DMA Design's puzzle game about suicidal rodents first appeared on the Amiga in 1991, and Probe Software brought it to the Game Gear and Master System for Sega in 1992. The idea translates well to a handheld: a stream of lemmings drops into each level and walks blindly forward, and the player has to assign skills to individual lemmings so that enough of them survive to reach the exit. Climbers scale walls, Floaters survive long falls, Blockers turn the crowd around, and Builders, Bashers, Miners and Diggers reshape the terrain. Bombers explode, which is sometimes exactly what a level needs.
The Game Gear's low resolution means less of each level fits on screen, so scrolling around to plan matters more than on a computer. Levels are grouped by difficulty, and passwords let you return to where you left off. The port was regarded as surprisingly competent given the hardware, handling large crowds of tiny sprites without much trouble.
Tips for Lemmings
Place a Blocker early to hold the crowd in a safe spot while you build or dig a route for them.
Write down each password, since later levels can take many attempts to solve.
Raise the release rate only once your route is in place; a slower flow gives time to assign skills precisely.
How to Play Lemmings
Click Play Now to launch Lemmings directly in your browser — no downloads or plugins needed. Arrows move the cursor, and Z assigns the selected skill to the lemming under it; the second button is used to change the selected skill (the manual lists the exact combination). Enter pauses. You can also connect a USB or Bluetooth gamepad for a more authentic feel.
Save states let you save your progress at any point. Create a free account to sync saves across devices. Press F11 for fullscreen mode.
To play Lemmings, simply hit the "Play Now" button on this page. The game loads instantly in your browser using an embedded emulator — no plugins, downloads, or setup required.
Is Lemmings free to play?
Yes, Lemmings is completely free to play on RetroVault.GG. Just visit the game page and start playing in your browser.
What console is Lemmings for?
Originally a Game Gear game, Lemmings can now be played directly in your browser here on RetroVault.GG with no setup needed.
What genre is Lemmings?
Lemmings is a puzzle, strategy game. It was made for the Game Gear.
Can I play Lemmings on my phone?
You can play Lemmings on any mobile device with a modern browser. The game adapts to your screen size with on-screen touch controls.