Arcade Video game published 40 years ago:

Spelunker (c) 1986 Irem Corp.

In Spelunker - which means 'cave-diver' - a caver has to work his way down through a number of multi-directionally scrolling caves - each one deeper underground than the last - in his bid to find the mythical 'World of Wonders'. To do this, the spelunker must find the exit to each cave, so he can move on to the next and get closer to his goal.

Spelunker is a platform game, and each tricky cave is filled with enemies - such as bats and ogres - and traps. Ladders, ropes, lifts and the obligatory minecarts must be used to reach other platforms and sections of the cave.

To aid him in his difficult quest, the Spelunker carries a gun and can shoot short-range fireballs at his enemies to stun or kill them. Numerous bonus items can be collected, such as bombs to destroy any rocks block his route, keys to open locked doors and potions to boost the caver's ever-decreasing energy meter. Treasure chests also litter each cave, and can be opened for bonus treasure items.

- TECHNICAL -

Irem M-62 system hardware

Main CPU: Zilog Z80 (@ 4 Mhz) Sound CPU: Motorola M6803 (@ 894.886 Khz) Sound Chips: (2x) General Instrument AY8910 (@ 894.886 Khz), (2x) MSM5205 (@ 384 Khz)

Screen orientation: Horizontal Video resolution: 384 x 256 pixels Screen refresh: 55.00 Hz Palette colors: 512

Players: 2 Control: 8-way joystick Buttons: 2

- TRIVIA -

Released in February 1986 by Irem, under license from Broderbund.

Originally released in 1984 by Broderbund Software for the Commodore C64 computer, this arcade version is based on the Famicom version released in 1985, with many changes.

- STAFF -

Designed and programmed by: Tim Martin

Player layout in our catalog: 2P alt.

If you are exploring by feel rather than by title, jump from the tags above into the matching genre rooms, or return to the Arcade hall for the full wall.

Open Play on this page to start Spelunker. Keyboard, USB/Bluetooth pads, and the on-screen touch gamepad all work inside the emulator bar. Save states and fullscreen live on that same bar so you can pause mid-session and resume later.

Spelunker is filed in our catalog as a 1985 release.

Player layout on this cabinet: 2P alt.

Genre tags on Classic Arcade Games: Platform.

Credit line lists Irem (licensed from Broderbund) as developer.