Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary review: incredible value, but the modern twists can frustrate

Long before I knew who Mario was, I was digging tunnels in Boulder Dash on a rubber-keyed ZX Spectrum. It was the early 1980s, and the rules were simple: burrow through dirt, collect diamonds, don’t get flattened by falling rocks. It’s that clever, reactive, simple design that’s kept Boulder Dash alive for forty years, and why Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary is a retro game package worth a look, especially with this updated edition that includes a new ZX Spectrum look.

While Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary was released last year, this updated edition brings together remastered levels from the ZX Spectrum and Apple II versions, to complement the Atari 400/800 and C64 versions of Boulder Dash 1-3, along with new caves (levels) that stretch the game far beyond its 1980s roots. There are now 320 fresh caves to dig through. You also get a full cave editor for building your own levels and sharing, and it's been revamped for this new edition.

On paper, that’s a lot of Boulder Dash, and the update even includes UI tweaks and performance fixes. If you click with its uniquely retro mix of simple puzzle thinking and twitchy timing, the collection offers a lot of retro gaming. (Read our guide to the best retro game consoles, if you need more.)

Digging something old

The core loop is still brilliant. Every level feels like a moving puzzle; shift one block of dirt, and you may release a single rock, or trigger a chain reaction that turns the cave into chaos. Sometimes the smartest choice is to wait, letting the rubble settle. Other times, you have to take a bold risk and dash at exactly the right moment to escape the cascade and scoop the diamonds, collecting enough to open the exit. Everything is on a timer, and there’s a randomness, at least at first, that is unique to Boulder Dash.

When it works, it’s wonderful. You start spotting paths through the clutter of precarious boulders, nudging rocks just so, or setting up diamond drops with almost surgical precision. It gives the same thrill as arcade classics like Pac-Man or Dig Dug, simple rules, but acute strategy.

The anniversary edition trips up a little with its modern look. The new caves are brighter, busier, and packed with extra detail. It’s lively and colourful, but sometimes it’s harder to see what’s really happening. Boulder Dash has always demanded split-second judgment, knowing exactly when a rock will fall, or a route will open, and the extra visual noise can get in the way.

New hazards mix things up further. Spreading slime and growing walls change the cave as you play. They keep you on your toes and will probably thrill new players, but for anyone who grew up with the stripped-down logic of the originals, it can feel like the game is overthinking itself.

Speccy obsession

That difference is obvious when you drop back into the classic caves. The old visuals are blunt and obvious in design, and that’s why they work so well. Every tile has meaning, every colour warns, or signals opportunity, and nothing distracts from the puzzle. It could just be my nostalgic brain tripping over itself to replay old ZX Spectrum levels, but forty years on, that clarity still feels perfectly attuned.

Across classic and new caves, the controls are fine, though they can feel a little slippery on the analog stick (I’m reviewing on PlayStation 5). It’s okay on early stages, but when enemies appear, and the caves become split-second reaction tests to avoid Fireflies and Butterflies, it can feel frustrating.

Offering new ideas, extra content, and creative tools, as well as the classic caves, Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary offers a lot for the price, but how much you dig into it could be determined by how much you love the simplicity of retro games and your ability to overlook some issues. For fans, the sheer number of caves and the level editor make it an easy recommendation. For newcomers, it’s a curious blend of old-school logic and a little modern flair.