Soulless (2012)
Soulless is a platformer released in 2012 for the Commodore 64. Modern players without an actual C64 have been taken into account. A digital download package is available that includes an emulator and a shortcut for launching the game. The emulator settings are also pre-configured. Soulless features gorgeous graphics and music, an intriguing framing narrative and solid animation. It is an excellently polished, fully finished game.
Caren and the Tangled Tentacles (2015)
New games are still being made for 8-bit computers. It sounds improbable, yet there are developers who take on the challenge of creating something for a platform that is archaic by modern standards — and they are not doing it purely for nostalgia. First released in 2015, Caren and the Tangled Tentacles is a showcase of what contemporary coders can achieve. The old Commodore 64 continues to surprise. These new games blend modern design sensibilities with brutally strict technical limitations.
Neuromancer (1988)
Neuromancer is an adventure game with strategic and action elements, released in 1988 and based on William Gibson’s cyberpunk novel of the same name. It is a remarkably sophisticated and multilayered work, and not merely as a product of its time. I played the Commodore 64 version through the VICE emulator.
The Detective (1986)
Released in 1986 and designed by Sam Manthorpe, The Detective is a fine graphical murder mystery for the Commodore 64. Like many games of its era, it is a purifying experience — a return to the roots rather than a mere historical curiosity. In games this old, the skeleton of the adventure genre is still clearly visible. Due to technical limitations, everything is simplified to the essentials.