The Sinclair ZX81 was a home computer produced by Sinclair Research and manufactured in Scotland by Timex Corporation. It was launched in the United Kingdom in March 1981 as the successor to Sinclair's ZX80 kit and was designed to be a low-cost introduction to home computing for the mass public.
The ZX81 computer was designed to be small, simple, and above all cheap, and could be bought by mail order in ZX81 kit form or as a pre-assembled unit.
Without a dedicated graphics chip and only 1kb of RAM (of which already 800 bytes are needed for just the screenbuffer), the unexpanded machine was considered very limited. This is why most zx81 computer programs and games make use of the 16kb ram-pack.
ZX81 games
Mage: The Enchanted Crystals (2018)
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
While working on a powerful spell,Wizzy's father was being watched by others.
As a precaution he captured the spell inside a crystal and divided it into 4 pieces, which he buried inside the mines, just south of your village. It is now up to you to collect these pieces and bring them together inside the enchanted chest to ensure the spell doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
How to play
Press left, right (O,P), up and down (Q,A) to navigate Wizzy around the world.
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Large world to explore
- Colored graphics via Chroma81 interface (native)
- Internet Highscore uploading
- Online rewards
- Support for AY-sound boards
- ZXpand joystick interface support
Screenshots
Screenshots (Chroma81)
Video review
Review by Villordsutch
Digital Download
Available on Cassette Tape
Because of sensitivity of ZX81 games tape recordings, this game is only available
as a Cassette Tape Kit.
Which means you will receive Cassette tape with cover and Digital Download
for your own recording.
A heist has gone wrong and now you are being chased!
Escape the police by running and jumping from rooftop
to rooftop, while grabbing leftover cash wherever you can
Now run!
How to play
Press left and right (o and p) to move and fire (e or i) to jump
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Multi layer Parallax scrolling
- Colored graphics via Chroma81 interface (native)
- Internet Highscore uploading
- Online rewards
- Support for AY-sound boards
- ZXpand joystick interface support
Screenshots
Screenshots (Chroma81)
Digital Download
Available on Cassette Tape
Because of sensitivity of ZX81 games tape recordings, this game is only available
as a Cassette Tape Kit.
Which means you will receive Cassette tape with cover and Digital Download
for your own recording.
Boxing Champ is an addictive boxing game that blends arcade gameplay with tactical elements.
Approach your opponent and find an opening, then attack him!
How to play
Press left and right (o and p) to move your boxer and up and down (q and a) to change your blocking. Press fire (e or i) to punch.
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Large range of offense and defense moves
- Internet Highscore uploading
- Online rewards
- Support for AY-sound boards
- ZXpand joystick interface support
Screenshots
Digital Download
Available on Cassette Tape
Because of sensitivity of ZX81 games tape recordings, this game is only available
as a Cassette Tape Kit.
Which means you will receive Cassette tape with cover and Digital Download
for your own recording.
Shifted is an action puzzle game that requires quick thinking and quick responses.
You have to shift columns up and down to make combinations of gems on the centre row. The higher the combination, the more points you will earn.
How long can you keep shifting?
How to play
Use joystick left/right or keys (O,P) to move cursor. Use up/down (Q,A) to shift columns and use fire (or E/I) to rotate center row.
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Highly Addictive action/puzzler!
- Internet Highscore uploading
- Online rewards
- Support for AY-sound boards
- ZXpand joystick interface support
Screenshots
Digital Download
Available on Cassette Tape
Because of sensitivity of ZX81 games tape recordings, this game is only available
as a Cassette Tape Kit.
Which means you will receive Cassette tape with cover and Digital Download
for your own recording.
Meet Clive Junior : Inventor extraordinair. Clive Junior felt the elevators in his neighbourhood could use a little 'improvement'. While effective for a while, the fun didn't last long, as the elevators are out of control!
How to play
Use joystick left/right or keys (O,P) to navigate.
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Internet Highscore uploading
- Online rewards
- Support for AY-sound boards
- ZXpand joystick interface support
Screenshots
Digital Download
Available on Cassette Tape
Because of sensitivity of ZX81 games tape recordings, this game is only available
as a Cassette Tape Kit.
Which means you will receive Cassette tape with cover and Digital Download
for your own recording.
Fleeing into the depths of the caves, there is only one way to go: Down!!!
How to play
Use joystick left/right or keys (O,P) to navigate. Pick up items to gain bonus points!
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Addictive arcade gameplay
- Internet Highscore uploading
- Online rewards
- Support for AY-sound boards
- ZXpand joystick interface support
Screenshots
Digital Download
Available on Cassette Tape
Because of sensitivity of ZX81 games tape recordings, this game is only available
as a Cassette Tape Kit.
Which means you will receive Cassette tape with cover and Digital Download
for your own recording.
Clive Junior's latest invention went terribly wrong! It exploded and all kinds of parts are flying across the room!
Your goal is clear and simple: Avoid the debris while running around and picking up parts to gain points!
How to play
Use joystick or keys (Q,A,O,P) to control Clive Jr. and avoid the debris, while collecting parts to score!
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Easy to pickup, difficult to master!
- Colored graphics via Chroma81 interface (native)
- Internet Highscore uploading
- Online rewards
- Support for AY-sound boards
- ZXpand joystick interface support
Screenshots
Screenshots (Chroma81)
Digital Download
Available on Cassette Tape
Because of sensitivity of ZX81 games tape recordings, this game is only available
as a Cassette Tape Kit.
Which means you will receive Cassette tape with cover and Digital Download
for your own recording.
Avalanche is a fun action game people can just pickup and play. The player has to shoot the various gems that are falling down from the top of the screen.
The gems are marked with symbols and the player has to match up the symbol of his ship with the symbol on the gems.
The speed of the game will automatically increase during gameplay. Shoot strategically and get combos of 4 similar gems in a row to decrease speed and gain extra points.
How to play
Use keyboard or joystick to control your ship. Left and right movement (O, P) will move your ship through the different columns, while up and down (Q, A) will change the symbol on your ship. Press fire (E or I) to shoot.
Game Features
- Available on Tape and as Digital Download
- Easy to pickup and play type of game
- Colored graphics via Chroma81 interface (native)
- Internet Highscore uploading
- Online rewards
- Support for AY-sound boards
- ZXpand joystick interface support
Screenshots
Screenshots (Chroma81)
Digital Download
Available on Cassette Tape
Because of sensitivity of ZX81 games tape recordings, this game is only available
as a Cassette Tape Kit.
Which means you will receive Cassette tape with cover and Digital Download
for your own recording.
A nice demo for the ZX-81 and Timex Sinclair TS-1000 / TS-1500 systems, featuring Fractals and 3D Vectorballs.
Running the demo
The demo runs on a real ZX-81 with 16kb RAM-pack
To run on emulators, best to use the EightyOne emulator.
Load using : LOAD "" (J-key and """)
Digital Download
Twirl Demo (2010)
Some animation and a scroller
This little demo for the ZX-81 and Timex Sinclair TS-1000 / TS-1500 systems was my first attempt at tackling these systems. It is just a small demo with some animation and a scroller, but it was enough for me to get some of the basics down, before starting on actual game development.
Running the demo
The demo runs on a real ZX-81 with 16kb RAM-pack
To run on emulators, best to use the EightyOne emulator.
