Yes, you read that right: someone has made a first-person shooter for the ZX Spectrum — a system more famous for text adventures and colourful 8-bit platformers than polygonal combat. And the result is a new game called World of Spells, built by developer Jakub Trznadel for the Spectrum hardware.
It’s a real, playable FPS running on a system from 1982, and yes — it works even on original 48K/128K machines!
Yes, this IS a big deal
The Spectrum was never known for 3D shooters. Its library was heavy on 2-D action, text, and colourful graphics — but not polygons, texture-mapped corridors or drawn-out shootouts. That’s why “World of Spells” landing now, in 2025, feels almost absurd… in the very best way.
- The game uses 3D ray-casting techniques, the kind that powered early 90s FPS games like Wolfenstein 3D.
- Even on original hardware, it’s reportedly smooth, with the engine capable of up to 80 frames per second (depending on your setup).
- It runs on real ZX Spectrum 48K/128K machines — not just emulators.
For anyone who ever wondered whether the Speccy “could do” first-person shooters… well, yes it can. But this isn’t the first time it has been proven; DOOM has already been ported to the Spectrum 128K!
What you get in World of Spells
The game doesn’t pretend to be a modern triple-A shooter — and that’s part of the charm. Expectations should be tempered: the visuals lean hard into Spectrum limitations, with palette quirks and that unmistakable 8-bit feel. But under the hood, the ambition is impressive.
You get:
- A fully 3-D environment built with ray-casting
- Maze-style corridors and rooms, classic shooter structure
- Enemies, hazards, and atmospheric threats (ghosts, dragons — not cheesy space lizards)
- Enough performance headroom that, with the right setup or emulator, it can feel fluid rather than choppy
This is an incredible achievement, and if you have the slightest interest in the ZX Spectrum, you should check it out.
Get your copy, downloaded or on cassette!
There’s a rising wave of homebrew brilliance for old platforms — teams and solo devs who look back at the limitations of 8-bit machines not as barriers, but as design challenges. “World of Spells” stands out because, unlike a fast-loading platformer or demo-scene trick, it’s a complete FPS. A full game, with ambition.
You can get your copy of World of Spells from Itch.io, but if you’re an old school ZX Spectrum gamer, there’s also the option of a boxed copy on cassette from Bitmap Soft, as soon as preorders open.
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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.
