Okay, that's enough Arkanoid for now. While looking through the itch.io website, we came across a new game called Chromo Shock Reloaded, a homebrew shoot-'em-up tailored specifically for the Commodore 64 by cristiancubillos. True to its old-school roots, the title favors pure, unadulterated arcade action as you jump straight into the cockpit of a starship with a single, clear objective: pull the trigger and obliterate waves of incoming enemy ships.
Welcome to PETSCII Dungeons & Droids, a tactical roguelike deck-builder that has been released for the C64 by Ko-Ko. Strikingly presented in full text-based character graphics and vibrant animations, the game plunges players into the depths of a dark, labyrinthine dungeon overrun by broken-down machinery. Survival requires navigating tense card battles and outsmarting hostile robots using a unique system that pairs a deck of cards with unpredictable, sentient dice. As players defeat malfunctioning droids, they can harvest special abilities known as "Widgets" to upgrade their own gear, though they must constantly gamble against the fickle nature of their own dice rolls.
How about this for an incredible mid-week heads up, as Westwood’s legendary 1992 RTS masterpiece is unofficially invading the 8-bit era with Dune 2 - The C64 Demake - Arok Edition by Primal. This jaw-dropping project brings the iconic desert warfare to the Commodore 64, boasting a smooth four-direction scrolling battlefield, rich multicolor graphics utilizing clever single-sprite trickery, and support for 64 total units and buildings with zero limits on how many troops can flood the screen at once.
Homebrew developer natthrafn has released a game called Rust'n'Steel Reboot, the definitive and vastly upgraded version of their classic platformer that started its life way back in 2009. In Rust'n'Steel Reboot, players are tasked with absolute structural chaos. To clear stages, you must paint every steel beam or rip the structural bolts directly out of the scaffolding to bring the entire rig crashing down. Standing in your way is a hazardous layer of green goo. Players can maximize their high scores by wiping the slime off the infrastructure and proving to the "head slime" who truly rules the arena.
Ask anyone about Lemmings, and their first memories, would probably be about a bunch of blue and green haired Lemmings that could be blown up, ripped apart and dropped from the highest of points before they even hope to reach that exit. So why is that great game getting another mention on Indie Retro News? Well late next month it looks as if Jörg Karwath and team will be releasing an enhanced version of Lemmings for the C64. A new version that can be seen in the very latest footage provided below.
It's roasting hot here in the UK but that doesn't stop the news flowing! As Windigo Productions—the prolific studio behind acclaimed Commodore 64 hits like Pharaoh's Legacy and Devolution—is back with an immersive turn-based tactical war game that transports players to the battlegrounds of feudal Japan. Their latest release, Daimyo, is officially available for the Commodore 64 via itch io. To coincide with this news, provided below is the latest footage by Saberman.
The legendary Commodore 64 has just got another great Shoot 'em up for you to try, as retroteamgames has released the final version of their breakthrough prototype called Chrome Horizon. Far from a standard hobbyist project, this title aimed to prove that the "breadbin" still has untapped potential when paired with modern development workflows. In fact not only was this game written entirely in C using the Oscar64 compiler, but it has advanced Raster IRQ multiplexing, supporting 16+ simultaneous hardware sprites, ultra-smooth 50/60fps parallax scrolling logic and a custom SID music routine integration.
The Commodore 64 scene has received another exciting addition to his ever growing homebrew library with the launch of Infe2tation by Monte Boyd, a brand-new run-and-gun platformer available now via itch.io. Acting as the direct sequel to a fantastic game, this release brings back the iconic galactic Sheriff of the cosmos to solve the looming secrets surrounding the Crystal Moon. The new game expands significantly on its predecessor, moving the action across four completely unique environments packed with massive level layouts. Players will face off against a highly diverse roster of hostile creatures and robotic threats. To help survive the onslaught, the game introduces a variety of highly entertaining power-ups that alter gameplay mechanics.
Software developer Antibody Software has officially brought its popular title, Munchy Worm, to the Commodore 64. Available entirely for free, this arcade conversion of a browser and windows based game adapts the studio's original mechanics into an addictive, classic snake-style game for the 8-bit machine. The core gameplay centers on guiding a hungry worm through an enclosed play area. Players must consume scattered mushrooms to accumulate points, which simultaneously causes the worm to lengthen. Managing this growth is the primary obstacle, as hitting the perimeter walls or crashing into your own tail ends the run immediately.
Are you exhausted by ultra-fast shooters that demand impossible reflexes? Are you tired of repeating the exact same reskinned, flip-screen platformers? If you lack the patience to read through a lengthy six-page instruction manual, suffer from brain fog when trying to unravel complex puzzle games, then drmortalwombat has you covered with his brand new Commodore 64 game called 'Comchinko'. A completely stress-free alternative to traditional, frantic 8-bit gaming.
A decade after its initial concept, Naufr4g0 has officially launched Gravity Snake, a demanding new puzzle title for the Commodore 64 and C64 Ultimate. Gravity Snake challenges players to navigate a series of intricate, labyrinthine chambers. The objective relies on spatial awareness and precision: players must guide a snake to consume all available fruit and locate the exit. Just beware that Gravity constantly influences your movement turning every trapped filled level into a challenge of logic, timing, and careful planning.
Another day and another news story, as the classic 8-bit computer welcomes possibly its first-ever 3D warehouse puzzler with the release of Isometric Sokoban by kielack. A new game that has been programmed completely in assembler by Armin Kielack with Elena Kielack doing the music for the game. Isometric Sokoban features an extensive library of over 200 stages. To prevent frustration, every single map has been rigorously tested and verified as 100% solvable. The massive collection of puzzles was crafted by a collaborative group of designers and checkers listed below the video.
With the amount of news stories throughout the last week and the weekend just gone, you'd think we'd take a break, but not so! As I was surprised to learn that RetroGL has released an updated work in progress Super Street Fighter II Turbo for the Commodore 64 using his RetroFighter engine. An engine that was also used in the more recent homebrew C64 hit of SNK vs CAPCOM. To coincide with this news, Saberman has provided a new video of the update with an inclusive download.
Papa Duck needs your help in the delightful new Commodore 64 game Duckling Rescue, a family-friendly release from developer James Emselle that is available through itch io. A charming platformer adventure as the creators first game that is tailored specifically for younger players and fans of the "cosy gaming" genre, offering a gentle yet engaging experience on C64 hardware. To coincide with this news, provided below is the latest footage from Saberman.
Here we are with another hot news story with the release of Broken Altars, a unique game for the Commodore 64 by prominent homebrew developer drmortalwombat. Combining resource management with tactical reconstruction, the game introduces a standout feature rarely utilized on vintage hardware: native mouse support. While Broken Altars is uniquely optimized to deliver its best experience using a mouse and keyboard setup, the developer has ensured that standard 8-bit configurations are fully supported. Players who prefer a traditional experience can easily navigate the entire game using just a classic joystick, or a joystick paired with a keyboard.
Well this is incredible news, as the highly acclaimed developer Piggy 18 Team—the creative minds behind the award-winning hits like A Pig Quest—unveils their latest masterpiece for the Commodore 64, titled Petal Panic. In this game you will guide Pete through beautifully animated, non-linear multi-stage worlds. Each distinct ecosystem is filled with unpredictable threats, culminating in massive, screen-filling boss fights that will put your reflexes and gardening strategy to the ultimate test!
The upcoming Commodore 64 platform adventure, Captain Victor Stormbeard and the Undead Treasure by KD Software, has officially been teased with a playable demo. Commodore 64 enthusiasts can now download and test the initial stage of this highly anticipated title, offering a substantial look at what the full game will provide. In fact if you do end up playing it, you'll experience the complete first level of the game, featuring 21 interconnected screens to explore, enemies to defeat, secrets to discover, and treasures to collect.