Retro ZX Spectrum games
Pac-Man
1980
One of the most widespread successes among arcade games, Pac-Man was available on almost any platform available in 8-bit era.
Donkey Kong
1981
Classic platform game, one of the earliest titles of the genre, which introduced a character of Mario.
Football Manager
1982
Original game that gave the inspiration and its name to modern times Football Manager series.
River Raid
1982
Classic shoot’em up - fly through a narrow canyon above a river and shoot the obstacles.
Dictator
1983
There are many ways to rule your country, but when you are a dictator you have to balance on the edge of revolution every day.
Can you solve this mystery?
Can you solve this 50 years old unsolved case?
Blue Max
1983
Classic arcade game with slight elements of simulation - we take control over World War I plane that flies deep behind enemy lines and attacks the land targets and strategic bridges.
Spy Hunter
1983
Arcade game inspired by James Bond movies - you drive a heavily armed car on the road full of people that want you dead.
The Pharaoh’s Curse
1983
Platform game, try to grab the treasures before the mummy will get ancient on your ass.
Beach Head
1983
Arcade game set in a reality of World War 2 - take charge in landing on an island and overwhelming the defenders.
Rescue on Fractalus!
1984
Rocky surface and dense toxic atmosphere of planet Fractalus is a worst place to be stuck, especially when your fighter has just been shot down and you don’t really have much choice.
Election
1984
What could be simpler than democracy? Find out by running the local election campaign for one of parties in United Kingdom.
Montezuma’s Revenge
1984
Platform game set in an Aztec pyramids, where dangers await Panama Joe, the main character.
Karateka
1984
The evil warlord Akuma have imprisoned Princess Mariko in his castle and you have to rescue her because... Because you just do, stop asking questions!
Tapper
1984
Arcade game that can be model to show how arcade should look like - very simple, easy to learn, fun to play.
Formula One
1985
One of the first Formula One management games that set the standards that are still in use in modern games of the genre.
Silent Service
1985
Classic submarine simulator that set the standards for the genre that more or less are still in use in modern titles.
Ballblazer
1985
Futuristic sport, in which you try to put the ball between the ever decreasing and constantly moving goal posts.
Zorro
1985
A platform game with a mean streak hidden beneath, because it was partly a puzzle game. And when I say puzzle game, I mean a f... Well, anyway.
Ace of Aces
1986
World War 2 flight simulator, in which we flight de Havilland Mosquito, multi-role airplane, in missions over occupied Europe attacking strategic targets.
Ninja
1986
The 1980s was an era when ninjas took over the Western culture with the (completely false) image of wearing all-black clothing assassins.
PHM Pegasus
1986
Simulator of the long-lived Pegasus class of hydrofoils that were supposed to be the future of the navies.
The Hunt for Red October
1987
Game advertised as "ultimate submarine combat simulator" that did not managed to live up to the optimism of the publisher.
The Train: Escape to Normandy
1987
One of the early simulations based on the 1964 war movie The Train - during World War 2 French resistance takes control over a train and drives it towards Normandy, where Allied forces have landed.
Jack the Ripper
1987
Text adventure based on the story of 19th century serial killer, who terrorized Whitechapel in East London.
Gunboat
1988
1988 simulator of American fast patrol boats that were used during Vietnam War to operate on the great rivers of Southeast Asia.
Bismarck
1988
Strategy game with elements of arcade built around real World War II events surrounding the hunt for German battleship Bismarck as it was trying to breakthrough to Atlantic.
Carrier Command
1988
Classic strategy game with action elements - on surface a very simple looking game, but once you take a look at the details it is a great piece of software from 1988.
Hostages
1989
The year was 1989, when Infogrames decided to shock the world - they took hostages and locked them in an embassy. Or made a game about such event, it was one of the two.
Sim City
1990
A city-builder from times that there were no city-builders yet - you start from an empty lot and build your metropolis.
Navy Seals
1990
Licensed game linked to the 1990 movie about American (obviously) Navy Seals on a covert mission in the Middle East.
Beverly Hills Cop
1990
Arcade game based upon the action / comedy movie starring Eddie Murphy.
Fighter Bomber
1990
The title is self-explanatory, but just in case it is not, Fighter Bomber is a flight simulator. Yes, 1990s were not subtle times when it comes to game titles.