Power Lode Runner is one of those late-era SNES games that slipped under the radar outside Japan. It’s got that classic Lode Runner puzzle-platforming vibe—digging holes, dodging enemies, grabbing gold—but with a few extra twists. The levels start simple, then suddenly you’re sweating over some ridiculous trap layout while those little robot dudes chase you down.

What’s cool is how it plays with the formula—some stages give you power-ups like speed boosts or temporary invincibility, which changes up the usual slow-and-methodical pace. The graphics are clean, almost minimalist, but the level design gets brutal fast. If you’ve played the older Lode Runner games, this one feels like a polished, slightly meaner version.

Shame it never made it overseas officially—it’s a solid hidden gem for puzzle fans who don’t mind a challenge.