The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The Amstrad CPC turns 40 in 2024, and six games show why it remains an interesting system to explore: arcade action, racing, isometric puzzles, cinematic platforming, text adventure and a much later conversion. These are critic Craig Grannell’s selections, not an objective ranking—but together they make a strong starting point for anyone asking what to play on an Amstrad CPC.
What made the Amstrad CPC distinctive?
Amstrad’s own computer archive dates the CPC 464, its first computer product, to 1984. Unlike a setup that depended on a separate tape player and family television, the 464 integrated its keyboard and cassette deck and came with a dedicated monitor. That made it a self-contained home-computing system. The CPC became a UK and European alternative to the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64.
The range developed quickly. Amstrad describes the CPC 664, released in 1985, as a successor with an integral disk drive; the CPC 6128 followed in 1985 with a disk drive and double the memory of earlier models. CPC Game Reviews specifies 64KB for the CPC 464 and 128KB for the CPC 6128. The 464 used a Zilog Z80A clocked at 4MHz, according to the same specialist overview. Amstrad’s color system was a notable part of the machine’s identity: in a 2026 interview, Roland Perry, whom the UK Amstrad Group identifies as responsible for CPC development, said, “The 27 colours is six resistors! It’s absolutely nothing, it’s brain power, a very talented engineer who was on my team, but only six resistors.”
Stuff’s 2024 anniversary feature reports that the CPC sold “over two million units during its lifetime.” That is the feature’s reported figure, not an independently verified exact total. For games, the hardware’s strengths came with trade-offs: the UK Amstrad Group’s retrospective points to limited RAM, cassette loading on the 464 and difficulty scrolling as constraints. A conversion’s quality therefore depends on the particular game and version; the CPC’s color or sound does not make every port superior to its rivals.
#1 Best Overall
Six of the best Amstrad CPC games
Craig Grannell chose these six for Stuff’s anniversary feature. The list spans different genres and release periods rather than claiming a consensus ranking. His comparisons below are editorial judgments attributed to him.
| Game | Year | Genre | What to notice | Release context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sorcery | 1985 | Arcade action | Movement, puzzles and combat; Grannell considered the CPC version superior to other 8-bit versions at the time and said it outsold them. | Commercial-era CPC game |
| Chase HQ | 1989 | Racing | Grannell judged it slower than the Spectrum version but praised its color and considered it better than other home conversions. | Commercial-era CPC game |
| Head Over Heels | 1987 | Isometric puzzle adventure | Grannell praised its puzzles and characters; despite a less colorful presentation than Get Dexter, he thought it edged other 8-bit versions. | Commercial-era CPC game |
| Prince of Persia | 1990 | Cinematic platformer | Its animation and movement bring Jordan Mechner’s platformer to the CPC; this official version predates later fan efforts for the Spectrum and C64. | Commercial-era CPC game |
| The Guild of Thieves | 1987 | Text adventure | A split display puts illustrations above 80-column text, showing the CPC’s fit for a text-heavy adventure as well as action games. | Commercial-era CPC game |
| Pinball Dreams | 2019 | Pinball | A CPC conversion of a 16-bit game, illustrating continued development and technical experimentation long after the original commercial era. | Later conversion, not an 1980s release |
Sorcery (1985)
This early arcade-style game combines movement and combat with puzzles, making it a useful example of the CPC’s action-game range. Grannell’s claim that the CPC version was superior to its contemporaries and outsold them is his assessment in the anniversary feature, not a measured cross-platform ranking.
Chase HQ (1989)
Chase HQ offers a different kind of action: high-speed pursuit racing. Grannell’s comparison captures a familiar conversion trade-off—he felt the CPC version gave up some pace compared with the Spectrum edition in exchange for color, and rated it above other home conversions.
Head Over Heels (1987)
This isometric adventure centers on puzzles and its two-character cast. Grannell contrasts its more restrained color with Get Dexter, but favors Head Over Heels for its puzzles and characters and says it edges the other 8-bit versions. It is a good pick if you want a game built around spatial reasoning rather than reflexes.
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Rank #3
Prince of Persia (1990)
Jordan Mechner’s cinematic platformer is represented by an official CPC version notable for animation and movement. Its 1990 release also places it before later fan efforts to bring the game to the Spectrum and C64.
The Guild of Thieves (1987)
The list is not all arcade action. The Guild of Thieves uses a split presentation, with illustrations above 80-column text, to support a text adventure. Its inclusion highlights a different use of the CPC’s display: making a text-heavy game readable while still providing visual context.
Pinball Dreams (2019)
Unlike the other picks, Pinball Dreams is not an original 1980s commercial release. It is a later CPC conversion of a 16-bit game, included because the platform continued to attract developers and technical experimentation decades after its launch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which Amstrad CPC model and game format do you need?
The model matters when you are choosing how to play. The CPC 464 is the cassette-centered system, while the CPC 664 and 6128 have integral disk drives; the 6128 also has 128KB rather than the 464’s 64KB. Those differences affect the media format, not a blanket judgment that one model is best for every player.
Best Value
- Compatibility: Compatible with Atari ST 1040, 520, commodore C64, compatible with Amiga 500/1200/CD32, compatible with Atari 2600, compatible with Amstrad CPC 464, and compatible with Sega Mega Drive.
- Function: Extends joystick and mouse ports for easier connection without turning the computer.
- Protection: Prevents bending or breaking of pins by reducing wear on original ports.
- Size: Compact 16cm length provides convenient handling while maintaining tidy setup.
- Application: Ideal for retro gaming enthusiasts who frequently swap input devices while protecting vintage hardware.
CPC Game Reviews says software downloads may contain cassette images in .cdt format or floppy-disk images in .dsk format, and that an emulator is needed to play these images on a modern PC. It lists CPCEC, CPCemu, JavaCPC, Retro Virtual Machine and WinAPE as examples. These are examples rather than an endorsement of one current best option. Check that your chosen emulator supports the image type and system you intend to use, and respect the licensing of game images: the availability of a download does not by itself establish permission to use it.
Quick Recap
Sources and further reading
- Stuff: Craig Grannell’s anniversary feature and six game selections (11 April 2024; page updated 21 November 2025).
- Amstrad: Computer products, with the company’s CPC model history.
- CPC Game Reviews: About this site, for model specifications, image formats and emulator examples.
- UK Amstrad Group, for community perspectives and the Roland Perry interview published 21 June 2026.
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