Comparison

Lode Runner Classic vs Gold Hunter

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 150 classic levels
  • Two game modes
  • Screen magnification
  • Adjustable play speed
  • Customizable color palettes
  • Worldwide leaderboards
Features
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 150 challenging levels
  • Treasure collection gameplay
  • Enemy evasion mechanics
  • Ladder and bar navigation
  • Brick-breaking weapon
  • Game Center support
  • One-finger swipe controls
Features
Read full description

*** 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

Lode Runner Classic4 screens
Gold Hunter3 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Lode Runner Classic versus Gold Hunter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLode Runner ClassicGold Hunter
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (34 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews52.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings34 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTozai, Inc.Eremenko Aleksey

Customer experience

Lode Runner Classic

All ratings34 ratings
Positive67.6%
Neutral5.9%
Negative26.5%
Written reviews128 reviews
Positive52.3%
Neutral10.9%
Negative36.7%

Gold Hunter

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Lode Runner Classic

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Gold Hunter

One-time7
  • 10.000 coins$0.99
  • 10 lives$0.99
  • 50.000 coins$2.99
Show 4 more
  • 50 lives$2.99
  • 100 lives$4.99
  • 100.000 coins$4.99
  • 999.999 coins$9.99

Questions

Is Lode Runner Classic free?
Lode Runner Classic costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gold Hunter free?
Gold Hunter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lode Runner Classic or Gold Hunter?
Gold Hunter is rated higher. Lode Runner Classic averages 3.9 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while Gold Hunter averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Lode Runner Classic or Gold Hunter have ads?
Neither Lode Runner Classic nor Gold Hunter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lode Runner Classic or Gold Hunter?
Lode Runner Classic ships an update every 5 weeks, and Gold Hunter every 3 months. Most recently, Lode Runner Classic was updated on October 14, 2026 and Gold Hunter on October 5, 2026.

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