Lemmings (series)

The Lemmings series primarily consists of puzzle video games. The games feature characters named Lemmings, who are anthropomorphic lemmings with green hair and blue robes. The objective in these games is to guide a portion of the titular characters across assorted landscapes to reach an exit.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_lemmings_psp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221101311/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_lemmings_psp |archive-date=21 February 2013 |title=Lemmings |work=Eurogamer |first=Tom |last=Bramwell |date=7 March 2006 |access-date=10 December 2014 |url-status=live }}

The player does not have direct control over the Lemmings; instead, the player controls a cursor that is used to assign skills to the Lemmings. Each Lemming starts out walking forward in one direction continuously until it runs into a wall (in which case it turns around) or is assigned a skill. Some skills cause Lemmings to change their behavior; for instance, Lemmings given the Blocker skill will stop moving entirely.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/29/technology/29game.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ei=5070&en=9b11a61802a7c4f8&ex=1152244800&emc=eta1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130162231/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/29/technology/29game.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ei=5070&en=9b11a61802a7c4f8&ex=1152244800&emc=eta1& |archive-date=30 January 2013 |title=Addictive as Chips, but Less Fattening |work=The New York Times |date=29 June 2006 |access-date=10 December 2014 |first=Charles |last=Herold |url-status=dead }}

In most games of the series, each level gives the player a certain quantity of each skill, limiting how many Lemmings can be tasked with a particular skill.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gameindustry.com/reviews/game-review/lemmings-revolution-is-puzzling-fun/|title=Lemmings Revolution is Puzzling Fun - Gameindustry.com|first=Barbara|last=Browning|date=October 11, 2000}} Each level also has a certain number of Lemmings, requiring a specific portion of them to be led to the exit in order for the player to be allowed to progress.

The first installment of the Lemmings series, titled Lemmings, was developed by DMA Design and published by Psygnosis, having been launched for the Amiga on 14 February 1991. It quickly became commercially successful, with multiple ports being created in the following years. Lemmings became one of the best-selling and most well-received video games of its time.{{cite web |url=http://www.consumerelectronicsnet.com/games/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=46303 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141210075052/http://www.consumerelectronicsnet.com/games/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=46303 |archive-date=10 December 2014 |title=Lemmings PSP Review |work=Consumer Electronics Net |first=Don |last=Lee |date=15 June 2006 |access-date=10 December 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Psygnosis was acquired by Sony Electronic Publishing in 1993, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldwidestudios.net/liverpool |title=SCE Worldwide Studios – SCE Studio Liverpool |publisher=Worldwidestudios.net |date=20 February 2009 |access-date=14 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131070427/http://www.worldwidestudios.net/liverpool |archive-date=31 January 2013 }}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=108 |title=The 7th International Computer Game Developers Conference |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=July 1993 |access-date=12 July 2014 |pages=34 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200342/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=108 |archive-date=14 July 2014 }} Subsequent games in the series continued to be published by Psygnosis to competing platforms, however.

{{Timeline of release years

| range1 = 1991

| range1_color = #00FF00 #ccc

| 1991 = Lemmings

| 1993 = Lemmings 2: The Tribes

| 1994 = All New World of Lemmings

| 1995 = 3D Lemmings

| 1996a = Lemmings Paintball

| 1996b = The Adventures of Lomax

| 2000 = Lemmings Revolution

| 2006a = Lemmings (2006 remake)

| 2006b = Lemmings (PS3)

| 2014 = Lemmings Touch

| 2018 = Lemmings: The Puzzle Adventure (2018)

}}

{{Main|Lemmings (video game)}}

Lemmings is the first entry of the Lemmings series, originally published for the Amiga on 14 February 1991. Since then, it was developed and released for several other platforms.

Lemmings established the series' gameplay formula, with each level giving the player a quantity of each of eight skills: Climber, Floater, Bomber, Blocker, Builder, Basher, Digger and Miner. The player must use these skills to allow the Lemmings to navigate to the exit.

An expansion pack for Lemmings, Oh No! More Lemmings, was released in December 1991.{{Cite news |last=Rubenstein |first=Glenn |date=December 29, 1991 |title=Lemmings filling video screens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/petaluma-argus-courier/163389726/ |access-date=January 19, 2025 |newspaper=Argus-Courier |pages=13|via=Newspapers.com}} Some later ports of Lemmings included the content from Oh No! More Lemmings, such as the PlayStation version.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/10/07/lemmings-and-oh-no-more-lemmings-2|title=Lemmings and Oh No! More Lemmings|author=I. G. N. Staff|date=October 7, 1998|website=IGN}}

{{Main|Lemmings 2: The Tribes}}

Lemmings 2: The Tribes is the second main entry of the series, originally released on 26 February 1993 for the Amiga, MS-DOS and Atari ST platforms.

Lemmings 2: The Tribes introduces a story to the series: the Lemmings have divided into twelve groups named the Tribes. Each Tribe occupies a portion of the world map, with each portion representing a set of ten themed levels available to play. The game introduces numerous additional skills, giving a total of 50 skills.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue157/99_Lemmings_2_The_Trib.php|title=Review: Lemmings 2: The Tribes|website=www.atarimagazines.com}}

{{Main|All New World of Lemmings}}

All New World of Lemmings (named The Lemmings Chronicles in North America) is the third main entry of the series, originally released on 25 November 1994 for the Amiga and MS-DOS platforms.{{Cite news |last=Lisle |first=Adrian |last2=Lisle |first2=Alex |date=November 26, 1994 |title=Leaping back to the rescue |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/821967729 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |work=Evening Post |pages=51 |quote=All New World of Lemmings Just released on PC, PC CD-Rom and Amiga}}{{Cite news |date=November 25, 1994 |title=New Releases at Future Zone This Week! |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/724727700 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |work=Evening Standard |pages=162 |quote=All New World of Lemmings Coming Soon for PC!}}

All New World of Lemmings continues the story established by Lemmings 2: The Tribes, but focuses on only three Tribes. Unlike in previous games, skills such as building, floating, digging and swimming are consolidated into a single control, available when a Lemming picks up a corresponding item.{{Cite web|url=https://amigareviews.leveluphost.com/allnewwo.htm|title=Amiga Reviews: All New World Of Lemmings|website=amigareviews.leveluphost.com}}

{{Main|3D Lemmings}}

3D Lemmings is the first game of the series to not involve DMA Design, being developed instead by Clockwork Games and published by Psygnosis. It was released for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and MS-DOS platforms.{{Cite web|url=https://alexreviewstech.com/retro-game-of-the-week-3d-lemmings-playstation-one/|title=Retro Game Of The Week: 3D Lemmings (PlayStation One)|first=Alex|last=Kidman|date=June 9, 2023|website=Alex Reviews Tech}}

3D Lemmings adapts the gameplay of the series to take place in three-dimensional world layouts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1996/11/26/lemmings-3d|title=Lemmings 3D|author=I. G. N. Staff|date=November 26, 1996|website=IGN}} The game features nine skills, with eight of these being analogous to the skills featured in the original game and one being new to the series: the Turner, which turns Lemmings 90 degrees clockwise or anti-clockwise.

{{Main|Lemmings Revolution}}

Lemmings Revolution was developed by Psygnosis Leeds and published by Take-Two Interactive. It was released exclusively for Microsoft Windows in May 2000.{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2000 |title=Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. Subsidiary TalonSoft Launches "Lemmings Revolution" |url=http://www.talonsoft.com/corporateinfo/p-lemmings.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010306035732/http://www.talonsoft.com/corporateinfo/p-lemmings.html |archive-date=March 6, 2001 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=TalonSoft}}{{Cite web |title=The European Games Of 2000 |url=http://gonegold.com/golden/eurogold.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001121052100/http://gonegold.com/golden/eurogold.shtml |archive-date=November 21, 2000 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=Gone Gold}}

Lemmings Revolution reverts to a two-dimensional layout for levels, but preserves a 3D visual style, having levels take place along the surface of a cylinder that can be rotated to see each portion of a level. The game is based on the same eight skills featured in the original game and features 100 levels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/lr-p|title=Lemmings Revolution|first1=John|last=Bye |date=February 27, 2000|website=Eurogamer.net}}

{{Main|Lemmings (2006 video game)}}

Lemmings received a remake bearing the same name, developed by Team17{{Cite web |author1=Gary_Cutlack |date=2007-05-10 |title=Lemmings - PS3 Network review |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/lemmings-ps3-network-review/ |access-date=2024-05-20 |website=gamesradar |language=en}} and published in 2006. The remake features all 120 levels from the original game, as well as 36 new levels and a tool for users to create their own levels. It features improved graphics and a new soundtrack.

A port of this remake was released for devices compatible with the PlayStation Mobile framework in December 2012, including certified smartphones, tablets and the PlayStation Vita handheld console.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.playstation.com/2012/12/06/playstation-mobile-lemmings-is-back/|title=PlayStation Mobile: Lemmings is Back!|date=December 6, 2012|website=PlayStation.Blog}}

After releasing the Lemmings remake for the PSP, Team17 produced a sequel, bearing the same name, for the PlayStation 3 for download through PlayStation Network. The game features 40 levels, and its gameplay is based on the same eight skills featured in the original game. It has similar graphical improvements to those of the PSP remake, as well as online scoreboards and artwork developed for a high-definition display, but cannot be used to create and share levels as the PSP title can.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/lemmings-review/1900-6164476/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141210081532/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/lemmings-review/1900-6164476/ |archive-date=10 December 2014 |title=Lemmings for PlayStation 3 Review |work=GameSpot |date=19 January 2007 |access-date=10 December 2014 |first=Kevin |last=Van Ord |url-status=live }}

Lemmings Touch was released for PlayStation Vita on 27 May 2014, developed by D3T. It features controls designed to utilize the touchscreen, as well as fully 3D-rendered Lemmings, for whom a set of costumes can be unlocked.{{cite web|url=http://d3tltd.com/projects/lemmings-touch-ip-reboot-and-hd-remake/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170227014348/https://d3tltd.com/projects/lemmings-touch-ip-reboot-and-hd-remake/ |archive-date=27 February 2017 |title=Lemmings Touch – IP Reboot and HD Remake |work=D3T Ltd. |access-date=26 October 2016 |url-status=live }}

Some of the game's new levels feature Mischievous Lemmings, who behave like regular Lemmings but cause the level to fail if they reach the exit. The game also incorporates side objectives that reward the player with an in-game currency, which is used to access the aforementioned costume items.

{{Cite web|url=https://www.godisageek.com/2014/05/lemmings-touch-review/|title=Lemmings Touch Review|date=May 27, 2014}} Each level also has a star rating, which gauges the player's performance and determines when more levels are unlocked. Trophies are also available to be earned by completing specified tasks in the game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psnvita/lemmings_touch|title=Review: Lemmings Touch (PlayStation Vita)|first=Push|last=Square|date=May 27, 2014|website=Push Square}}

Lemmings: The Puzzle Adventure is an iteration of the series released by Exient studio Sad Puppy for iOS and Android in December 2018 under the title Lemmings.{{Cite web | url = https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2018/12/20/lemmings-comes-to-mobile-devices-today/ | title = Lemmings comes to mobile devices today | first = Serken | last = Hansen | date = 20 December 2018 | access-date = 20 December 2018 | work = PlayStation Blog }} This iteration of the series is designed in portrait mode and is controlled via the touchscreen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/play-lemmings-on-mobile/|title=You Can Now Play Lemmings on Mobile|first=Dave|last=Parrack|date=December 27, 2018|website=MUO}} The game uses a free-to-play model, incorporating an "energy" system wherein the skills cost energy to use but are otherwise unlimited in use, and includes in-app purchases.{{Cite web|url=https://www.androidauthority.com/lemmings-android-936634/|title=Sony surprises everyone with a free Lemmings mobile game, and it bleeds gacha|date=December 21, 2018|website=Android Authority}} The game features the Tribes as a set of collectible characters that are consistently released over time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/473773-new-lemmings-game-out-now-on-mobile|title=A New Lemmings Game Is Out Now On Mobile|first=Bryan|last=Rose|date=December 20, 2018}}

In updates, the game was renamed Lemmings: The Puzzle Adventure and received additional features; examples include an experience system, seasonal updates, and sets of new levels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/lemmings-puzzle-adventure-mobile-nostalgic/|title=Lemmings: The Puzzle Adventure Hits All the Right Nostalgic Notes|first=Caitlyn Ng Man|last=Chuen|date=January 2, 2023|website=CBR}} An update was released in 2024 implemented a feature that allows users to create and share levels, named the Creatorverse.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/lemmings/interview-christa-agiust-tommy-prentice/|title=Interview: Christa Agius and Tommy Prentice discuss Lemmings' Creatorverse update and what player-made levels will bring|first=Stephen|last=Gregson-Wood|date=June 17, 2024|website=www.pocketgamer.com}}

Holiday Lemmings is a series of spin-off Lemmings games released from 1991 to 1994. These games share similar gameplay to the original game, but include levels with designs themed around the holiday season. The first two installments, released in 1991 and 1992 respectively, were four-level demo games, while the latter two installments were full retail releases with a larger number of levels.{{Cite web|url=https://paleotronic.com/2019/12/13/christmas_lemmings_commodore_amiga/|title=Christmas Lemmings!|date=December 13, 2019}}

{{Main|Lemmings Paintball}}

Lemmings Paintball is an action video game developed by Visual Science and published by Psygnosis in June 1996.{{Cite web |title=Lemmings Paintball |url=http://www.gamespot.com/puzzle/lempaint/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970605050355/http://www.gamespot.com/puzzle/lempaint/index.html |archive-date=June 5, 1997 |access-date=April 27, 2024 |website=GameSpot}}

Lemmings Paintball has the player control one to four Lemmings armed with paintball guns, which can be used to shoot enemies. The goal is to lead these Lemmings to all the flags present in the level. Lemmings Paintball portrays levels over a three-quarters perspective. The game has 100 levels and also features a network mode.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/lemmings-paintball-review/1900-2535685/|title=Lemmings Paintball Review}}

{{Main|The Adventures of Lomax}}

The Adventures of Lomax (named Lomax in Europe) is a side-scrolling platform video game developed and published by Psygnosis for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. It was initially released in North America on 22 October 1996.{{Cite web |date=October 16, 1996 |title=Psygnosis Wire Vol 1. No 14 |url=http://www.psygnosis.com/news/Wire%2314.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970428182729/http://www.psygnosis.com/news/Wire%2314.pdf |archive-date=April 28, 1997 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |website=Psygnosis}}

Lomax is centered around the character of Lomax, a Lemming who is tasked with saving the other Lemmings from being transformed into monsters by the villainous Evil Ed.

{{reflist}}

{{Lemmings series|state=expanded}}

{{Sony franchises}}

Category:Lemmings games

Category:Video game franchises introduced in 1991

Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom

Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment franchises

Category:Puzzle video games

Category:Psygnosis games