The 50 Best (C64) Games Ever
June 17, 2009 at 04:06:13 AM, by Jesper Berg
Here are 50 good reasons why the Commodore 64 is the best gaming computer of all time.
Computer gaming has been caught in a downward spiral for the past 20 years. New games take years to develop and then they’re quickly shelved in a couple of months when a new game with slightly improved 3D graphics comes along. Every few months your gaming rig is coincidentally also outdated and you have to update your “GTS” to a “GTX” to make your games playable.
No, the best years of gaming are clearly behind us – when the best games were rated by how many hours you were willing to spend with a screwdriver in your Datasette C1531 to get them to run, and the only gaming rig you needed had 64K of RAM and a MOS 6510 processor running at 1MHz.
If you’re an elderly geek (say, 30+) you almost certainly remember all those hours you spent tweaking the Commodore 64’s tape recorder with the “Azimuth Head Alignment” software with fondness, unless you were one of the spoiled rich kids who could just type LOAD “*”,8,1 to load the games immediately right off their 1541 5¼" Double Density floppy drive.
No computer or video game console from before or after the Commodore 64 has given birth to so many timeless classics – just look at this lineup by legendary game developers such as Ocean, Epyx and Microprose:
1. Defender of the Crown
This exceptionally British strategy game could be played over and over. So good was it in fact, that remakes are still appearing every now and then.
2. Ghosts ‘n Goblins
An arcade classic that really made a name for itself on the C64; it has been ported to just about every other platform, but the C64 version is still the best hands down.
3. Skate or Die!
Back when skateboarding was still cool – in 1987 – the kids were skating all day and playing Skate or Die all night. Skate or Die 2 was unfairly reserved for NES owners only, but you could at least play the winterized sequel Ski or Die on the C64.
4. Elite
Elite was way ahead of its time with intricate gameplay and cool-looking wireframe graphics. Although this space-trading and alien-blasting game was not originally created for the Commodore 64, it gained massive popularity on the platform.
5. Delta
“Fasten your seat belt, Player 1,” and prepare for one of the best side-scrolling space shooters ever made. Delta was an original C64 creation with fantastic gameplay and graphics.
6. Boulderdash
Another classic puzzle game that has been revamped countless times; Boulderdash could entertain you for hours, and still does, but mostly on handheld consoles and cell phones.
7. Commando
Commando was released at roughly the same time as the Schwarzenegger movie with the same name. Although they were actually unrelated (or perhaps the movie was based on the game?), the theme was basically the same: “Destroy the enemy army!!”.
8. Green Beret
A great but insanely difficult platformer/shoot’em up. The objective was to rescue your captured allies by single-handedly stabbing, shooting and incinerating about half a million enemies.
9. Thrust
Use the right amount of Thrust to pilot your spaceship down tunnels (without colliding with the walls) in search of loot – all while being attacked by vicious gun turrets; a unique game but also extremely difficult.
10. Spy Hunter
Spy Hunter was a fast paced arcade style racing-and-shooting game where you had all the classic James Bond stuff at your disposal including smoke screens and rocket launchers.
11. Bruce Lee
Play the role of legendary Kung Fu master Bruce Lee (in the form of 3-5 pixels) and penetrate an impenetrable fortress full of evil ninjas and fat green kick boxers.
12. The Sentinel
The Sentinel was a solid try at making 3D graphics work on the C64. The real challenge of the game, though, was finding out what the hell you were supposed to do.
13. The Hobbit
Without a doubt the best computer game adaptation of a Tolkien novel so far.
14. Impossible Mission
Although you could just sit back and be amazed at the awesome graphics in this game, it also has a superb plot which involved the evil Professor Atombender and his equally evil robot army.
15. HERO – Helicopter Emergency Rescue Operation
Here’s an interesting idea for a video game: A hero with a backpack helicopter descends into deep caves to rescue missing persons, while blowing up walls and killing spiders with helmet-mounted lasers.
16. Forbidden Forest
Forbidden Forest was an exciting game, and way too scary to play with the lights out.
17. Leaderboard Golf
Tiger Woods' PGA Tour might be a decent golf game, but I for one miss Leaderboard Golf – where you could easily score a hole-in-one even on a par five with the wind in your back and the right attitude.
18. Pitstop 2
Carlsberg doesn't do C64 Formula-1 racing games, but if they did, it would probably be as good as Pitstop 2.
19. Test Drive
The number of games with “Test Drive” in the title multiplied exponentially after the massive success of the original - and still best - game in the series.
20. Paperboy
The concept of playing a paperboy doesn't sound that captivating, but this game was actually quite addictive. Of course, few real-life paper routes has you jumping through force fields for bonus points.
21. International Karate+
Right about the time when every kid was trying to learn karate with the “wax on, wax off” method as taught by Mr. Miyagi, System 3 released International Karate. Combined with its incredible gameplay and stunning graphics, it was destined for success.
22. Samantha Fox Strip Poker
Many of those who became millionaires during the online poker boom almost certainly started their careers with this game.
23. Into the Eagle’s Nest
‘Eagle’s Nest’ was sort of like Gauntlet only with better graphics and Nazis.
24. Stunt Car Racer
Several attempts have been made to replicate this amazing stunt car racing game, but none have been able to produce a game with such realistic physics and compelling gameplay.
25. Manic Miner
Although it was originally designed for the ZX Spectrum, it was also a smash hit on the C64 for obvious reasons: the great in-game music and Manic Miner’s colorful graphics were as irresistible as its gameplay.
26. Head Over Heels
Head Over Heels – or “Foot and Mouth” which was its more accurate working title – was a weird but unique and enjoyable game presented in an isometric perspective. Try it out for yourself in the excellent freeware remake available here.
27. Last Ninja (1, 2 and 3)
The Last Ninja trilogy was a defining moment in gaming history. Its gameplay was one of a kind, conbining puzzle-solving and combat.
28. The Great Giana Sisters
Why would you buy a NES to play Mario when you could play the vastly superior Giana Sisters?
29. Winter Games
The entire “Games” series by Epyx was superp, and Winter Games was one of the best.
30. Barbarian
With the right left-to-right moves on your Tac-2, you could chop your opponent’s head off in a single overhead sweep. All the kids loved it.
31. Barbarian 2
The sequel to Barbarian was a side-scroller that was nowhere near as good as the original due to the lack of decapitations, but still worth an honorable mention.
32. 1942
1942 was a great arcade conversion and something of a hidden gem on the C64 that didn’t get the credit it deserved.
33. Bubble Bobble
Unlike all the sequels, the original Bubble Bobble was released at a time when games like this were still considered inventive and fun.
34. The Bard’s Tale
Already 20 years ago, fantasy RPGs like The Bard’s Tale and Might & Magic could keep you glued to your computer for days at a time.
35. Wizball
When was the last time you saw a game as inventive as Wizball? That’s right – never. This one can also be downloaded in a great freeware remake at: http://retrospec.sgn.net/index.php36. Pirates!
You had to hide your (pirated) copy of Pirates! from your friends, or they’d be stuck at your C64 for hours.
37. Arkanoid
An instant arcade classic that rose to fame on the C64.
38. Creatures
Those amazing graphics in Creatures and Creatures 2 really raised the bar for how a C64 game could look. It was a fun game besides.
39. Attack of the Mutant Camels
Kill all the mutant camels to save the world. What more needs to be said?
40. Cauldron
Maneuver your Hag well and collect six rare ingredients to concoct a spell that defeats the evil Pump-king.
41. Pool of Radiance
For more than 20 years by now, a Forgotten Realms sticker on the box has been a seal of geek approval, much thanks to games like Pool of Radiance.
42. Zaxxon
Zaxxon for the C64 had all you could ask for in an isometric-scrolling space shoot ’em up.
43. Uridium
Uridium for the C64 had all you could ask for in a side-scrolling space shoot ‘em up. Also, the graphics were awesome.
44. Bombjack
Another arcade conversion that was even better on the Commodore than on coin-ops.
45. Paradroid
A highly original shooter/puzzle game where you control an “influence device” to command other droids to do your bidding.
46. Ultima 3 Exodus
Richard Garriott AKA “Lord British” worked with the Ultima RPG series since the early 80s. All of the games in the series that were actually worth playing could be played on the C64.
47. Montezuma’s Revenge
Not to be confused with the affliction called Montezuma’s Revenge by tourists to South America; this is a game where you play an Indiana Jones-like character descending an old Aztec pyramid.
48. Maniac Mansion
Lucasfilm (now known as LucasArts) is more or less responsible for the entire point-and-click adventure game genre that started out with excellent games like this one, the Monkey Island series and lots more.
49. Grog’s Revenge
Avoid falling off a mountain, collect clams and discover the meaning of life. While on a unicycle. This game based on the B.C. comic was about as hard as it sounds.
50. Kikstart 2
Kikstart 2 was a forerunner to the “motorcycle stunts games with built-in track editor“ genre.
If you made it through the whole list you almost certainly had a C64 back in the day, and right now you are planning to ask why the hell "Meta-Galactic Llamas: Battle at the Edge of Time" or [insert favorite game here] isn't listed. Well in fact there were so many awe-inspiring games for the machine that they wouldn’t fit on a Top 500 list. During its life span, more than 10,000 commercial games were developed for the Commodore 64. Fortunately you can play most of them on your PC, Mac or mobile device using an emulator. Page:1/1
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Comments
Jeff at 10:52, July 19, 2010
I'd like to see Raid Over Moscow get a nod in there.
American Mail at 17:24, February 25, 2010
Ultima III is the youtube with Ultimate IV. However both were ported to C64. Ultimate IV was the big change on how the stats were generated for your starting party by answering deep questions about life choices.
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