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.
: Hub world navigation unlocks deep, branching dungeons. What is New in Version 1.09e?
: Includes hidden characters like the shopkeeper and the farm huntress that are unlockable through specific story progression.
┌──> Light Faction Ending (Chapter 3 Choice) ├──> Dark Faction Ending (Chapter 3 Choice) [Reach Post-Game State] ──────┼──> 40+ Individual Succubus Endings └──> True Completionist "Panties Collection" Succubus Affection -Finished- - Version- 1.09e
: All main story arcs and character-specific events are concluded.
This definitive version includes all of the game's complete features without any compromises. It contains 25 different kinds of monster girls to befriend, each with its own unique, animated scenes. Additionally, the five main bosses have their own unique CG scenes, providing a significant amount of content to unlock and enjoy. : Hub world navigation unlocks deep, branching dungeons
The story brings five key characters to the forefront, each integral to the hero's journey:
Before descending into the lower caverns, ensure your gear is upgraded to at least +5. The enemies here utilize poison and paralysis attacks that can easily stunlock your character. 45+ Key Item: Antidote Ring / Paralysis Charm Phase 2: Navigating the Final Citadels Additionally, the five main bosses have their own
Exploring Succubus Affection -Finished- Version 1.09e Succubus Affection
The core metric for success is building trust and love, which unlocks new scenes and deeper narrative paths. Why Version 1.09e is Important
: Adjusted the mana costs and damage scaling of advanced dark magic spells to make hybrid builds viable.
And that's about it. From there on, you are on your own.