Ice Climber (1985). Play online

Summary

Ice Climber throws you up a frosty vertical trek of 32 towering peaks, each split into eight scrolling layers of bright ice. Armed only with a trusty wooden mallet, Popo in blue and Nana in pink chip away at dull blocks while dodging unbreakable slabs, moving cloud‑like platforms, and sneaky conveyor‑like hatched ice.

The mountain gauntlet is peppered with quirky foes: tiny Nitpickers that dive across layers, Topi that seal your holes, and a glaring White Bear who speeds the screen upward if you linger too long. After each summit a 40‑second bonus stage tests your jump‑precision, and the only way to nab an extra life is a lone corn piece tucked in the fifth round’s finish.

Two‑player mode lets you either cooperate or race, and the game’s legacy even splashed into Smash Bros., all thanks to Nintendo prodigy Kenji Miki and programmer Kazuaki Morita.

Storyline

In Nintendo’s classic platformer Ice Climber, the duo Popo and Nana—collectively called the Ice Climbers—take on a chilly quest. They must climb a series of 32 vertically scrolling, ice‑covered mountains. Their goal is to retrieve a stash of stolen vegetables that a massive condor has snatched away. Each mountain presents its own icy hazards and enemies, demanding precise jumps and teamwork. The game’s simple premise hides a surprisingly challenging climb that has kept players returning for decades.