The sequel moves the action above ground on islands to collapse. Different concept from the first, more strategic. Less immediately accessible but worth attention for its singularity.
Your verdict
Category
Arcade1 player3+
Description
Sequel to Dig Dug in which the player drills tunnels on islands to drop rocks on enemies. Published by Namco, released in Japan in 1985. Top-down view with platform destruction to drop rocks onto enemies. Second Dig Dug on Famicom.
Namco Famicom pressing from 1986, the original Japanese version of the sequel that drops underground digging for an island terrain to crack apart. The Western variant came later and under different conditions, which makes the Japanese cartridge the source run of the concept. Its collecting interest rests on this Namco precedence and on Dig Dug's place in the publisher's arcade pantheon, sought by fans of Famicom ports faithful to the original.
Is Dig Dug II still worth playing in 2026?
A sequel to the Namco classic, Dig Dug II swaps underground tunnels for islands you crack by driving stakes, dropping whole sections of terrain and the enemies with them. This strategic-cutting mechanic refreshes the original concept with a real sense of risk and calculation. The presentation stays spare and the concept simple. A clever retro arcade curiosity, worth recommending to fans of puzzle-action of the Namco golden age and snappy scoring.
