Mr. Driller

Sometimes a brilliant idea hides inside the simplest of mechanics. Mr. Driller takes the classic falling-block game and turns it on its head: instead of stacking upward, you drill downward, ever deeper, counting every breath of air along the way.

The concept is charming in its purity. You control Driller, who digs through colored blocks toward the depths. Blocks of the same color merge and vanish when they touch, but beware, everything above you comes crashing down and threatens to crush you. On top of that, you manage a supply of air that you replenish by collecting capsules scattered underground. The result is a tense balance between speed, planning and a cool head, where a single mistaken drill sets off a cascade of trouble.

Mr. Driller is the work of Namco and originally appeared in arcades at the turn of the millennium, from where it spread to a number of platforms including the Dreamcast. According to the game's lore, the main hero Susumu Hori is the son of characters from the legendary Dig Dug series, an elegant way for Namco to link its old classic with a new hit and underscore the family tree of the dig-underground genre.

Culturally, Mr. Driller fits into the tradition of Japanese puzzle games that manage to be simple to grasp yet almost endless in the depth of their mastery. It became a small phenomenon that spawned its own whole series of sequels and spin-offs, which are still being released today. Its cute graphics and catchy music made it a title players love to return to.

On the Dreamcast, a console famous for excellent arcade conversions, Mr. Driller found the ideal home. It is exactly the kind of game where you plan a single round and come to an hour later, determined to beat your record. Instantly understandable, yet devilishly addictive.

Why play: For its fresh twist on the falling-block classic and its addictive gameplay, where every round tempts you into another attempt.