Manic Miner

Manic Miner is a landmark platform game originally created by Matthew Smith for the ZX Spectrum in 1983. You play as Miner Willy, tasked with collecting all the keys or flashing objects across 20 caverns to reach the exit portal. Each level features uniquely themed hazards, including deadly toilets, giant mutant telephones, falling rocks, and bouncing evil sunflowers. The game introduced the obsessive "air supply" mechanic, giving you a limited time to complete each cavern before Willy suffocates. Originally published by Bug-Byte and later reissued by Software Projects, it became one of the defining titles of the British gaming scene.

ZX Spectrum

The ZX Spectrum version is the original masterpiece, written by Matthew Smith in just eight weeks and published in 1983 . It was the first game ever to feature in-game music, alternating CPU time between gameplay and Edvard Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" at the cost of a stuttery rhythm . The title screen plays Johann Strauss's "The Blue Danube" . Two distinct publisher versions exist: Bug-Byte (original) and Software Projects (reissue), with minor cosmetic differences in three caverns . The Bug-Byte cheat code "6031769" (Matthew Smith's driving licence number) became "typewriter" in the Software Projects version . The game won a Golden Joystick Award and topped the UK charts, replacing Jet Pac .