Somehow this one slipped past me, but I’ve just discovered The Codemasters Archive, and I’ve been glued to it ever since. If you spent your childhood hopping between Dizzy, BMX Simulator, and a dozen flavours of Micro Machines, prepare to lose your evening.
Even better: the whole thing has official EA approval (they bought the company in 2021), which is not something we often get in retro preservation.
A surprisingly comprehensive exploration of Codemasters history
The site rounds up a ridiculous amount of material from across Codemasters’ catalogue:
- Around 200 classic titles, plus compilations and deep-cut curios.
- Manuals, box art, promo sheets, magazine scans — the works.
- A growing list of nearly 50 unreleased games.
- Online playable titles for an instant nostalgia hit.
- A “memories” section full of community anecdotes, trivia, and oddities.
It’s the kind of meticulous archiving that makes you realise how much of gaming history usually ends up scattered, unfinished, or forgotten.
Micro Machines memories unlocked
As I’d never played any games from the series, I was curious about Micro Machines 2 Turbo Tournament. This was a game I was aware of — like the rest of the licence — but had never played. The idea of tiny racing cars always appealed to me (I never owned any, but I did have several Micro Machine-inspired Transformers), so I checked this one out.
Getting the controls right without consulting the instructions (they’re available via an icon at the bottom of the screen) took a moment, but I was soon firing on all cylinders. Select editions of the games are provided; for example, the Game Boy Color version of Cannon Fodder (published by Codemasters) is included, while Micro Machines 2 Turbo Tournament is presented with SEGA Game Gear and Mega Drive/Genesis versions.
Why this archive actually matters
Codemasters occupies a weirdly underappreciated place in gaming history. For years, they pumped out inventive, chaotic, unmistakably British games at a pace only matched by the likes of Sensible Software. Their back catalogue shaped a generation of 8-bit and 16-bit players — and yet huge chunks of that era rarely get any spotlight.
So finally, we have a central, curated, reliable record of the studio’s output. No more rumour-hunting across forums or digging through half-broken fan sites for ROMs that you can’t quite trust. It’s all here, clean, accessible, and far more complete than I expected.
The really juicy part: unreleased games
Let’s be honest — this is where many of us will head first. The unreleased games section is full of strange prototypes, abandoned experiments, and projects that never made it out of the concept stage.
Some are the kind of things you can instantly imagine someone finishing with modern tools, and the list of games links — where appropriate — to the game preservation site Games That Weren’t.
If you enjoy going down rabbit holes, block out your afternoon.
A must-visit for any retro fan
The Codemasters Archive is one of the most satisfying preservation projects to surface in years. It’s comprehensive, well-organised, and clearly put together by people who care about getting the details right.
I went in expecting a quick nostalgia browse. Instead, I found myself tumbling through decades of gaming history — much of it tied directly to my own early experiences. If Micro Machines, Dizzy, or any other Codemasters classic ever meant something to you, give this archive a look.
Just… don’t expect to escape quickly. You’ll find the archive at thecodemastersarchive.co.uk, and offer support via its Patreon.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
