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Retro Revival: Lemmings
Lemmings: The Puzzle Adventure
The epic game of survival!
Tiny, adorable, and incapable of surviving without your help, the risk-taking rodents of Lemmings wandered into gamers’ lives in 1991—and it was love at first sight.
No stacking blocks or wordy riddles in this puzzler. Instead you’ll guide a stream of green-haired creatures through danger-filled mazes. A precursor to the real-time strategy genre, Lemmings was an instant hit.
After several sequels and spin-offs, Lemmings has marched onto iPhone and iPad in a revamped version that’s as charming—and danger-prone—as ever. Here’s why helping the little critters out is still a brainteasing thrill.
Old-school cool
The basics are the same as the original: Anthropomorphic rodents drop into each level and keep roaming forward. Guide them to the exit by having them raise staircases, dig holes, or warp through tunnels. They’re pretty fragile, however. A fall from even a short height can spell doom, as can devious traps and other pitfalls.
The new version makes controlling your creatures a breeze. Are they nearing a high ledge? Place an umbrella to break their fall. Need to avoid an electric trap? Place a stop sign to keep them from walking right into it. Just be quick about it: The lemmings move slowly, but they never stop!
New to the game
Fans of the original may remember what a pain it was to select each lemming individually when assigning tasks. Lemmings’ new grid-based maps solve that! Now all a lemming has to do is wander into a square with a task and they’ll perform it, no questions asked.
And at long last, your pals can play dress-up! Save lots of lemmings to collect eggs that hatch into fantastic new characters (tap Tribes in the main menu to check them out). Before long your critter parade will be dotted with plant-like lemmings, drumming lemmings, maybe even a lemming shaped like an anvil.
Know before you go
Be careful when building long staircases! As one lemming constructs the steps, others will start climbing—even if there’s nothing to ascend yet. Plunk down an umbrella on the square under the highest step to keep the cuties safe.