The 63 best ZX Spectrum games

Ranked by the scores that magazines gave these games when they came out. The list draws on 12,631 review scores of 3,334 ZX Spectrum games; 1,993 of them have enough reviews to be ranked.

#	Game	Platform	Year	Score
1	Knight Lore	ZX Spectrum	1984	98.5
2	Silicon Dreams Trilogy	ZX Spectrum	1986	98.3
3	Elite	ZX Spectrum	1985	98
4	Red Moon	ZX Spectrum	1985	96.4
5	Psi Chess	ZX Spectrum	1986	96.2
6	Valhalla	ZX Spectrum	1983	96.1
7	Heavy on the Magick	ZX Spectrum	1986	96
8	Carrier Command	ZX Spectrum	1989	95.5
9	The Lords of Midnight	ZX Spectrum	1984	95.2
10	The Pawn	ZX Spectrum	1987	95
11	Fairlight: A Prelude	ZX Spectrum	1985	94.7
12	Psytron	ZX Spectrum	1984	94.5
13	The Price of Magik	ZX Spectrum	1986	94.2
14	Stunt Car Racer	ZX Spectrum	1989	94
15	The Sentinel	ZX Spectrum	1987	93.8
16	Android Two	ZX Spectrum	1983	93.8
17	Tetris	ZX Spectrum	1988	93.4
18	Batman	ZX Spectrum	1986	93.2
19	Lunar Jetman	ZX Spectrum	1984	93.1
20	Myth: History in the Making	ZX Spectrum	1989	93
21	Jinxter	ZX Spectrum	1988	93
22	Dun Darach	ZX Spectrum	1985	92.9
23	Rainbow Islands	ZX Spectrum	1990	92.7
24	The Boggit: Bored Too	ZX Spectrum	1986	92.5
25	The Untouchables	ZX Spectrum	1989	92
26	Doomdark's Revenge	ZX Spectrum	1985	91.9
27	Pang	ZX Spectrum	1990	91.9
28	Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future	ZX Spectrum	1986	91.9
29	Gauntlet	ZX Spectrum	1987	91.8
30	The Way of the Tiger	ZX Spectrum	1986	91.7
31	Jewels of Darkness	ZX Spectrum	1986	91.6
32	Three Weeks in Paradise	ZX Spectrum	1986	91.4
33	Midnight Resistance	ZX Spectrum	1990	91.4
34	Dark Side	ZX Spectrum	1988	91.3
35	Frankie Goes to Hollywood	ZX Spectrum	1985	91.3
36	The Worm in Paradise	ZX Spectrum	1985	91.2
37	Rod·Land	ZX Spectrum	1992	91.2
38	Smash T.V.	ZX Spectrum	1991	91.2
39	Space Crusade	ZX Spectrum	1992	91.2
40	Pssst	ZX Spectrum	1983	91.1
41	Hammerfist	ZX Spectrum	1990	91.1
42	Lemmings	ZX Spectrum	1991	91
43	Exolon	ZX Spectrum	1987	90.9
44	Manic Miner	ZX Spectrum	1983	90.9
45	Starglider	ZX Spectrum	1986	90.9
46	Micronaut One	ZX Spectrum	1987	90.8
47	Movie	ZX Spectrum	1986	90.7
48	Chase H.Q.	ZX Spectrum	1989	90.6
49	Robocop 2	ZX Spectrum	1990	90.6
50	Robocop	ZX Spectrum	1988	90.6
51	Killed Until Dead	ZX Spectrum	1987	90.5
52	Enduro Racer	ZX Spectrum	1987	90.4
53	Avalon	ZX Spectrum	1984	90.3
54	Head Over Heels	ZX Spectrum	1987	90.3
55	Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back	ZX Spectrum	1986	90.2
56	Inside Outing	ZX Spectrum	1988	90.2
57	Total Eclipse	ZX Spectrum	1988	90.2
58	The Trapdoor	ZX Spectrum	1986	90
59	The Fourth Protocol: The Game	ZX Spectrum	1985	90
60	SWIV	ZX Spectrum	1991	90
61	Night Shift	ZX Spectrum	1991	90
62	Technician Ted: The Megamix	ZX Spectrum	1986	90
63	Academy: Tau Ceti II	ZX Spectrum	1986	90

Highly rated, with fewer than 3 reviews

122 ZX Spectrum games have a score of 90 or more, but from only one or two reviews, and no Metacritic score.

Game	Platform	Year	Score
Cyrus IS Chess	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Alien Insects	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Backgammon	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Black Planet	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Centropods	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Comando Quatro	ZX Spectrum	1989	100
Cosmic Debris	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Cosmic Guerrilla	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
ETX - The Extra-Terrestrial Xargon	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Escape-MCP	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Frenzy	ZX Spectrum	1982	100
Gold Digger	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Horace & the Spiders	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Humphrey	ZX Spectrum	1988	100
Komplex City	ZX Spectrum	1985	100
Kosmic Pirate	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Livingstone II	ZX Spectrum	1989	100
Manager	ZX Spectrum	1984	100
Moley Christmas	ZX Spectrum	1987	100
Paris-Dakar	ZX Spectrum	1988	100
Perico Delgado Maillot Amarillo	ZX Spectrum	1989	100
Pimania	ZX Spectrum	1982	100
Racing Manager	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Robon	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Smugglers Cove	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Star Trek 3000	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Starfire	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
Superchess II	ZX Spectrum	1983	100
The Dark Tower	ZX Spectrum	1992	100
The Lost Tomb of Ananka	ZX Spectrum	1993	100
The White Feather Cloak	ZX Spectrum	1991	100
Ulises	ZX Spectrum	1989	100
The Axe of Kolt	ZX Spectrum	1990	96.5
Knight Orc	ZX Spectrum	1987	96
Bridge Master	ZX Spectrum	1983	95
Fairlight: A Prelude - 128k Version	ZX Spectrum	1986	95
Moon Alert	ZX Spectrum	1984	94.5
Jungle Warrior	ZX Spectrum	1990	94
DreamWalker: Alter Ego 2	ZX Spectrum	2014	93
Solar Fire	ZX Spectrum	1987	92.5
Sito Pons 500cc Grand Prix	ZX Spectrum	1990	92
Jungle Trouble	ZX Spectrum	1983	91.5
Magicland Dizzy	ZX Spectrum	1990	91.5
Kwik Snax	ZX Spectrum	1990	91
Beach Volley	ZX Spectrum	1989	91
El Stompo	ZX Spectrum	2014	91
Myth	ZX Spectrum	1989	91
Orc Attack: You Against the Hordes	ZX Spectrum	1984	91
Polearn	ZX Spectrum	1989	91
Simulador Profesional de Tenis	ZX Spectrum	1990	91
Chess	ZX Spectrum	1982	90
Crystal Quest	ZX Spectrum	1985	90
Labyrinth	ZX Spectrum	1983	90
Lone Wolf: Flight from the Dark	ZX Spectrum	1984	90
Snowball	ZX Spectrum	1983	90
Steg The Slug	ZX Spectrum	1992	90
The Guild of Thieves	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Amoto's Puf	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Astroball	ZX Spectrum	1992	90
Averno	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Aztec Assault	ZX Spectrum	1992	90
Behind Closed Doors 3: Revenge of the Ants	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Blood of Bogmole 2: Zogan's Revenge	ZX Spectrum	1992	90
Bumpy	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Capitan Sevilla	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Carlos Sainz: Campeonato del Mundo de Rallies	ZX Spectrum	1990	90
Casanova	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Chess Tutor 1	ZX Spectrum	1983	90
Crack City	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Cue Boy	ZX Spectrum	1992	90
Dimension Omega	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Disease Dodgers	ZX Spectrum	1985	90
Dynamix	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
El Capitán Trueno	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
El Poder Oscuro	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Elecciones Generales	ZX Spectrum	1986	90
Emilio Butragueño Futbol	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Emilio Sanchez Vicario Grand Slam	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Golden Pyramid	ZX Spectrum	1991	90
Gonzzalezz	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Guillermo Tell	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Habilit	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Invaders from Planet X	ZX Spectrum	1991	90
Ke Rulen los Petas	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Knot in 3D	ZX Spectrum	1983	90
La Abadia del Crimen	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
La Aventura Original	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
MOT	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Metropolis	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Mike Gunner	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Molar Maul	ZX Spectrum	1983	90
Mortadelo y Filemon II: Safari Callejero	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Murder He Said	ZX Spectrum	1993	90
Mutan Zone	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Perseus & Andromeda	ZX Spectrum	1983	90
Phoenix	ZX Spectrum	1991	90
Prince of Persia	ZX Spectrum	1996	90
Psychedelic Warp	ZX Spectrum	1986	90
Psycho Soccer	ZX Spectrum	1990	90
R.A.M.	ZX Spectrum	1990	90
Rath-Tha	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Reckless Rufus	ZX Spectrum	1992	90
Retarded Creatures and Caverns	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Rock'n Roller	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Senda Salvaje	ZX Spectrum	1990	90
Silverwolf	ZX Spectrum	1992	90
Sol Negro	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Solo	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Spellbound Dizzy	ZX Spectrum	1991	90
Target Plus	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
The Spectre of Castle Coris	ZX Spectrum	1990	90
The Violator Of Voodoo	ZX Spectrum	1991	90
Thor	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Thunder Jaws	ZX Spectrum	1991	90
Total Eclipse II: The Sphinx Jinx	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Trigger	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Tuareg	ZX Spectrum		90
Underground	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
Viaje al Centro de la Tierra	ZX Spectrum	1989	90
Wells & Fargo	ZX Spectrum	1988	90
World Class Leaderboard	ZX Spectrum	1987	90
Zona 0	ZX Spectrum	1991	90

How the ranking works

The scores are the ones magazines gave when the games came out, all converted to a 0–100 scale. Only one review per magazine counts for a game: the most recent.
A game's score is half the average, half the median of its magazine reviews. A title opens the game's page on uvlist.net; a score opens the report with every review behind it.
A game needs at least 3 magazine reviews to be ranked. With equal scores, the game with more reviews comes first.
Metacritic already sums up many reviews, so it is never mixed with the magazines: it is used only for games with fewer than 3 magazine reviews, as their only score.
Each list shows every game with a score of 90 or more. Games with fewer than 3 reviews and no Metacritic score are shown apart: their score is promising, but rests on one or two opinions.

The lists are rebuilt each time reviews are added. To filter by genre, year, magazine or publisher, explore all the scores in the report.

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