Dig Dug

Dig Dug is a single-player or alternating two-player action game. The player controls a character tasked with eliminating underground monsters across a series of stages. Each level is a cross-section of dirt with tunnels dug in real time as the player moves. The two types of enemies encountered are Pookas, round red creatures wearing goggles, and Fygars, green fire-breathing dragons. Both pursue the player through tunnels, and after a few seconds of losing sight of the player, they can transform into ghostly forms to move through solid earth until they reach another tunnel.

To defeat enemies, the player carries an air pump that can be attached by pressing the action button. Pumping inflates the monster until it bursts, awarding points. Pumping can be interrupted, but partially inflated enemies will revert to normal and continue attacking. An alternative method of attack is luring enemies under large rocks scattered throughout each stage. Digging beneath these rocks can cause them to fall, crushing anything below, including the player. Rocks falling also open tunnels, and dropping multiple rocks in a stage grants bonus points.