Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,000 most recommended games across 904 critic lists from 141 publications.

Updated: February 3, 2026

Most Acclaimed Commodore 64/128 Games of All Time

Filters

55 of 55

#1 Tetris (1985) (#2)

Alexey Pajitnov | 8, DOS, NES, GB | Puzzle | ~3h | 97 lists

#2 SimCity (1989) (#121)

Maxis | DOS, MAC, 5, SNES | City Building | ~15h | 35 lists

#3 Ms. Pac-Man (1982) (#139)

General Computer Corporation (GCC) | ARC, 4, DOS | Maze | ~1h | 30 lists

#4 Pac-Man (1980) (#152)

Namco | ARC, 3, 5, DOS, NES | Maze | ~48m | 33 lists

#5 Elite (1984) (#180)

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell | 6, DOS | Space Combat | 23 lists

#6 Contra (1987) (#200)

Konami | ARC, DOS, 3, NES | Run and Gun | ~1h | 27 lists

#7 Zork (1977) (#248)

Infocom | 6, DOS, MAC | Adventure / Interactive Drama | 21 lists

#8 Sid Meier's Pirates! (1987) (#264)

MicroProse Software, Inc. | 6, DOS, MAC, NES | Strategy / Action-Adventure | ~8h | 16 lists

#9 Robotron: 2084 (1982) (#279)

Vid Kidz | ARC, 6, DOS, A52, A78 | Shooter | ~18m | 16 lists

#10 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985) (#284)

Origin Systems | 10, DOS, NES | Role-Playing | ~21h | 18 lists

#11 Pitfall! (1982) (#307)

Activision | 4, 3 | Platform | ~30m | 19 lists

#12 Bubble Bobble (1986) (#354)

Taito | ARC, 7, DOS, NES, FDS | Platform | ~3h | 14 lists

#13 OutRun (1986) (#375)

Sega AM2 | ARC, 3 | Racing | ~36m | 13 lists

#14 Lode Runner (1983) (#387)

Brøderbund Software, Irem | ARC, 4, NES | Puzzle-Platformer | ~2h | 13 lists

#15 Castlevania (1986) (#390)

Konami | DOS, C64, AMI, NES, FDS | Platform | ~3h | 14 lists

#16 R-Type (1987) (#391)

Irem | ARC, 7, SMS, TG16 | Shooter | ~1h | 15 lists

#17 Star Wars (1983) (#423)

Atari, Atari Games | ARC, 3, 7, DOS, MAC | Shooter | ~48m | 11 lists

#18 Marble Madness (1984) (#424)

Atari Games | ARC, 4, DOS | Racing / Platform | ~36m | 10 lists

#19 M.U.L.E. (1983) (#434)

Ozark Softscape | 3, DOS | Strategy | ~2h | 11 lists

#20 Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe (1990) (#439)

The Bitmap Brothers | DOS, 3, SMS, GEN | Action / Sports | ~3h | 12 lists

#21 Ghosts 'n Goblins (1985) (#456)

Capcom | ARC, 3, NES | Platform | ~3h | 12 lists

#22 Ultima VI: The False Prophet (1990) (#476)

Origin Systems | DOS, 3 | Role-Playing | ~27h | 9 lists

#23 Archon: The Light and the Dark (1983) (#481)

Free Fall Associates | 7, DOS | Action / Strategy | ~24m | 12 lists

#24 Arkanoid (1986) (#494)

Taito | ARC, 11, DOS, MAC, NES | Puzzle | ~2h | 9 lists

#25 Ultima III: Exodus (1983) (#503)

Origin Systems | 8, DOS, MAC | Role-Playing | ~15h | 10 lists

#26 Maniac Mansion (1987) (#516)

Lucasfilm Games | A2, C64, DOS, NES | Point-and-Click | ~3h | 11 lists

#27 Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (1988) (#518)

Origin Systems | 4, DOS | Role-Playing | ~20h | 8 lists

#28 Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981) (#534)

Sir-tech Software | 7, NES, MAC | Role-Playing | ~25h | 10 lists

#29 A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985) (#551)

Infocom | DOS, 3 | Adventure / Interactive Drama | ~6h | 6 lists

#30 The Sentinel / The Sentry (1986) (#574)

Firebird Software | 6, DOS | Puzzle | 6 lists

#31 Manic Miner (1983) (#585)

Bug Byte, Software Projects | 5 | Platform | 5 lists

#32 Head over Heels (1987) (#596)

Ocean Software | 7 | Action-Adventure | 6 lists

#33 The Bard's Tale (1985) (#642)

Interplay Productions | 6, DOS | Role-Playing | ~22h | 7 lists

#34 Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1987) (#653)

Taito | ARC, 5, NES, SMS, GEN, TG16 | Platform | ~2h | 8 lists

#35 Centipede (1981) (#660)

Atari | ARC, 3, A8, C64 | Shooter | ~18m | 9 lists

#36 Battlezone (1980) (#671)

Atari | ARC, A26, VC20, C64 | First-Person Shooter / Vehicular Combat | ~12m | 6 lists

#37 Ghouls 'n Ghosts (1988) (#686)

Capcom | ARC, 5, GEN | Platform | ~2h | 6 lists

#38 Paradroid (1985) (#694)

Graftgold | C64 | Shooter / Puzzle | ~1h | 5 lists

#39 Shinobi (1987) (#725)

Team Shinobi | ARC, DOS, 6, NES, SMS, TG16 | Hack and Slash / Platform | ~1h | 6 lists

#40 Mario Bros. (1983) (#744)

Nintendo R&D1 | ARC, A26, A52, 5, NES | Platform | ~54m | 6 lists

#41 Defender of the Crown (1986) (#757)

Cinemaware | 4 | Strategy | ~1h | 6 lists

#42 Impossible Mission (1984) (#781)

Epyx | 5 | Puzzle / Platform | ~3h | 5 lists

#43 California Games (1987) (#788)

Epyx | A2, C64, LYNX | Sports | ~2h | 7 lists

#44 Stunt Car Racer / Stunt Track Racer (1989) (#792)

Microplay Software, MicroStyle | DOS, 5 | Racing | ~3h | 6 lists

#45 Jet Set Willy (1984) (#812)

Software Projects | 3 | Platform | ~2h | 5 lists

#46 Spy Hunter (1983) (#827)

Bally Midway | ARC, A26, CV, 6, DOS, NES | Vehicular Combat | ~24m | 9 lists

#47 International Karate + (1987) (#844)

System 3 Software | 5 | Fighting | ~48m | 6 lists

#48 Smash TV (1990) (#852)

Williams | ARC, 5, NES, SNES, SMS, GEN | Shooter | ~2h | 5 lists

#49 The Hobbit (1982) (#855)

Beam Software | 6, DOS | Interactive Drama | ~1h | 5 lists

#50 Exile (1988) (#862)

Audiogenic | 5 | Action-Adventure | ~5h | 4 lists

#51 Wizball (1987) (#892)

Sensible Software | DOS, 5 | Shooter | ~1h | 3 lists

#52 Gauntlet II (1986) (#917)

Atari Games | ARC, DOS, 3 | Hack and Slash / Dungeon Crawler | ~4h | 4 lists

#53 Boulder Dash (1984) (#955)

First Star Software | ARC, 7, CV | Maze / Puzzle | ~3h | 6 lists

#54 Mercenary (1985) (#972)

Novagen | 5 | Action-Adventure | ~2h | 4 lists

#55 Turrican II: The Final Fight (1991) (#979)

Factor 5 | 5, GEN | Run and Gun | ~2h | 3 lists

Alexey Pajitnov

AMI, A2, AST, BBCM, C64, DOS, E60, GB, MSX, NES, ZXS

Puzzle

~3h

97 lists

Tetris 1985

#121

Maxis

AMI, CPC, MAC, C64, DOS, FMT, SNES, ZXS

City Building

~15h

35 lists

SimCity 1989

#139

General Computer Corporation (GCC)

A2, ARC, A8, C64, DOS, ZXS

Maze

~1h

30 lists

Ms. Pac-Man 1982

#152

Namco

ARC, A26, A52, A8, C64, DOS, INTV, MSX, NES, PC88, ZXS

Maze

~48m

33 lists

Pac-Man 1980

#180

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell

CPC, A2, BBCM, C64, DOS, MSX, ZXS

Space Combat

23 lists

Elite 1984

#200

Konami

CPC, ARC, C64, DOS, NES, ZXS

Run and Gun

~1h

27 lists

Contra 1987

#248

Infocom

A2, MAC, A8, C64, PDP, DOS, T80, TCC

Adventure / Interactive Drama

21 lists

Zork 1977

#264

MicroProse Software, Inc.

AMI, CPC, A2, MAC, AST, C64, DOS, NES, PC88

Strategy / Action-Adventure

~8h

16 lists

Sid Meier's Pirates! 1987

#279

Vid Kidz

A2, ARC, A52, A78, A8, AST, BBCM, C64, DOS, VC20

Shooter

~18m

16 lists

Robotron: 2084 1982

#10

#284

Origin Systems

AMI, A2, A8, AST, C64, DOS, FM7, MSX, NES, PC88, PC98, SX1

Role-Playing

~21h

18 lists

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 1985

#11

#307

Activision

A26, A52, A8, CV, C64, INTV, MSX

Platform

~30m

19 lists

Pitfall! 1982

#12

#354

Taito

AMI, CPC, A2, ARC, AST, C64, DOS, FDS, MSX, NES, ZXS

Platform

~3h

14 lists

Bubble Bobble 1986

#13

#375

Sega AM2

CPC, ARC, C64, ZXS

Racing

~36m

13 lists

OutRun 1986

#14

#387

Brøderbund Software, Irem

A2, ARC, A8, C64, NES, PC88

Puzzle-Platformer

~2h

13 lists

Lode Runner 1983

#15

#390

Konami

AMI, C64, DOS, FDS, NES

Platform

~3h

14 lists

Castlevania 1986

#16

#391

Irem

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, MSX, PC88, SMS, TG16, ZXS

Shooter

~1h

15 lists

R-Type 1987

#17

#423

Atari, Atari Games

AMI, CPC, MAC, ARC, A26, A52, A8, AST, BBCM, CV, C64, DOS, ZXS

Shooter

~48m

11 lists

Star Wars 1983

#18

#424

Atari Games

AMI, A2, ARC, AST, C64, DOS

Racing / Platform

~36m

10 lists

Marble Madness 1984

#19

#434

Ozark Softscape

A8, C64, DOS, PC88

Strategy

~2h

11 lists

M.U.L.E. 1983

#20

#439

The Bitmap Brothers

AMI, AST, C64, DOS, SMS, GEN

Action / Sports

~3h

12 lists

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe 1990

#21

#456

Capcom

CPC, ARC, C64, NES, ZXS

Platform

~3h

12 lists

Ghosts 'n Goblins 1985

#22

#476

Origin Systems

C64, DOS, FMT, PC98

Role-Playing

~27h

9 lists

Ultima VI: The False Prophet 1990

#23

#481

Free Fall Associates

CPC, A2, A8, C64, DOS, PC88, SX1, ZXS

Action / Strategy

~24m

12 lists

Archon: The Light and the Dark 1983

#24

#494

Taito

AMI, CPC, A2, MAC, ARC, A8, AST, BBCM, C64, DOS, MSX, NES, PC88, TCC, ZXS

Puzzle

~2h

9 lists

Arkanoid 1986

#25

#503

Origin Systems

AMI, A2, MAC, A8, AST, C64, DOS, FM7, PC88, PC98

Role-Playing

~15h

10 lists

Ultima III: Exodus 1983

#26

#516

Lucasfilm Games

A2, C64, DOS, NES

Point-and-Click

~3h

11 lists

Maniac Mansion 1987

#27

#518

Origin Systems

AMI, A2, AST, C64, DOS

Role-Playing

~20h

8 lists

Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny 1988

#28

#534

Sir-tech Software

A2, MAC, C64, FM7, MSX, NES, PC88, PC98, SX1

Role-Playing

~25h

10 lists

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord 1981

#29

#551

Infocom

AMI, AST, C64, DOS

Adventure / Interactive Drama

~6h

6 lists

A Mind Forever Voyaging 1985

#30

#574

Firebird Software

AMI, CPC, AST, BBCM, C64, DOS, ZXS

Puzzle

6 lists

The Sentinel / The Sentry 1986

#31

#585

Bug Byte, Software Projects

CPC, BBCM, C64, MSX, ZXS

Platform

5 lists

Manic Miner 1983

#32

#596

Ocean Software

AMI, CPC, A8, AST, C64, MSX, ZXS

Action-Adventure

6 lists

Head over Heels 1987

#33

#642

Interplay Productions

AMI, CPC, A2, AST, C64, DOS, ZXS

Role-Playing

~22h

7 lists

The Bard's Tale 1985

#34

#653

Taito

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, NES, SMS, GEN, TG16, ZXS

Platform

~2h

8 lists

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 1987

#35

#660

Atari

ARC, A26, A52, A8, C64, INTV

Shooter

~18m

9 lists

Centipede 1981

#36

#671

Atari

ARC, A26, C64, VC20

First-Person Shooter / Vehicular Combat

~12m

6 lists

Battlezone 1980

#37

#686

Capcom

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, GEN, ZXS

Platform

~2h

6 lists

Ghouls 'n Ghosts 1988

#38

#694

Graftgold

C64

Shooter / Puzzle

~1h

5 lists

Paradroid 1985

#39

#725

Team Shinobi

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, DOS, MSX, NES, SMS, TG16, ZXS

Hack and Slash / Platform

~1h

6 lists

Shinobi 1987

#40

#744

Nintendo R&D1

CPC, ARC, A26, A52, C64, FM7, NES, PC88, ZXS

Platform

~54m

6 lists

Mario Bros. 1983

#41

#757

Cinemaware

AMI, CPC, C64, ZXS

Strategy

~1h

6 lists

Defender of the Crown 1986

#42

#781

Epyx

CPC, A2, BBCM, C64, ZXS

Puzzle / Platform

~3h

5 lists

Impossible Mission 1984

#43

#788

Epyx

A2, LYNX, C64

Sports

~2h

7 lists

California Games 1987

#44

#792

Microplay Software, MicroStyle

AMI, CPC, AST, C64, DOS, ZXS

Racing

~3h

6 lists

Stunt Car Racer / Stunt Track Racer 1989

#45

#812

Software Projects

A8, C64, ZXS

Platform

~2h

5 lists

Jet Set Willy 1984

#46

#827

Bally Midway

CPC, A2, ARC, A26, A8, BBCM, CV, C64, DOS, NES, ZXS

Vehicular Combat

~24m

9 lists

Spy Hunter 1983

#47

#844

System 3 Software

AMI, CPC, AST, C64, ZXS

Fighting

~48m

6 lists

International Karate + 1987

#48

#852

Williams

AMI, CPC, ARC, AST, C64, NES, SMS, GEN, SNES, ZXS

Shooter

~2h

5 lists

Smash TV 1990

#49

#855

Beam Software

CPC, A2, BBCM, C64, DOS, MSX, ZXS

Interactive Drama

~1h

5 lists

The Hobbit 1982

#50

#862

Audiogenic

AMI, CD32, AST, BBCM, C64

Action-Adventure

~5h

4 lists

Exile 1988

#51

#892

Sensible Software

AMI, CPC, AST, C64, DOS, ZXS

Shooter

~1h

3 lists

Wizball 1987

#52

#917

Atari Games

CPC, ARC, AST, C64, DOS

Hack and Slash / Dungeon Crawler

~4h

4 lists

Gauntlet II 1986

#53

#955

First Star Software

CPC, A2, ARC, A8, CV, C64, FM7, PC88, ZXS

Maze / Puzzle

~3h

6 lists

Boulder Dash 1984

#54

#972

Novagen

CPC, A8, AST, C64, ZXS

Action-Adventure

~2h

4 lists

Mercenary 1985

#55

#979

Factor 5

AMI, CPC, AST, C64, GEN, ZXS

Run and Gun

~2h

3 lists

Turrican II: The Final Fight 1991

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