50 GAMES that DEFINED the ZX SPECTRUM (1982-1991)

The ZX Spectrum has so many fantastic, and very important releases, for the future development of video games in the library. There were also some great conversions of arcade games, but as these games had their origin in the arcade machines they can not define the ZX Spectrum, they define the arcade games from that era. So games like R-TYPE, COMMANDO, ENDURO RACER, SUPER HANG-ON, SUPER MONACO GP, SPY HUNTER, GREEN BERET, CHASE HQ, RAINBOW ISLANDS, RENEGADE etc. is not included in this video.

Games converted from other computer systems is also not included, because they define the other computer systems, and not the ZX Spectrum. So games like BRUCE LEE, ELITE, THE WAY OF THE EXPLODING FIST, INTERNATIONAL KARATE, URIDIUM, THRUST, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, BOULDER DASH, THE EIDOLON, RESCUE ON FRACTALUS etc. is also not included.

A huge description of the games included in the video is to find in two comments in the comments section!

The ZX SPECTRUM SCENE NEVER DIED and several hundred releases comes out every year. All available as digital downloads, but also many available to buy on cassette. We follow the scene intensely, has walkthroughs of new games, and make lots of other videos like this one (check the playlists), so SUBSCRIBE to get all the latest ZX news!

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[MODERN_RGN]

0:04:00 1 - 1982 THE HOBBIT (Melbourne House): One of the first 48k games and a milestone for illustrated text adventures. The parser was very advanced for the time and used a subset of English called Inglish. The game is also in real time, insofar as a period of idleness causes the "WAIT" command to be automatically invoked and the possibility of events occurring as a result. There is no records of sales figures but the game was ported to almost all other computers and and a figure of 500, 000 copies is possible, making it a candidate for the bestselling text adventure of all time. Because of the huge success the games “Lord of the Rings” and “Shadows of Mordor” was also published.

0:01:02 2 - 1982 HORACE GOES SKIING (Sinclair Research Ltd): In 1982-83 three Horace games for the 16k Spectrum was published (The other two was Hungry Horace and Horace and the Spiders). Horace Goes Skiing is the best known because it was included in a bunch of tapes that was sold with a lot of machines, and Horace is the closest the ZX Spectrum was to having a mascot like Nintendo has Mario and Sega has Sonic.

0:02:02 3 - 1982 FOOTBALL MANAGER (Addictive Games Ltd): This was the first manager game to also have graphics, and for the time being it was a pretty advanced manager game. The game was ported to most home computers during the 1980s and spawned several sequels: FM 1 World Cup Edition, FM 2, FM 2 Expansion kit, FM 3.

0:03:31 4 - 1983 CHEQUERED FLAG (Sinclair Research Ltd): This was the first car simulator game for a home computer, and the first racing game for the ZX Spectrum. The game is viewed in first-person perspective and was way ahead of its time. A really advanced, fast and impressive game for the time being.

0:04:52 5 - 1983 JETPAC (Ultimate): The first game made by Ultimate (Later Rareware/RARE) and fast paced arcade action was now available for a 16k home computer. Rebuild and refuel your spaceship before taking off to the next planet. The game got a sequel named Lunar Jetman.

0:05:54 6 - 1983 MANIC MINER (Bug-Byte): This is a milestone for platform games and it has been ported to nearly all other platforms. You have to guide Miner Willy through 20 screens to complete the game. It was also the first ZX Spectrum game to feature in game music. More games starring Miner Willy was released as Jet Set Willy I & II.

0:07:01 7 - 1983 ATIC ATAC (Ultimate): This is Ultimate’s first action-adventure game. You can choose from three different characters; a wizard, a serf, and a knight, and you have to find three parts of a key to escape from a mansion. Depending on which character you choose you can use different secret passages. This was an important pre-zelda release in this genre.

0:07:56 8 - 1983 DEATHCHASE (Micromega): This game maked fast paced 3D vehicular combat gameplay available for a 16k home computer. There is eight levels where you have to chase and destroy two other motorcycles in a forest. The game is clearly inspired by the Speeder-Bike section in “Return of the Jedi” that was a new movie at the time being.

0:08:57 9 - 1983 ANT ATTACK (Quicksilva Ltd): This is the first isometric game for the home computers, and it was also the first isometric game to feature free movement in the north, south, east, west directions and the possibilities to climb up and down. A sequel called Zombie Zombie was also released.

0:10:06 10 - 1984 CHUCKIE EGG (A’n’F Software): In this game you play as Hen House Harry who has to collect 12 eggs from each level while avoiding the ducklings. The game didn’t achieve the same hights of popularity as Manic Miner but is still a classic for the ZX Spectrum. A sequel was released in 1985.

0:11:31 11 - 1984 SABRE WULF (Ultimate): This is the first game in the Sabreman series from Ultimate. It is a maze game with 256 connected screens and you have to find four pieces of an amulet. Sabreman continued his quest in: Underwurlde, Knight Lore, Pentagram and in the many years later unofficial release of Mire Mare, that was never released back in the days.

0:12:31 12 - 1984 TRASHMAN (New Generation Software): Highly original game - You have to keep up with, and fill a garbage truck. The game really has two elements, you have to make precise navigation to stay off the grass in the gardens, and you have to avoid being hit by the cars on the road. The game is timed and if you take too long you will lose your job. The game also got a sequel: Travel with Trashman.

0:13:33 13 - 1984 KNIGHT LORE (Ultimate): This is Ultimate’s third game in the Sabreman series, and it was a milestone for video games. This game combined the 2D arcade action adventure games with the 3D isometric games and made the standard for these games for many years in the future.

0:14:31 14 - 1984 DEUS EX MACHINA (Automata UK Ltd): This is an unusual and experimental game by Mel Croucher. The player takes control and follow the life of a "defect", in the shape of a human body, that has formed inside the machine. It is taken through all stages of life, from cells to senility. The game is advertised as audio-visual entertainment. It contains no sound, but there is a cassette tape that needs to be played along with the game.

0:15:44 15 - 1984 3D STARSTRIKE (Realtime Games Software Ltd): This game is a clone of Atari’s Star Wars arcade game from 1983, and it showed that it was possible to make fast paced 3D games on the ZX Spectrum. The game plays extremely well and is much better than the official Star Wars games that was released later.

0:17:17 16 - 1984 WANTED: MONTY MOLE (Gremlin Graphics Software Ltd): This is the first game, in what became a huge platform series, starring Monty Mole. This series was also released for the C64 and Amstrad CPC, but the ZX Spectrum was the only machine that got all five releases.

0:18:33 17 - 1984 DALEY THOMPSON’S DECATHLON (Ocean Software Ltd): Back in the days an extremely popular sports game starring the British sports man Daley Thompson. The game became winner of the C&VG 1984 Golden Joystick Awards - Best Arcade Style Game.

0:19:53 18 - 1984 AUTOMANIA (1st Wally game) (Mikro-Gen Ltd): This was the first game with Wally Week, it is a platform game, while the others is arcade adventure games. It is also the only game in the series that is descent to look at, the rest of the games looks terrible because of color clash, but the series became popular.

0:21:22 19 - 1984 SKOOL DAZE (Microsphere): You play as the student Eric and you have to try to get the combination to the schools safe so you can steal your reports. This is a very early example of the sandbox genre where you have to be able to walk around and entertain yourself. There was also a sequel released – Back to Skool.

0:22:25 20 - 1984 THE LORDS OF MIDNIGHT (Beyond Software): Way ahead of its time and a top role playing game from the 80s. The game featured an innovative 3-D effect called landscaping to depict the lands of Midnight from a first-person perspective. The game is a strategy/role-playing game hybrid where you start with four characters but you can get further 28 characters, and it is possible to play the game in three different play modes. A sequel named Doomdark's Revenge was released.

0:23:36 21 - 1984 JET SET WILLY (Software Projects Ltd): This is the follow up to Manic Miner, and it is a flip screen game with 60 playable screens. This game also became extremely popular and a Jet Set Willy II game was released.

0:24:36 22 - 1985 SABOTEUR (Durell Software Ltd): This is a stealth action-adventure game, and while it might not have been the first game in the genre, it most certainly lifted the genre to new heights and is today a classic game. A sequel, Saboteur II was also released.

0:25:39 23 - 1985 BENNY HILL’S MADCAP CHASE (DK’Tronics Ltd): This was the first game in a series programmed by Don Priestley which all featured very large sprites and nice colorful graphics, and this is the only of the games that was not ported to other systems. The other games are: Popeye, The Trap Door, Through the Trap Door, Flunky, Gregory Loses His Clock.

0:26:46 24 - 1985 TAU CETI (CRL Group PLC): A groundbreaking game at the time for its extensive use of 3D graphics, shadow effects and its large gameworld set on a small planet with a realistic day and night cycle. A special edition was released for the 128k and a sequel named Academy was released in 1986.

0:27:55 25 - 1985 CHAOS, THE BATTLE OF WIZARDS (Games Workshop): Chaos is a fantasy strategy game written by Julian Gollop, who later became famous for X-Com. In it you are a wizard who battles it out against up to seven other wizards that can be both player and/or computer controlled. The last one alive wins. The game is turn based and each turn is divided in two parts. In the first you select and cast spells and movement is done in the second. The sequel Lords of Chaos was released in 1990.

0:29:25 26 - 1985 HIGHWAY ENCOUNTER (Vortex Software): In this isometric 3D action-strategy game, the player uses a Vorton droid to push a bomb to the end of the highway into an alien base. There are 30 screens, most of them filled with hazards trying to block (like barrels) or destroy (mines and aliens) your bomb. The perspective and guidance concept are not the game's only original features; there are 4 more bombs with you, representing your extra lives - pushing you forward on your mission. If these other Vortons are destroyed, one of your extra lives is lost without the player being able to use it. Alien Highway was released as a follow up to this game in 1986.

Continued with 27-50 in other comment...

[merlin]

Glad to see that CHAOS got a mention. Its a game that is different everytime ( like an board games) & is now called Chaos groove & is available for the pc. Its still played by a few mates today when they pop over & normally stick some money ( 50p each) in the kitty for the winner.
Julian gollop made a basic but brilliant game here.
Fairlight was also played a lot back in the day, but all i remember was the severe eye strain trying to find a random key lying on the floor that actually looked like A piece of the floor..

[blackporscheroadster]

I remember bunking off school and playing Sabre Wulf on the big living room TV in 1985. I remember it was a sunny morning and I had a cool drink of Kia Ora and played Sabre Wulf, whilst feeling very rebellious at missing school. Happy days.

[ARDUNNO]

Knight Lore ...

Tau Ceti..

Completely forgot about these games! they were Awesome!

[welshie]

This is actually an amazing video. No crappy intros, just games. And it’s amazing to see the games progress over the years.

I loved my speccy!

[philgreen]

I bought my ZX Spectrum from WH Smiths in Hull. They were not cheap, but I got hours and hours of enjoyment from it. Happy days.

[alm]

It seems unbelievable now but when I saw those screens in The Hobbit I was totally gobsmacked as 12 year old back in 1982. 40 years later we have 12TF of compute power in a home console. Even in 2000 the most powerful super computer only had 7TF.

[LCFREETH]

Thanks for the good childhood sir Clive Sinclair for the zx81 and the zx spectrum 48k from 1982-1990 RIP SIR CLIVE SINCLAIR

[stevebarry]

Great list. I remember getting chequered flag and panama joe with my speccy back in 1985/86. Those were the days

[SomeOrangeCat]

Speccy games have one of two sound modes: Chippy-blippy-plippy, and ANGRY ROBOT.

[snagultoof]

Fantastic video and informative comments. I hope you make more videos like this one. It's almost impossible to pick just 50 out of thousands but you picked most of my personal favourites and missed hardly any. I agree with you about arcade ports too 😊👍

[blackporscheroadster]

For me, this list is missing. Bombjack, Spikey Harold, Commando, Neverending Story, Ghosts N Goblins, Outrun, Spy Hunter, Hunchback 2.

[Kakker]

Oh man...what a great trip down memory lane! I had more than half of these games...takes me back <3

[jamiewallaceux]

Turbo Esprit was nothing short of incredible. Way ahead of its time.

[roboticbaboon]

Ant Attack was such an early game for the ZX but it had a really powerful atmosphere.

[sambas]

These are the games that didn't age a single day:they are a perfect balance of fast, modern, reactive gameplay pacing and clean, effective abstract graphic.
JetPack 5:05
Manic Miner 5:58
Atic Atac 7:10
Manic Miner 2 - Jet Set Willy 23:46
Star Quake 31:09
Zynaps 48:59

[hubertzimnicki]

Chaos, Nether Earth, Turbo Esprit...all way beyond their time.

[djx-ray]

Love to see it - still have 3 Spectrums -48k rubber keys, Spectrum +, Spectrum+2- along with over 500 games.

[davmo]

Those garish colours give me a rush of nostalgia!! Head Over Heels was my favourite game of that era.

[deterdamel]

This is a nice collection, that shows real game play unlike most other collections of these kinds!