Classic Games

Lemmings

Let's go!

DMA Design's 1991 puzzle phenomenon challenged players to save suicidal rodents through clever skill assignment.

AmigaC64SpectrumNES puzzleessentialdma-design 1991–2024

Overview

Lemmings began as a technical demo. DMA Design programmer Mike Dailly animated tiny figures marching mindlessly forward. Russell Kay suggested making them the game. The result—guiding oblivious lemmings to safety through skill assignment—became one of gaming’s most ported and beloved titles.

Fast facts

  • Developer: DMA Design (Dundee, Scotland).
  • Publisher: Psygnosis.
  • Release: February 1991 (Amiga).
  • Designers: Mike Dailly, Russell Kay, Gary Timmons, David Jones.
  • Concept: lemmings walk forward; assign skills to guide them to exit.
  • Levels: 120 across four difficulty ratings.
  • Sound: “Let’s go!” became iconic.
  • Ports: virtually every platform capable of running it.

The skills

Eight assignable abilities:

  • Climber: walk up vertical walls.
  • Floater: deploy umbrella, survive falls.
  • Bomber: countdown to explosion (clears obstacles).
  • Blocker: stop lemmings, redirect traffic.
  • Builder: construct diagonal staircases.
  • Basher: dig horizontally.
  • Miner: dig diagonally down.
  • Digger: dig straight down.

The challenge

Lemmings escalated cleverly:

Fun: introduction, generous margins. Tricky: timing matters, some planning required. Taxing: precise execution needed. Mayhem: pixel-perfect, every lemming counts.

Later levels required saving 99/100 lemmings with limited skills.

The sound

Brian Johnston and Tim Wright’s audio defined the experience:

  • Classical music adaptations (Can-Can, etc.).
  • “Let’s go!” at level start.
  • “Oh no!” when lemmings died.
  • Celebratory music at completion.

Platform ubiquity

Lemmings appeared everywhere:

  • Amiga: original, definitive version.
  • PC: widespread DOS version.
  • Console: NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy.
  • 8-bit: C64, Spectrum versions impressive.
  • Everything else: if it had a screen, Lemmings probably ran on it.

The DMA legacy

DMA Design continued innovating:

  • Sequels (Oh No! More Lemmings, Lemmings 2).
  • Different genres (Body Harvest).
  • Eventually became Rockstar North.
  • Created Grand Theft Auto.

From saving lemmings to stealing cars.

Legacy

Lemmings proved puzzle games could be phenomena. The combination of simple concept, escalating challenge, and irresistible charm created something universal. The lemmings themselves—green-haired, marching forward regardless—became gaming icons.

See also