I expected was that the game would be alive and kicking on a platform as advanced as today’s smartphones more than 25 years later. It's really gratifying to me that so many people are still interested in the game." Douglas E. Smith, Original Creator “In the early days, there was Lode Runner. I consider it a real puzzle game. That was my favorite for many, many years. It’s such a good combination of dynamic stuff, the finger-work, and real planning and puzzle-solving. Every level was a real puzzle with its own mechanics, its own dynamics, its own kind of solution. At the same time, it was an arcade game to play. This combination was done absolutely right. I can’t imagine any other game with such inventive and unusual design.” Alexey Pajitnov, Tetris Creator Interview with Edge Magazine Tozai Games and Lode Runner are trademarks of Tozai, Inc. registered or protected in the US and other countries. Lode Runner is protected under US and international copyright laws ©1983-2017 Tozai, Inc. All rights reserved.
Gold Hunter
Collect gold treasures across 150 challenging levels while evading enemies. Utilize ladders, bars, and a weapon to break bricks and progress. Enjoy a game with no time limits and no fall damage.
- 150 challenging levels
- Treasure collection gameplay
- Enemy evasion mechanics
- Ladder and bar navigation
- Brick-breaking weapon
- Game Center support
- One-finger swipe controls
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*** DESCRIPTION *** Gold Hunter is it an outstanding game, where gold treasures need to be collected in 150 levels. Up to 5 enemies try to make it hard for you. You can run, use the ladders, climb along the bars and collect treasures. As soon as you have collected all the boxes and up until now invisible ladders can appear. If you have reached the most upper line of the screen, you will get into the next level. You cannot jump, but you carry a weapon with you, with which you can dissolve the bricks for a certain time. No matter how far you will fall, you cannot get hurt. There is no time limit but the guards which reappear after their death keep you busy. *** FEATURES *** - 150 interesting levels - Game Center support - Easy Swipe Control - just one finger
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Gold Hunter at 100% against Lode Runner Classic's 52%. Gold Hunter also leads on price (Free vs $2.99) and rating (5.0 vs 3.9). Lode Runner Classic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ratings volume (34 vs 1). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Gold Hunter is free to download; Lode Runner Classic costs $2.99 up front. Gold Hunter sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Lode Runner Classic asks for nothing beyond the download.
Gold Hunter holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lode Runner Classic has 34 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Lode Runner Classic's written reviews are positive against 100% of Gold Hunter's.
Lode Runner Classic ships an update every 5 weeks, Gold Hunter every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lode Runner Classic | Gold Hunter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (34 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 34 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 47 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tozai, Inc. | Eremenko Aleksey |
Customer experience
Lode Runner Classic
Gold Hunter
In-app purchases
Lode Runner Classic
No in-app purchases
Gold Hunter
- 10.000 coins$0.99
- 10 lives$0.99
- 50.000 coins$2.99
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- 50 lives$2.99
- 100 lives$4.99
- 100.000 coins$4.99
- 999.999 coins$9.99
Questions
Is Lode Runner Classic free?
Is Gold Hunter free?
Which has better reviews, Lode Runner Classic or Gold Hunter?
Do Lode Runner Classic or Gold Hunter have ads?
Which is updated more often, Lode Runner Classic or Gold Hunter?
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