The ZX Spectrum can boast some 15 thousand titles, which is about ten times more than what is currently available for either GBA or NDS alone. This is quite a lot of games to choose from. To put it into perspective, if you try out one title each day, it will keep you occupied for more than forty years. So, where do you start?
Fortunately there are many sites out there which list the best Spectrum games ever made. The only problem is that the rating often comes from people who played the games back in the day, which makes it somewhat biased and less relevant for users who have not even heard about the Spectrum before. Well, at least I honestly doubt that people today would really care to appreciate Deathchase, no matter if it is listed as number one in Your Sinclair's Top 100 list.
Therefore I have decided to create this little page, focusing on the games which might still appeal to ZXDS users today. The criteria judged here were mostly the quality of gameplay, decent graphics, ease of control, reasonable learning curve, and any suitable combination thereof. Of course, bear in mind that this is still all subject to my personal opinion, which means that everyone else is free to disagree with my selection. And while I think I have covered most of the must-see games, there are certainly hundreds of other excellent games out there which I have yet to discover myself. Still, the games listed here are usually the ones I can heartily recommend to anyone, and I hope it will help the newcomers to get some taste of the gaming of the past.
For your convenience, every reference and screenshot is linked to the corresponding World of Spectrum Classic page where you can download the games from and get further info. I particularly recommend reading the game instructions, otherwise you might have problems figuring out the controls and what you are actually supposed to do. However note that some of the games were denied from distribution, so you won't be able to get them from legal sites like WoS.
Finally, if you would prefer to see even more screenshots without my sidenotes, you can go here for an overwhelming amount of retrogaming goodness on one single page. Beware, though, it has been observed to have a strong emotional impact on some of the tested subjects.
The rain in the city didn't fall; it shattered against the pavement in rhythmic, cold pulses. Maya pulled her collar up, her boots splashing through puddles that reflected the flickering neon of the "Garage" sign across the street. It was her sister’s eighteenth birthday, and if she didn’t get that gift card, she’d never hear the end of it.
: A reliable source for digital versions . Secondary & Third-Party Options
: Buy digital e-gift cards or physical cards directly from the Garage Clothing US or Garage Clothing Canada websites. where to buy garage gift cards
: Offers "suggested" gift cards that can be printed or sent via text to be used specifically for Garage purchases. The Neon Detour
: Often carries physical or digital Garage gift cards . The rain in the city didn't fall; it
: You can pick up a physical gift card at any Garage store location. Authorized Online Retailers :
She ducked into the shop, the air instantly turning warm and smelling of brand-new denim and vanilla perfume. The bass from a pop remix thrummed in her chest. At the counter, a teenager with glittery eyeliner handed a sleek, silver card to the customer ahead of Maya. "Just one more," Maya muttered, reaching the register. : A reliable source for digital versions
: Platforms like CardSwap or eBay may list Garage gift cards, often at a slight discount or through user-to-user sales.
And that's about it. From there on, you are on your own.