View source for Dig Dug

{{short description|1982 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Dig Dug
| image = Dig Dug Flyer.png
| caption = North American arcade flyer
| developer = [[Namco]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP/EU|Namco|NA|[[Atari, Inc.]]<ref name="Retro"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Video Game Flyers: Dig Dug, Namco (Germany) |url=https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=6208 |website=The Arcade Flyer Archive |access-date=18 April 2021}}</ref>}}
| designer = Masahisa Ikegami<ref name="Szczepaniak201"/><br>Shigeru Yokoyama<ref name="galaga"/>
| programmer = Shouichi Fukatani<br>Toshio Sakai<ref name="Szczepaniak201"/>
| composer = Yuriko Keino
| artist = [[Hiroshi Ono (artist)|Hiroshi Ono]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/former-namco-pixel-artist-hiroshi-mr-dotman-ono-has-died/|title=Former Namco Pixel Artist Hiroshi 'Mr. Dotman' Ono Has Died|website=[[Siliconera]]|date=October 17, 2021|access-date=October 17, 2021|last=Kiya|first=Andrew}}</ref>
| series = ''Dig Dug''
| platforms = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[Arcade video game|Arcade]]}}|[[Sord M5]], [[Atari 2600]], [[Atari 5200]], [[TI-99/4A]], [[PC-6000 series|PC-6000]], [[PV-1000]], [[Sharp X1]], [[VIC-20]], [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit]], [[Apple II]], [[Commodore 64]], [[IBM PC]], [[PC-8800 series|PC-88]], [[FM-7]], [[MSX]], [[Sharp MZ|MZ-1500]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]], [[Atari 7800]], [[Intellivision]], [[Famicom Disk System]], [[Game Boy]], [[X68000]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[mobile phone]]}}
| release = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|March 1982}}|'''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|March 1982<ref name="Copyright"/><ref name="japandate"/>|EU|April 19, 1982|NA|April 1982}} '''2600, 5200'''{{vgrelease||October 1983}} '''TI-99/4A'''{{vgrelease||December 1983}} '''PC-6000, PV-1000'''{{vgrelease|JP|1983}} '''Atari 8-bit, Apple II, C64, IBM PC'''{{vgrelease||December 1984}} '''FM-7, MSX'''{{vgrelease|JP|1984}} '''Famicom'''{{vgrelease|JP|June 4, 1985}} '''7800'''{{vgrelease||May 15, 1986}} '''Intellivision'''{{vgrelease||July 1987}} '''Famicom Disk System'''{{vgrelease|JP|July 20, 1990}} '''Game Boy'''{{vgrelease|NA|September 1992|EU|1992}} '''X68000'''{{vgrelease|JP|February 24, 1995}} '''Game Boy Advance'''{{vgrelease|JP|June 21, 2004}}
}}
| genre = [[Maze video games|Maze]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| arcade system = [[Namco Galaga]]
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Dig Dug'''''|ディグダグ|Digu Dagu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1982 [[maze video game]] developed and published by [[Namco]] for Japanese and European [[arcade video game|arcades]]; it was distributed by [[Atari, Inc.]] in North America. The player digs underground tunnels to attack enemies in each level, by either inflating them to bursting or crushing them underneath rocks.

''Dig Dug'' was planned and designed by Masahisa Ikegami with help from ''[[Galaga]]'' creator Shigeru Yokoyama. It was programmed for the [[Namco Galaga]] arcade board by Shouichi Fukatani, who worked on many of Namco's earlier arcade games, along with Toshio Sakai. Music was composed by Yuriko Keino, including the character movement jingle at executives' request, as her first Namco game. Namco heavily marketed it as a "strategic digging game".

Upon release, ''Dig Dug'' was well received by critics for its addictive gameplay, cute characters, and strategy. During the [[golden age of arcade video games]], it was globally successful, including as the second highest-grossing arcade game of 1982 in Japan. It prompted a long series of sequels and spin-offs, including the ''[[Mr. Driller]]'' series, for several platforms. It is in many [[List of Bandai Namco video game compilations|Namco video game compilations]] for many systems.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Digdug.png|upright=2|left|thumb|Arcade version screenshot]]
''Dig Dug'' is a maze video game where the player controls the titular protagonist, Dig Dug (Taizo Hori), to eliminate each stage's enemies: [[Púca|Pookas]], red and spherical beings that wear comically large [[goggles]]; and the [[Dragon|draconic]] Fygars, which breathe fire. Dig Dug can use an [[air pump]] to inflate them until they explode or crush them to death under falling rocks. When the air pump is activated, Dig Dug will stop moving and throw the end of the air pump forwards, where it may catch onto an enemy. If an enemy is hit, they are frozen in place and the player can repeatedly press the air pump's button to inflate them. If no action is taken for a while or the player moves, the air pump disconnects and the action is cancelled, but the enemy will begin to deflate and will be stunned until fully deflated. Rocks are unable to be dug through but will fall after a short period of time after the tile directly beneath them is removed by Dig Dug and he moves from the position, though he can still be crushed. Falling rocks are destroyed once they land on a tile. Bonus points are awarded for squashing multiple enemies with a single rock and dropping any pair of rocks in a stage yields a bonus item, which can be eaten for points. Once all the enemies have been defeated, Dig Dug progresses to the next stage.<ref name="FC manual2">{{cite book |url=http://www.videogameden.com/fc/extra/dig.pdf |title=Dig Dug instruction manual (FC) |date=1985 |publisher=Namco |pages=9}}</ref>

Enemies can move through tiles, where they are represented in the form of ghostly eyes, and are invulnerable, slowed and unable to attack, and will then return to being solid once in an empty space, whether that space is their destination or is along the way. The enemies can either do this to reach Dig Dug when they would otherwise be unable to or to escape from the stage as the last enemy. As enemies are defeated, the enemies eventually become faster and more aggressive, until the last one then attempts to escape on either side of the screen at the top of the stage. To escape, enemies will move straight up through any tiles before walking towards the nearest screen edge on the surface.

The game has 255 stages. Later stages vary in dirt color, while increasing the number and speed of enemies.<ref name="FC manual2" /> Lives are lost upon touching a foe, Fygar's fire or getting squished by a falling rock, but players are given extra lives during the game. At round 256, the game experiences an 8-bit [[integer overflow]] bug and attempts to instead load round 0. Doing so causes level generation to misbehave, and the game spawns a Pooka inescapably on top of Dig Dug, draining the player of all their lives and ultimately ending the run. This [[kill screen]] is the ending of Dig Dug in most versions of the game, but a later Atari release patched this bug and instead allows infinite play.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTybdIhd55c |title=The Dig Dug Kill Screen - Classic Game Autopsy |date=2017-07-18 |last=Sharopolis |access-date=2025-07-08 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Development==
''Dig Dug'' was planned and designed in 1981 by Masahisa Ikegami,<ref name="Szczepaniak201">{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers |date=November 2015 |publisher=S.M.G Szczepaniak |isbn=978-1518818745 |volume=2 |edition=First |page=201}}</ref> with help from Shigeru Yokoyama, creator of ''[[Galaga]]''.<ref name="galaga">{{cite web |author=Namco Bandai Games |title=Galaga - 30th Anniversary Developer Interview |url=http://shmuplations.com/galaga/ |website=Galaga WEB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606111333/http://shmuplations.com/galaga/ |archive-date=6 June 2019 |date=2011 |access-date=13 July 2019|author-link=Namco Bandai Games}}</ref> The game was programmed for the [[List of Namco games#Namco proprietary arcade systems|Namco Galaga]] arcade system board by Shigeichi Ishimura, a Namco hardware engineer, and the late Shouichi Fukatani,<ref name="Szczepaniak">{{cite book |last1=Szczepaniak |first1=John |title=The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers |date=11 August 2014 |isbn=978-0992926007 |pages=363 |publisher=SMG Szczepaniak |edition=First |url=https://archive.org/details/TheUntoldHistoryOfJapaneseGameDevelopersVol.2JohnSzczepaniak/page/n361?q=cutie+q |access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref> along with Toshio Sakai.<ref name="Szczepaniak201"/> Other staff members were primarily colleagues of Shigeru Yokoyama.<ref name="galaga"/> Yuriko Keino composed the soundtrack, as her first video game project. Tasked with making ''Dig Dug''{{'}}s movement sound, she could not make a realistic stepping sound, so she instead made a short melody.<ref>{{cite news |title=『ディグダグ』の音楽はBGMでなく歩行音。慶野由利子さんが語る80年代ナムコのゲームサウンド（動画あり）- ライブドアニュース |url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/5808176/ |access-date=11 May 2019 |work=[[Livedoor|Livedoor News]] |date=24 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222103427/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/5808176/ |archive-date=22 December 2015 |language=ja}}</ref> [[Hiroshi Ono (artist)|Hiroshi "Mr. Dotman" Ono]], a [[Namco]] graphic artist, designed the sprites.

The team hoped to allow player-designed mazes which could prompt unique gameplay mechanics, contrasting with the pre-set maze exploration in ''[[Pac-Man]]'' (1980). Namco's marketing materials prominently referred to ''Dig Dug'' as a "strategic digging game".<ref>{{cite news |title=OLD ゲーム - ディグダグ |url=https://archive.org/details/Gamest004198611/page/n58?q=%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%82%B0%E3%83%80%E3%82%B0 |access-date=19 August 2019 |agency=[[Gamest]] |date=November 1986 |page=58}}</ref>

==Release==
''Dig Dug'' was released in Japan by Namco in March 1982,<ref name="Copyright">{{cite web |title=Dig Dug (Registration Number PA0000133618) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=[[United States Copyright Office]] |access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref><ref name="japandate">{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005) |date=October 13, 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |lang=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |pages=52 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n53/mode/2up}}</ref> followed by North America in April by [[Atari, Inc.]] (as part of the licensing deal with Namco),<ref name="Akagi">{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |page=111 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n112}}</ref><ref name="cashbox">{{cite magazine |title=Manufacturers Equipment |magazine=[[Cash Box]] |date=5 February 1983 |page=35 |url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox44unse_33/page/n34  |location=United States}}</ref> and in Europe on April 19 by Namco.<ref name="Retro">{{cite magazine|title=Retrodiary: 1&nbsp;April – 28&nbsp;April |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]  |location=Bournemouth, England |issue=88 |date=April 2011 |page=17 |issn=1742-3155 |oclc=489477015 |url=https://archive.org/details/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_088/page/16/mode/2up}}</ref>

The first home versions of ''Dig Dug'' were developed and published by Atari for its [[Atari 2600]] and [[Atari 5200]] consoles and released in October 1983.<ref>{{cite news |title=Availability Update |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/986f042e-b8fd-4c7a-94fd-d86c3065e39c |work=[[Computer Entertainer|The Video Game Update]] |volume=2 |issue=8 |date=November 1983 |page=16}}</ref> Further versions were released for the [[TI-99/4A]] (December 1983),<ref>{{cite news |title=Availability Update |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/1010e54e-fbe1-47aa-aca5-f043cf2153a4 |work=[[Computer Entertainer|The Video Game Update]] |volume=2 |issue=9 |date=December 1983 |page=16}}</ref> [[Atari 8-bit computers]], [[Commodore 64]], [[IBM PC]] and [[Apple II]] (December 1984).<ref>{{cite news |title=Availability Update |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/613de5d8-64f3-4f94-850d-dfd543e84633 |work=[[Computer Entertainer]] |volume=2 |issue=8 |date=January 1985}}</ref> A version for the [[Atari 7800]] was announced in 1984,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Davidson |first=Steve |date=September 1984 |title=Introducing the Atari 7800 |url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Games_Volume_02_Number_14_1984-09_Reese_Communications_US/page/n27/mode/2up |magazine=[[Electronic Games]] |publisher=Reese Communications |volume=2 |issue=14 |pages=28, 29}}</ref> but was delayed along with the console itself due to changes in Atari management; it would eventually be released by [[Atari Corporation]] on May 15, 1986.<ref>{{cite web |title=Atari Corp. Dealer Price List Fall 1986 |url=https://www.atarimania.com/documents/the-new-atari-dealer-package-fall-1986.pdf |website=AtariMania |page=11}}</ref> A similar port for the [[Intellivision]] was also delayed before being released in July 1987.<ref>{{cite news |title=Availability Update |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/502ba7b2-7790-48df-a2c2-9229d07514e6 |work=[[Computer Entertainer]] |volume=6 |issue=5 |date=August 1987 |page=14}}</ref>

In Japan, it was released for the [[PV-1000]] in 1983,{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} the [[MSX]] in 1984,{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} and the [[Famicom]] on June 4, 1985.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/schedule/recent/fc/|title=All Famicom games sorted from the latest release to the earliest|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|archive-date=October 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015061257/https://www.famitsu.com/schedule/recent/fc/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Gakken]] released a handheld LCD tabletop game in 1983, which replaced Dig Dug's air pump with a flamethrower to accommodate hardware limitations.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}} A version for the [[Famicom Disk System]], based on the 1985 Famicom version of the game, was released on July 20, 1990.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAMILY COMPUTER Software List 1990 |url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTC1_FC1990.html |website=GAME Data Room |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827210607/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTC1_FC1990.html |archive-date=August 27, 2018 |language=ja}}</ref> Namco released a [[Game Boy]] version in North America and Europe in September 1992,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/dmg_games.pdf |publisher=Nintendo of America |title=Game Boy (original) Games |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402190758/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/dmg_games.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2016 }}</ref> with a new game mode called "New Dig Dug", in which the player must collect keys to open an exit door. The Game Boy version was later included in the 1996 Japan-only compilation ''Namco Gallery Vol. 2'', which also includes ''[[Galaxian]]'', ''[[The Tower of Druaga]]'', and ''Famista 4''.<ref name="HG101"/> A Japanese [[X68000]] version was developed by Dempa and released on February 24, 1995,<ref>{{cite web|last=Matsubara|first=Keigo|url=http://vgsearch.info/list/x68_all2.htm|title=X680x0ソフトリスト963タイトル|publisher=Video Game Search|date=2019|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415093707/http://vgsearch.info/list/x68_all2.htm|archive-date=15 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> bundled with ''[[Dig Dug II]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Masuda |first1=Atsushi |title=『ディグダグ』 パソコン版とアーケード版の"差"に増田少年愕然！ |url=https://akiba-pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/column/masudaretro/1032200.html |website=AKIBA PC-Watch |access-date=19 November 2016}}</ref> On June 21, 2004, the Famicom version was re-released in Japan for the [[Game Boy Advance]] as part of the ''[[Famicom Mini]]'' series.<ref name="HG101"/>

''Dig Dug'' is a mainstay in [[List of Bandai Namco video game compilations|Namco video game compilations]], including ''Namco Museum Vol. 3'' (1996), ''Namco History Vol. 3'' (1998), ''Namco Museum 64'' (1999),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fielder |first1=Joe |title=Namco Museum 64 Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/namco-museum-64-review/1900-2544859/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512172203/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/namco-museum-64-review/1900-2544859/ |archive-date=12 May 2019 |date=28 April 2000}}</ref> ''Namco Museum 50th Anniversary'' (2005),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aaron |first1=Sean |title=Namco Museum: 50th Anniversary Review (GCN) |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/09/namco_museum_50th_anniversary_retro |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926100735/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/09/namco_museum_50th_anniversary_retro |archive-date=26 September 2017 |date=3 September 2009}}</ref> ''[[Namco Museum Remix]]'' (2007),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Aaron |first1=Sean |title=Namco Museum Remix Review (Wii) |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429204017/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/07/namco_museum_remix_wii |archive-date=29 April 2019 |date=12 July 2009}}</ref> ''[[Namco Museum Essentials]]'' (2009),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roper |first1=Chris |title=Namco Museum Essentials Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/21/namco-museum-essentials-review |publisher=[[IGN]] |access-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429211839/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/07/21/namco-museum-essentials-review |archive-date=29 April 2019 |date=21 July 2009}}</ref> and ''Namco Museum Switch'' (2017).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Thomas |title=Bandai Namco Confirms July Release for Namco Museum on Nintendo Switch |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/06/bandai_namco_confirms_july_release_for_namco_museum_on_nintendo_switch |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |access-date=1 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228055847/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/06/bandai_namco_confirms_july_release_for_namco_museum_on_nintendo_switch |archive-date=28 December 2018 |date=29 June 2017}}</ref> The game was released online on [[Xbox Live Arcade]] in 2006, with support online leaderboards and achievements.<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |last1=Brudvig |first1=Erik |title=Dig Dug Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/11/dig-dug-review-2 |website=IGN |date=October 11, 2006 |access-date=11 October 2006}}</ref> It is part of ''[[Namco Museum Virtual Arcade]]'', and was added to the [[Xbox One]]'s backward compatibility lineup in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/05/05/another-five-games-bring-weekly-xbox-one-backward-compatibility-total-to-ten.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507182827/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/05/05/another-five-games-bring-weekly-xbox-one-backward-compatibility-total-to-ten.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=May 7, 2016|title=Another Five Games Bring Weekly Xbox One Backward Compatibility Total To Ten|website=Game Informer|access-date=2016-05-07}}</ref> A version for the Japanese [[Virtual Console#Wii|Wii Virtual Console]] was released in 2009.<ref>{{cite book |title=Side-BN issue 53 |date=5 November 2009 |publisher=Namco Bandai Games, Inc. |page=21  |url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/cs/side_876/backnumber/pdf53/Side-BN12-21.pdf}}</ref> ''Dig Dug'' is a bonus game in ''[[Pac-Man Party]]'', alongside the arcade versions of ''[[Pac-Man]]'' and ''Galaga''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hernandez |first1=Pedro |title=Pac-Man Party Review |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/24505/pac-man-party-wii |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=3 December 2010}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Allgame = 5/5 (Arcade)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Brett Alan |title=Dig Dug - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=408&tab=review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114160652/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=408&tab=review |website=[[AllGame]] |archive-date=2014-11-14 |access-date=22 April 2021}}</ref> <br> 4/5 (NES)<ref name="Allgame">{{cite web |last1=Baize |first1=Anthony |title=Dig Dug - Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9416&tab=review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115110228/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9416&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 November 2014 |website=AllGame |access-date=15 November 2014}}</ref>
| EuroG = 8/10 (Arcade)<ref name="Eurogamer Retrospect">{{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Dig Dug |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/dig-dug-review |website=Eurogamer |date=October 25, 2007 |access-date=25 October 2007}}</ref><br>6/10 (XBLA)<ref name="Eurogamer X360">{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Kristan |title=Dig Dug |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_digdug_x360 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=19 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819002432/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_digdug_x360 |archive-date=19 August 2019 |date=16 October 2006}}</ref>
| GSpot = 6/10 (XBLA)<ref name="GameSpot Review">{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Ryan |title=Dig Dug Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dig-dug-review/1900-6159707/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=25 June 2007}}</ref>
| IGN = 7/10 (XBLA)<ref name="IGN"/>
| rev1 = ''Computer Games''
| rev1Score = A (Atari 5200)<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Dimetrosky |first1=Ray |title=Reviews: Video Game Buyer's Guide |magazine=Computer Games |date=April 1984 |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=60–2 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Games_Vol_3_No_1_1984-04_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n59/mode/2up}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Electronic Fun with Computers & Games]]''
| rev2Score = 3.5/4 (Atari 8-bit)<ref name="EFun"/>
}}

''Dig Dug'' was a critical and commercial success upon release, and was praised for its gameplay and layered strategy.<ref name="Eurogamer Retrospect"/> In Japan, it was the [[1982 in video games|second highest-grossing arcade game of 1982]], behind Namco's own ''[[Pole Position]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title="Pole Position" No. 1 Video Game: ''Game Machine''{{'}}s "The Year's Best Three AM Machines" Survey Results|magazine=[[:ja:ゲームマシン|Game Machine]]|issue=207|publisher=[[:ja:アミューズメント通信社|Amusement Press, Inc.]]|date=1 March 1983|page=30|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19830301p.pdf#page=16}}</ref> In North America, Atari sold 22,228 ''Dig Dug'' [[arcade cabinet]]s by the end of 1982, earning {{US$|46300000|long=no|1982|round=-6}} in sales.<ref>{{cite web|title=Atari Production Numbers Memo |url=http://www.atarigames.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47:atari-production-numbers-memo&catid=5:atari-inter-office-memos&Itemid=5 |publisher=[[Atari Games]] |access-date=18 March 2012 |date=4 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120084806/http://www.atarigames.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47%3Aatari-production-numbers-memo&catid=5%3Aatari-inter-office-memos&Itemid=5 |archive-date=20 January 2013}}</ref> Around July 1983, it was one of the six top-grossing games.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fujihara |first1=Mary |title=Inter Office Memo: Coin-Op Product Sales |url=http://www.atarigames.com/pdffiles/salesestimates1.pdf |publisher=[[Atari, Inc.]] |date=July 25, 1983 |access-date=14 October 2021 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020200920/http://www.atarigames.com/pdffiles/salesestimates1.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2004 ''[[Famicom Mini]]'' release had 58,572 copies sold,<ref>{{cite web |title=Game Search (based on Famitsu data) |url=https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search |website=Game Data Library |access-date=16 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424035430/https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/game-search |archive-date=24 April 2019 |date=1 March 2020}}</ref> and the [[Xbox Live Arcade]] version had 222,240 copies by 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Langley |first1=Ryan |title=Xbox Live Arcade by the numbers - the 2011 year in review |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/39713/Xbox_Live_Arcde_by_the_numbers__the_2011_year_in_review.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124020803/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/39713/Xbox_Live_Arcde_by_the_numbers__the_2011_year_in_review.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2012 |access-date=29 April 2020 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |publisher=[[UBM Technology Group]] |date=January 20, 2012}}</ref>

American publication ''[[Blip Magazine]]'' favorably compared it to games such as ''[[Pac-Man]]'' for its simple controls and fun gameplay.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dig Dug |url=https://archive.org/details/blip-magazine-01/page/n19?q=Dig+Dug |access-date=18 August 2019 |agency=[[Blip Magazine]] |issue=1 |date=February 1983 |pages=18–19}}</ref> ''[[AllGame]]'' called it "an arcade and NES classic", praising its characters, gameplay, and unique premise, and for its easy home platform conversion.<ref name="Allgame"/> In 1998, Japanese magazine ''[[Gamest]]'' called it one of the greatest arcade games of all time for its addictiveness and for breaking the traditional "dot-eater" gameplay used in games such as ''Pac-Man'' and ''[[Rally-X]]''.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/vol.-112-2#page/n90/mode/1up |title=GAMEST MOOK Vol.112 ザ・ベストゲーム2 アーケードビデオゲーム26年の歴史 |date=17 January 1998 |publisher=[[Gamest]] |isbn=9784881994290 |page=89 |edition=Vol. 5, Issue 4 |chapter=「ザ・ベストゲーム」}}</ref> In a 2007 retrospective, ''[[Eurogamer]]'' praised its "perfect" gameplay and strategy, saying it is one of "the most memorable and legendary videogame releases of the past 30 years".<ref name="Eurogamer Retrospect"/> The [[Museum of the Game|Killer List of Videogames]] rated it the sixth-most-popular coin-op game of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.klov.com/TOP100.html |title=The Top Coin-Operated Videogames of All Time |author=McLemore, Greg |publisher=[[Killer List of Videogames]] |access-date=2007-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070804010546/http://www.klov.com/TOP100.html |archive-date=August 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy}}</ref>

''[[Electronic Fun with Computers & Games]]'' praised the Atari 8-bit version for retaining the arcade's entertaining gameplay and for its simple controls.<ref name="EFun">{{cite magazine |last1=Ardai |first1=Charles |title=Hits & Missiles  |magazine=[[Electronic Fun with Computers & Games]] |issue=5 |publisher=Fun & Games Publishing |date=March 1984 |pp=54-55}}</ref>

Some home versions were criticized for quality and lack of exclusive content. Readers of ''Softline'' magazine ranked ''Dig Dug'' the tenth-worst Apple II and fourth-worst Atari 8-bit video game of 1983 for its subpar quality and failure of consumer expectations.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/softline_3.4.pdf | title=The Best and the Rest | work=St.Game | date=Mar–Apr 1984 | access-date=28 July 2014 | page=49}}</ref>

Reviewing the Xbox Live Arcade digital re-release, ''[[IGN]]'' liked its presentation, leaderboards, and addictive gameplay, recommending it for old and new fans alike.<ref name="IGN"/> A similar response was echoed by ''[[GameSpot]]'' for its colorful artwork and faithful arcade gameplay,<ref name="GameSpot Review"/> and by ''Eurogamer'' for addictiveness and longevity.<ref name="Eurogamer X360"/> ''Eurogamer'', ''IGN'', and ''GameSpot'' all criticized its lack of online multiplayer and for achievements being too easy to unlock,<ref name="IGN"/><ref name="GameSpot Review"/> with ''Eurogamer'' in particular criticizing the game's controls for sometimes being unresponsive.<ref name="Eurogamer X360"/>

==Legacy==
''Dig Dug'' prompted a fad of "digging games".<ref name="Hawken">{{cite book |last1=Hawken |first1=Kieren |title=The A-Z of Arcade Games: Volume 1 |date=3 December 2019 |publisher=Andrews UK Limited |isbn=978-1-78982-193-2 |page=63 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-lzBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT63}}</ref> Clones include the arcade game ''Zig Zag'' (1982),<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Hardcore Gaming 101: Dig Dug |url=http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/digdug/digdug.htm |website=[[GameSpy]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207055637/http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/digdug/digdug.htm |archive-date=2008-12-07 |access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref> the [[Atari 8-bit computers|Atari 8-bit computer]] game ''Anteater'' (1982) by Romox, Merlin's ''Pixie Pete'', Victory's ''Cave Kooks'' (1983) for the [[Commodore 64]], and Saguaro's ''Pumpman'' (1984) for the [[TRS-80 Color Computer]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hague |first1=James |title=The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers |url=https://dadgum.com/giantlist/ |website=Dadgum |date=April 13, 2021 |access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref> The most successful is [[Universal Entertainment]]'s arcade game ''[[Mr. Do!]]'' (1982), released about six months later and surpassing clone status.<ref name="Hawken"/> [[Sega]]'s ''[[Borderline (video game)|Borderline]]'' (1981), when it was ported to the [[Atari 2600]] as ''Thunderground'' in 1983,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Marley|first=Scott |date=December 2016 |title=SG-1000 |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=163|page=58}}</ref> was mistaken as a "semi-clone" of ''Dig Dug'' and ''Mr. Do!''<ref name="VI">{{cite magazine |last1=Meade |first1=E.C. |last2=Clark |first2=Jim |title=Thunderground (Sega for the 2600) |magazine=[[Videogaming Illustrated]] |date=December 1983 |page=14 |url=https://archive.org/details/Videogaming_and_Computer_Gaming_Illustrated_1983-12_Ion_International_US/page/n13/mode/1up}}</ref> ''[[Boulder Dash (video game)|Boulder Dash]]'' (1984) also drew comparisons to ''Dig Dug''.<ref name="CG1985">{{cite magazine |title=1985 Software Buyer's Guide |magazine=Computer Games |date=February 1985 |volume=3 |issue=5 |publisher=Carnegie Publications |location=United States |page=11 |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Games_Vol_3_No_5_1985-02_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n13/mode/2up}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Fox |first1=Matt |title=The Video Games Guide: 1,000+ Arcade, Console and Computer Games, 1962-2012, 2d ed. |date=3 January 2013 |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |isbn=978-0-7864-7257-4 |page=81 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzMYYrsDaAEC&pg=PA81}}</ref> Numerous [[mobile game]]s are clones or variations of ''Dig Dug'', such as ''Diggerman'', ''Dig Deep'', ''Digby Forever'', ''Dig Out'', ''Puzzle to the Center of Earth'', ''Mine Blitz'', ''I Dig It'', ''Doug Dug'', ''Minesweeper'', ''Dig a Way'', and ''Dig Dog''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sheridan |first1=Trevor |title=Can You Dig It In These Arcade Digging Games? |url=https://appadvice.com/game/collection/can-you-dig-it |website=NowGaming |access-date=26 April 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522020230/http://appadvice.com/game/collection/can-you-dig-it |archive-date=2018-05-22}}</ref>

===Sequels===
''Dig Dug'' prompted a long series of sequels for several platforms. The first of these, ''[[Dig Dug II]]'', was released in Japan in 1985 to less success,<ref>{{cite book |title=All About Namco |date=1985 |publisher=Radio News Company |page=81}}</ref> opting for an overhead perspective; instead of digging through earth, Dig Dug drills along fault lines to sink pieces of an island into the ocean.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dig Dug II - Videogame by Namco |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7582 |website=Killer List of Video Games |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref> A second sequel,  ''[[Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2#Dig Dug Arrangement|Dig Dug Arrangement]]'', was released for arcades in 1996 as part of the ''[[Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2]]'' arcade collection,<ref>{{cite web |title=Namco Classic Collection Vol. 2 |url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8825 |website=Killer List of Video Games |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref> with new enemies, music, power-ups, boss fights, and two-player co-operative play.

A 3D remake of the original, ''[[Dig Dug Deeper]]'', was published by [[Atari SA|Infogrames]] in 2001 for [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/15/dig-dug-deeper|title=Dig Dug Deeper|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=14 December 2001|access-date=3 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073940/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/15/dig-dug-deeper|archive-date=4 April 2018}}</ref> A [[Nintendo DS]] sequel, ''[[Dig Dug: Digging Strike]]'', was released in 2005, combining elements from the first two games and adding a narrative link to the ''Mr. Driller'' series.<ref>{{cite book |title=Nours Vol. 50 |date=10 September 2005 |publisher=Namco |page=20 |url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/corporate/bnours/nours/vol50/pdf/50_12_20.pdf |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref> A massively-multiplayer online game, ''[[Dig Dug Island]]'', was released in 2008, and was an online version of ''Dig Dug II'';<ref>{{cite web |title=「ディグダグアイランド」，クオカードやホランが当たるキャンペーン |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/044/G004447/20080630030/ |website=4Gamer |access-date=30 June 2008}}</ref> servers lasted for less than a year, discontinued on April 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=ベルクス，「ディグダグアイランド」と「タンくる」のサービス終了を決定 |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/044/G004447/20090122033/ |website=4Gamer |access-date=22 January 2009}}</ref>

===Related media===
Two ''Dig Dug''-themed slot machines were produced by Japanese company Oizumi in 2003, both with small LCD monitors for animated characters.<ref>{{cite web |title=ディグダグZ |url=http://www.p-world.co.jp/machine/database/2509 |website=P-World |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ディグダグ |url=http://www.p-world.co.jp/machine/database/2350 |website=P-World |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref> A webcomic adaptation was produced in 2012 by [[ShiftyLook]], a subsidiary of Bandai Namco focused on reviving older Namco franchises, with nearly 200 issues by several different artists, concluding in 2014 following the closure of ShiftyLook. Dig Dug is a main character in the ShiftyLook webseries ''[[Mappy#Web series|Mappy: The Beat]]''. A remix of the ''Dig Dug'' soundtrack appears in the [[PlayStation 2]] game ''[[Technicbeat|Technic Beat]]''.<ref name="HG101"/> An [[Interactive film|interactive animated short]] based on ''Dig Dug'' was produced in 2025 by Gamisodes in association with Bandai Namco, which is planned to stream through June 17, 2025 to June 30, 2025 on the Gameisodes platform.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deals in Brief – June 10, 2025 |url=https://kidscreen.com/2025/06/10/deals-in-brief-june-10-2025/ |access-date=2025-06-12}}</ref>

The character Dig Dug was renamed to Taizo Hori, a play on the Japanese phrase "horitai zo", meaning "I want to dig". He became a prominent character in Namco's own ''[[Mr. Driller]]'' series, where he is revealed to be the father of Susumu Hori and being married to ''[[Baraduke]]'' protagonist Masuyo Tobi, who would divorce for unknown reasons. Taizo appears as a playable character in ''[[Namco Super Wars]]'' for the [[WonderSwan|WonderSwan Color]] and ''[[Namco × Capcom]]'' for the PlayStation 2, only in Japan.<ref name="HG101"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bn-ent.net/cs/list/namco_x_capcom/character/|script-title=ja:ナムコ クロス カプコン - キャラクター|language=ja|publisher=Namco × Capcom Website|access-date=13 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012205347/http://www.bn-ent.net/cs/list/namco_x_capcom/character/|archive-date=12 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Taizo appears in the now-defunct web browser game ''Namco High'' as the principal of the high school, simply known as "President Dig Dug". Pookas appear in several Namco games, including ''[[Sky Kid]]'' (1985), ''[[R4: Ridge Racer Type 4]]'' (1998),<ref name="HG101"/> ''[[Pac-Man World]]'' (1999),<ref name="HG101"/> ''Pro Baseball: Famista DS 2011'' (2011), and in Nintendo's [[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'']] (2014). ''Dig Dug'' characters briefly appear in the film ''[[Wreck-It Ralph]]'' (2012).<ref name="HG101">{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Dig Dug |url=https://hg101.kontek.net/digdug/digdug.htm |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321235126/https://hg101.kontek.net/digdug/digdug2.htm |archive-date=21 March 2019 |date=3 December 2008}}</ref> 

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Dig Dug}}
{{Portal|Japan|Video games|1980s}}
* {{moby game|id=/arcade/dig-dug}}
* {{KLOV game|id=7581}}

{{Portal bar|1980s|Video games}}
{{Dig Dug/Mr. Driller series}}
{{Franchises owned by Bandai Namco Holdings}}
{{Authority control}}

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