Nintendo's mountain climbers platformer. Hammer mechanic against enemies and blocks, vertical ascent. Simple but effective, enjoyable in co-op. A foundational Nintendo classic.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer4 players3+
Description
Platformer in which two mountain climbers scale icy mountains using hammers. Published by Nintendo, released in Japan in 1984. Two characters in side-scrolling view scaling ice formations with their hammers and bosses and enemies to avoid. NES port of Nintendo's Ice Climber arcade.
Ice Climber review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Climbing a mountain by smashing the ice above you, hopping from platform to platform and snatching the vegetables at the top: the formula is simple, the challenge tasty. With two players, teamwork quickly turns to chaos as each accidentally gets in the other's way. Snappy, retro and fiercely convivial, a climbing classic that still makes you grit your teeth... with delight.
Original Famicom pressing from January 1984, the initial strike of a title whose heroes Popo and Nana lastingly entered the Nintendo pantheon through Smash Bros. The Japanese cartridge in the first wave's white shell stands apart from the countless later reissues and compilations through its original physical medium. Desirability rests on this founding-run status, sought in fine condition by purists of the early Famicom catalogue.
Is Ice Climber still worth playing in 2026?
A platformer from Nintendo, Ice Climber has two climbers scale icy mountains by smashing ice ceilings with a hammer, while dodging birds and seals. The vertical concept, the two player co op and the trap laden difficulty make it a home arcade classic, popular thanks to its presence in Super Smash Bros. The stiff jump handling has aged. For a fan of retro platforming or someone curious about Nintendo heritage, the title keeps a historical charm and a snappy challenge, especially in twos.
