A strange little side quest
The mechanics around Deep Drill Run have roots that stretch far beyond modern browsers. Sonic the Hedgehog launched in 1991 and turned speed itself into a defining platform-game mechanic. That is only half the story. Nintendo's Donkey Kong arrived in 1981 and introduced the character first known as Jumpman, who later became Mario. That long chain of experiments is part of why platform games still feels fresh when a game finds the right twist.