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Boulder Dash
Boulder Dash is a 1990 action game developed by SAS Sakata for the NES. Players control a cave explorer navigating underground caverns filled with diamonds and falling rocks. The core mechanic involves digging through soil blocks to collect diamonds while avoiding or pushing aside rolling boulders that kill on contact. Each level presents a puzzle-like challenge requiring precise timing and spatial awareness. The game features single-player and two-player modes for competitive or cooperative play. Controls are straightforward—directional movement and a dig button—making it accessible but challenging to master. Levels increase in difficulty and require players to carefully plan routes to collect enough diamonds within time limits. Boulder Dash brought a proven arcade formula to the NES with vibrant pixel graphics and fast-paced action that challenges players.
- Developer
- SAS Sakata
- Released
- 1990
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 (1K)
- Last updated
Boulder Dash Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Boulder Dash on our in-browser NES emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | A | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | B | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| Enter | Start | Start / Pause |
| Shift | Select | Select / Mode |
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Boulder Dash Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Boulder Dash on NES before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Boulder Dash" NES longplay 1990
Boulder Dash Cheat Codes
24 community-curated cheats for Boulder Dash. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
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Infinite lives
SLEZXTVI0077:03SZEZXTVI+1 -
1 life
PAKIELLA -
6 lives
TAKIELLA -
9 lives
PAKIELLE -
1 life after continue
PEOXEYLA -
6 lives after continue
TEOXEYLA -
9 lives after continue
PEOXEYLE -
Speed up timer
YOSGXNYU -
Slow down timer
NNSGXNYU -
Stop timer
SXSGSYAX -
Infinite Time
00B1:09 -
Exit Always Open
0090:01
Show 12 more cheats Show fewer
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Everything is Frozen
00FE:00 -
Move anywhere
0091:11 -
Colour Modifier (Main Character)
0088:00 -
Crystals Remaining Modifier (One's Digit)
00AE:00 -
Crystals Remaining Modifier (Ten's Digit)
00AF:00 -
Crystals Remaining Modifier (Hundred's Digit)
00B0:00 -
Infinite Time (One's Digit)
00B1:09 -
Infinite Time (Ten's Digit)
00B2:09 -
Infinite Time (Hundred's Digit)
00B3:09 -
Invincibility
IKEKYOYX+AVKKPLSZ+AAEGLTPA -
Get One Diamond To Open Exit
AEUGVGIZ -
Skip Intro Screen
AAVZITIA
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Boulder Dash released?
Boulder Dash was released in 1990 for the NES.
Who developed Boulder Dash?
Boulder Dash was developed by SAS Sakata, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Boulder Dash support?
Boulder Dash supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the NES.
What type of game is Boulder Dash?
Boulder Dash is a Action game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Boulder Dash for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Boulder Dash runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Boulder Dash in the browser?
No. Boulder Dash streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Boulder Dash?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original NES cartridge supported.
Does Boulder Dash work on mobile devices?
Yes — the NES emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Boulder Dash this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Boulder Dash. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
