Rick Dangerous
Rick Dangerous is a 1989 platformer developed by Core Design, an action-adventure with a tongue-in-cheek Indiana Jones flavour. Players guide the intrepid adventurer Rick through four hazard-filled settings, from a South American temple pursued by a giant boulder to Egyptian tombs, an enemy base, and a missile silo, armed with a pistol, sticks of dynamite, and a stick for stunning foes at close range.
The game was notorious for its trial-and-error design, packing each screen with hidden spikes, crushing blocks, falling traps, and enemies that could only be learned about by dying, demanding memorisation and precise timing to survive on limited lives. Its blend of cautious exploration, combat, and deadly puzzle traps made it a challenging but rewarding and often blackly comic staple of home computers.
Rick Dangerous became a well-loved title of its era and received a sequel that swapped whips and dynamite for futuristic weapons. The original remains accessible through emulation and retro collections for players who relish a stiff platforming challenge.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Rick Dangerous, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| La-Mulana 2 Indie | € 24,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Spelunky 2 Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Switch |
| Cave Story+ Indie | € 14,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Switch |
| Momodora: Moonlit Farewell Indie | € 16,49 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Switch |
La-Mulana 2 Indie
€ 24,99An indie trap-filled exploration platformer with the tough puzzle-and-death design of Rick Dangerous.
La-Mulana 2 runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Spelunky 2 Indie
€ 19,99An indie roguelike with deadly traps and treasure hunting echoing Rick Dangerous's adventuring.
Spelunky 2 runs on PC, PlayStation, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Xbox.
Cave Story+ Indie
€ 14,99A hand-made action platformer of secret rooms and lethal traps, endlessly imitated since.
Cave Story+ runs on PC, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell Indie
€ 16,49Tight 2D action platforming where learning each trap and enemy placement is the point.
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell runs on PC, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
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