Lode Runner 3-D
Lode Runner 3-D — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Lode Runner 3-D on?
- Lode Runner 3-D was released on Nintendo 64.
- When did Lode Runner 3-D release?
- Lode Runner 3-D was first released on March 26, 1999.
About Lode Runner 3-D
The game mechanics are similar to the original; you outrun 'monsters' by using alternate routes, sliding on ropes, climbing ladders or drilling holes in the ground to trap them. This game differs from the other incarnations of games from the series because of its apparent three-dimensional perspective. While essentially running in 2-dimensional space, the player has an option to move in another direction every so often. The levels are mostly spirals that require climbing to complete. There are five worlds and each one must be unlocked by finding five cards from the previous world excluding the first. Each world is divided into five stages with each stage divided into four levels. The general goal of each level is to collect a certain amount of gold to activate a portal that allows the player to continue. As the player progresses, each world adds new interactive objects and tools as well as new obstacles.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Nintendo 64
- Developer
- Big Bang
- Publisher
- Banpresto
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Collector value & authenticity
Nintendo 64 · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-22
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAL release | $18 | $59 | $221 |
| Japanese release (Lode Runner 3-D) | $12 | $40 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a week
- Complete: about once a month
- Sealed: about once a month
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-22.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $3.75 in Jan 2007, $11.95 five years ago, and $15.06 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2007 | $3.75 | — |
| Jan 2008 | $1.03 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $3.31 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $0.99 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $0.75 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $2.68 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $2.27 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.39 | $8.54 |
| Jan 2015 | $3.99 | $15.00 |
| Jan 2016 | $6.96 | $18.35 |
| Jan 2017 | $6.00 | $13.00 |
| Jan 2018 | $9.50 | $18.54 |
| Jan 2019 | $8.65 | $20 |
| Jan 2020 | $8.68 | $20 |
| Jan 2021 | $9.53 | $23 |
| Jan 2022 | $15.00 | $44 |
| Jan 2023 | $15.09 | $41 |
| Jan 2024 | $15.35 | $58 |
| Jan 2025 | $18.01 | $47 |
| Jan 2026 | $13.59 | $39 |
| Oct 2026 | $15.06 | $49 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Cartridge serial | Known board |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | 30 March 1999 | NUS-NLRE-USA | NUS-01A-02 |
| Europe / PAL | 1999 | NUS-NLRP-EUR / NUS-NLRP-FRA | — |
| Japan | 30 July 1999 | NUS-NLRJ-JPN | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1999
- Authenticity
- Low
A solid 3D update of a classic puzzle-platformer, and a cheap cart for anyone who likes to dig.
Lode Runner 3-D is the first 3D game in the Lode Runner series. Big Bang developed it, Infogrames published it in North America, where it arrived in March 1999, and in Europe, and Banpresto released it in Japan in July 1999.
GameFan's July 1999 issue, while covering the game's later PlayStation conversion, described the N64 original as a hit.
What the press said at the time
| Famitsu | 6/10 | |
| GamePro | 4/5 | |
| GameRevolution | C− | |
| GameSpot | 6.2/10 | |
| Hyper | 55/100 | |
| IGN | 7/10 | |
| Official Nintendo Magazine | 84% | |
| N64 Magazine | 70% | |
| Nintendo Power | 7.7/10 | |
| The Cincinnati Enquirer | 2.5/4 | |
| Gamers' Republic | B− |
“Captivating in bursts, Lode Runner 3D is a well thought-out classic puzzler that seems sweetly outdated rather than clumsily old-school.”
Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Nintendo 64 version.
Before you buy
The US cartridge sits below the library median and the fake risk is low. PAL copies cost a little more and Japanese copies a little less, and both are separate releases. A complete copy costs about three times the loose price, and sealed copies sell for noticeably more again.
Lode Runner 3-D screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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