Spediteur, developed by Windigo Productions for the Commodore 64, is a turn-based business simulation that channels the spirit of classic board games while delivering a uniquely strategic experience for retro gaming enthusiasts.
The premise is simple but compelling: become the most successful freight forwarder by earning the most money within a set period, transporting goods between cities, and outwitting your rivals through clever route planning and tactical decisions.
At its core, Spediteur is about logistics and risk management. Each round, up to four players—human or CPU—are tasked with accepting and fulfilling transport orders across five distinct maps, each offering unique challenges. The game’s interface is intuitive, with orders displayed clearly and actions controlled via a joystick in port 2. Every turn grants players a limited number of Action Points (AP), which must be carefully allocated between loading cargo, traveling, and navigating obstacles such as traffic jams and sabotage.
The strategic layer is deepened by the choice of transport modes: road, ship, or plane. Sometimes, the road network is clogged or sabotaged, forcing players to decide whether to invest in alternative routes. The tension of these decisions is heightened by the presence of competitive AI opponents, who may occasionally resort to sabotage themselves, adding an unpredictable edge to each session.
Spediteur shines in multiplayer, supporting up to four players in hot-seat mode. The adjustable difficulty ensures that both newcomers and veterans can find a suitable challenge, while the five unique maps keep the gameplay fresh and varied. Each game lasts 20–25 rounds, striking a balance between depth and accessibility, and providing ample opportunity for strategic maneuvering and last-minute comebacks. The pixel art graphics and chiptune soundtrack evoke the golden age of the C64, delivering a nostalgic experience without sacrificing clarity or usability. The interface is clean, and the information is well-presented, making it easy to track your progress and plan your next move. The game is fully compatible with both PAL and NTSC systems and runs flawlessly on real hardware or emulators like Vice.
Mineshaft Gap plunges players into a bleak yet intriguing post-nuclear world where humanity’s last hope lies underground. Developed for the Commodore 64, this real-time strategy (RTS) title offers a fresh take on survival and rebuilding, combining tense resource management with tactical control over a group of bunker dwellers striving to reclaim a devastated Earth.
The narrative backdrop is compelling and darkly imaginative: after a catastrophic nuclear war, the Earth’s surface becomes uninhabitable, allowing cockroaches to dominate. Humanity’s survival depends on underground shelters where the best minds and citizens have been preserved in hibernation pods. As the player, your consciousness is transferred into a stationary control center, tasked with overseeing the shelter dwellers and guiding the rebirth of civilization beneath the surface.
This grim scenario is enriched with a clever twist of humor and urgency, as boredom from endless solitaire and minesweeper games drives you to awaken the bunker inhabitants and start rebuilding — all while racing against potential enemy factions to avoid a dreaded “mineshaft gap,” a strategic disadvantage underground.
Mineshaft Gap is notable for its real-time strategy gameplay on the C64, a platform not traditionally known for RTS games. You command up to 32 independent bunker dwellers, each acting autonomously but influenced by your strategic directives. Managing these survivors involves balancing resource gathering, construction, and defense, all under the constant threat of radiation and enemy interference.
The game’s pace demands quick thinking and efficient multitasking, as you must optimize your dwellers’ actions to expand your underground base, secure vital resources, and fend off rival factions. The interface is designed to be accessible despite the platform’s limitations, with clear visual cues and responsive controls that make managing dozens of units feasible.
Technical Aspects and Compatibility
Mineshaft Gap runs smoothly on original Commodore 64 hardware, as well as C128, TheC64, and popular emulators, though it is optimized for PAL mode. The requirement of a disk drive 8 or 9 for saving progress is a nod to the era’s hardware constraints but is handled seamlessly within the game’s flow.
Graphically, the game embraces the C64’s classic pixel art style, using a muted color palette fitting the post-apocalyptic theme. Sound effects and music are minimal but effective, contributing to the tense atmosphere without distracting from gameplay.
With its real-time mechanics and up to 32 independent units, Mineshaft Gap offers a challenging experience that rewards strategic planning and adaptability. The threat of enemy factions adds a layer of unpredictability, ensuring no two playthroughs are the same. The game’s difficulty curve is well balanced, making it accessible to newcomers while providing depth for seasoned RTS fans.
Portal Buster is a lightning-fast bidirectional horizontal shooter for the Commodore 64 that challenges even the most skilled players. Featuring a massive 32k pixel-wide level, nine weapon power-up levels, infinite continues, and innovative portal mechanics for instant travel, it delivers relentless action and strategic depth. Fuel management adds tension, while built-in trainer modes help tame the brutal pace.
The game shines with smooth VSP scrolling and polished graphics and sound, though its speed and tight spaces may frustrate casual players. PAL-only and tested on various C64 hardware and emulators, Portal Buster is a rewarding, high-octane shooter for fans craving pure speed and challenge.
Key mapping:
M : Music on/off
Space : Pause
H : Half-speed trainer
I : Invulnerability trainer
O : Overtime
Spinning Image is a polished and challenging puzzle game for the Commodore 64 where you build and deconstruct blocks on a playfield to replicate a target image. With 50 levels split into five sets, you unlock new stages by completing most levels in each set. The gameplay deepens with obstacles like portals and bouncing walls, requiring thoughtful planning and spatial reasoning.
The game features smooth controls, save functionality, and runs well on real hardware and emulators, supporting both PAL and NTSC. While some find the puzzle style tedious, its clever mechanics and level design offer a rewarding experience for fans of methodical block puzzles.
A well-crafted, thoughtful block puzzle with 50 levels and inventive obstacles—best suited for players who enjoy slow, strategic problem-solving on the C64.
