It was released in 1984 for the Apple II, Commodore 64, and IBM PC (as a self-booting disk), then ported to the Atari 8-bit computers, Famicom, SG-1000, and MSX.

Fifty of the hardest levels ever designed are used and they had to be tackled in proper sequential order.

[2] Unlike the original Lode Runner game, this version does not come with a level editor.

The Apple II version and Famicom offered players a certificate for completing the game.

in 1986 agreed with the box's warning of Championship Lode Runner's difficulty and advised even expert players to obtain the hint book, because each of the 50 levels would require twice as much time as the original game's most-difficult.