Head Over Heels
Head Over Heels is a 1987 puzzle game developed by Ocean Software, an isometric arcade adventure for home computers of the era created by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond. Players control two characters, Head and Heels, who each have distinct abilities and who begin the game separated, needing to be reunited so they can join together and combine their powers to overthrow an oppressive empire across several planets.
Head can jump high and fire doughnuts to freeze enemies, while Heels moves quickly and can carry items, so progress requires switching between them, solving spatial puzzles, and reuniting them to reach otherwise impossible areas as a single combined figure. The clever cooperative-single-player design, detailed isometric world, and interlocking rooms set it apart from its peers and earned lasting praise.
Head Over Heels is regarded as one of the finest isometric games of the 8-bit era. The original remains accessible through emulation and retro re-releases, including fan remakes, for fans of thoughtful puzzle-platforming.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Head Over Heels, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death Squared Indie | € 9,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Lumo Indie | € 4,15 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| It Takes Two | € 39,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Unravel Two | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
Death Squared Indie
€ 9,99An indie cooperative puzzle game about coordinating characters with different roles across tricky rooms.
Death Squared runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Lumo Indie
€ 4,15An isometric room-by-room adventure made as an explicit tribute to Head Over Heels and its contemporaries.
Lumo runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
It Takes Two
€ 39,99Co-op built entirely on two characters with complementary abilities solving rooms together.
It Takes Two runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Unravel Two
€ 19,99A cooperative puzzle-platformer where two linked characters solve environmental challenges together.
Unravel Two runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
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