# Manic Miner: ZX Spectrum — user reviews > 65 indexed App Store user reviews of Manic Miner by Elite Systems Ltd, rated 2.68/5 from 25 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manic-miner-zx-spectrum/id406164735/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/manic-miner-zx-spectrum/id406164735.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 1 ## What do users think of Manic Miner? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - nostalgia, brings back memories - ✅ Faithful recreation of classic game - 💯 Addictive gameplay - 🕹️ Simple yet challenging - 💾 Save and load feature appreciated - ✨ Cheat mode included - 👍 Good for quick games - 🌟 Timeless classic - 🕹️ Authentic port - 🚀 Fast loading (compared to tape) **Cons** - ❌ Controls not working well - 🐛 Glitches and errors - 📉 Clunky movement - 🐌 Slow button response - 🚫 Buttons not responsive - 📱 Doesn't work on iPhone - 😵 Frustrating controls - ⚠️ Game doesn't load - 💰 Waste of money - 🛑 Game gets stuck on load screen - 🎮 Buttons missing or not functioning - 👎 Interface not smooth - 😭 Unplayable due to controls - 💔 Disappointed - 😩 Impossible to get anywhere **Commonly reported bugs** - Game does not load - Doesn't work on iPhone - Gets stuck on load screen - No buttons on screen - Buttons only allow left and right movement - Fire/jump button fails to work - Other buttons sometimes fail - Glitches on mutant telephones - Save progress fails - Does not work with IOS11 - Control buttons lose functionality - Slow button response - Jump button slow response - Landscape mode screen covers buttons - Save level won't work (only saves for a few hours) - Bug on level 4 'Eugene's Lair' - Sprite too close to wall on level 4 - Save feature needs fixing **Most requested features** - Update the app - Fix controls - Make buttons more responsive - Add save menu - Sort out button problems - Make buttons larger - Improve landscape mode - Add retina display - Fix level 4 bug - Allow choosing bug byte pic ## Newest reviews (11 of 65) ### 3/5 — Good game poor controls *2019-04-07, version 1.8.1* Game is exactly like it was in the 80s but controls don’t work good at all sort them and its a 5* game all day ### 2/5 — Buttons! *2017-03-03, version v1.3* Great to play this game again but it's impossible to get anywhere because the control buttons seem to lose functionality every time I play. Shame. ### 2/5 — I wouldn't bother, *2016-11-01, version v1.3* Disappointingly the interface isn't smooth and the buttons are not great, so control is difficult . It was easier to play 34 years ago with rubber keys! Only positive is the 8bit sound is as harsh as it was 3 decades ago. ### 2/5 — Manic Miner *2013-04-04, version v1.3* Slow button response, most notably on jump which can be frustrating a difficult to get used to. Also, landscape mode isn't very good as screen covers buttons - buttons still work though. It should be noted that I'm trying to play it on iPhone 4 - it might work better on other devices. Overall: disappointed :-( ### 5/5 — Perfect *2013-01-08, version v1.1* Takes me back. So much more reliable than the tape I used with the ZX Spectrum! ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2013-01-05, version v1.1* Really takes me back to my first experiences of gaming . A true land mark in platform games 10 out of 10 ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2012-11-13, version v1.1* This game was a sensation decades ago and it is exactly the same and the cheat mode is included. ### 5/5 — Brilliant...! *2012-10-10, version v1.1* This takes me right back to the 80s. Absolutely brilliant. Who needs fancy graphics and complex gameplay? Pixelated perfection right here...! ### 5/5 — Excellent *2012-09-28, version v1.1* Loved this game when I was 12 still love it now . ### 5/5 — Brilliant *2012-08-28, version v1.1* Top game then and now ### 5/5 — One of few good things out of the 80's *2012-07-20, version v1.1* Thanks , great game. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — It just doesn’t work….. *2025-05-24, version 1.8.2* As simple as that really! ### 1/5 — Game does not load *2024-11-21, version 1.8.2* Really disappointed and a waste of money, the game gets to the start screen and stops. It does not load!!! ### 1/5 — Manic miner *2024-01-02, version 1.8.2* Doesn’t work on IPhone ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work iPhone 13 Pro *2023-01-08, version 1.8.2* Doesn’t work gets stuck on load screen ### 1/5 — Rubbish *2022-01-20, version 1.8.2* I paid £2.49 for this and can’t play it at all no Buttons on the screen and even if u move them in the edit function u only get left n right so cat start the game!! Don’t waste your money learn from my experience and give this a miss!! ### 1/5 — 80’s classic fan *2019-12-29* Music not great relative to original & movement was clunky on the iPhone. ### 1/5 — Level 8 is errors and I cannot complete *2019-10-28* Glitches on mutant telephones. I save my progress, and almost completed and Willy dies. I reload, same again and again. No fun when the code is glitched. Wasted money. ### 1/5 — Buttons don’t work properly! *2019-01-16, version v1.7* I was really looking forward to playing this, but it’s just not fit for purpose, because the fire/jump button keeps failing to work, and you really need an instant, reliable response, even on level 1. The other buttons sometimes fail too. Hopefully they can fix this; until then it’s basically unplayable. ### 1/5 — Manic Miner *2018-06-10, version v1.3* Does not work with IOS11 ### 1/5 — 5free games mentioned *2011-07-08, version v1.1* Where ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — A classic *2018-10-21, version v1.3* Great game when I was 11/12. Let’s hope Matthew Smith updates the app as the game has not dated ### 5/5 — Please update *2018-07-15, version v1.3* Update please?? Update please?? Update please?? Update please?? ### 5/5 — Excellent and authentic port of a classic game *2016-11-19* A genuine game changer (and life changer). Mine was the Dragon 32 version. Can't wait to try out Jetset Willy and Chuckie Egg next! ### 5/5 — Awesome *2014-01-29, version v1.3* Brings back great memories! Very hard and very very addictive!!! ### 5/5 — Absolute Classic ! *2013-05-27, version v1.3* Timeless classic from UK programmer Matthew Smith, the grand daddy of platform games. Now the addiction is available for future generations! I also grabbed JSW as well for old times sake! ### 5/5 — Enjoying the sheer frustration once again *2013-04-19, version v1.3* When my mates and I played this when we were 16, it was always a challenge to beat the other. Absolutely loved this game back then on the speccy with its spongey keys and now I'm re-living my spotty oik days all over again two decades later-except the spots! ### 5/5 — 5* !!! *2013-04-08, version v1.3* Superb!!! I'm in Speccy heaven playing this classic again :) Be nice to choose the bug byte pic instead of software projects .. Otherwise - excellent game !! ### 5/5 — Mrr *2013-03-02, version v1.2* A top game from the past ### 5/5 — Takes me back.. *2013-02-22, version v1.2* I'm 14 again... ### 5/5 — Top Draw *2013-02-15, version v1.2* One of the greats! Surprising how well its stood the test of time. Save & load is a great feature. Very much doubt I cleared all levels back in the day. Mega hard! Miner Willy rocks! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*