# Spectaculator — ZX Spectrum Emulator > ZX Spectrum emulator for playing classic 8-bit computer games. (iPhone/iPad app by Jonathan Needle.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectaculator/id421662150 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Jonathan Needle](https://appshunter.io/developer/421662153) - Category: Games, Action, Casual - Price: $2.99 with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.70/5 from 39 App Store ratings · 118 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 9+ - Requires: iOS 11.0 · 31 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2011-05-03 - Data updated: 2026-08-28 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectaculator/id421662150/reviews.md ## What is Spectaculator? Now over 150 licensed ZX Spectrum games available! In April 1982, Sir Clive Sinclair launched what was to become one of the most popular home computers ever made - the Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Spectaculator takes you back to the 1980s - to the golden era of 8-bit gaming! Play the following 22 officially licensed classic ZX Spectrum games:     - 3D Starstrike by Realtime Games Software     - Auf Wiedersehen Monty by Gremlin Graphics     - Avenger by Gremlin Graphics     - Bounder by Gremlin Graphics     - Cyclone by Vortex Software     - Dark Star by Design Design     - Dynamite Dan by Rod Bowkett/Mirrorsoft     - Forbidden Planet by Design Design     - Halls of the Things by Design Design     - Highway Encounter by Vortex Software     - Jack The Nipper by Gremlin Graphics     - Krackout by Gremlin Graphics     - Jekyll & Hyde by Zenobi Software     - Metabolis by Gremlin Graphics     - Monty On The Run by Gremlin Graphics     - On The Run by Design Design     - Revolution by Vortex Software     - Tau Ceti by Pete Cooke/CRL     - The Way Of The Tiger by Gremlin Graphics     - Albatrossity by Jonathan Cauldwell     - Battery's Not Precluded by Jonathan Cauldwell     - The Fantastic Mister Fruity by Jonathan Cauldwell ... with more available from the in-app shop. Spectaculator gives you the most authentic ZX Spectrum experience available on your iPhone, iPod and iPad, and comes with lots of additional features: • Universal App - runs on iPhone, iPod and iPad. • Supports iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5th generation screen. • Play in portrait or landscape orientations • Save your game progress (four saved game slots + one iCloud saved game slot per game). • Save your progress to iCloud from one device (e.g. iPod) and load to continue playing on another (e.g. iPad). • Enter pokes (cheats) for infinite lives, shields etc. • Lookup game hints, tips and maps • Play in black and white with TV screen simulation for the ultimate 1980s experience! • Battle to the top of the (Game Center) leaderboards! • Type on a virtual ZX Spectrum keyboard • Use an external Bluetooth keyboard for playing adventure games • Choose authentic cassette loading or fast play • Program in Sinclair BASIC • Enjoy high resolution graphics on Retina screens • Play using an external arcade controller (iCade or iControlPad) Additional Game Packs ------------------- The following games packs are available from the in-app shop: Design Design Games Pack     - 5 Games. Includes Halls of the Things, Dark Star, Forbidden Planet Gremlin Graphics Vol. 1     - 6 games. Includes Wanted! Monty Mole, Skate Crazy, Thing Bounces Back Gremlin Graphics Vol. 2     - 6 games. Includes Jack The Nipper II: In Coconut Capers, North Star, Grumpy Gumphrey, Supersleuth Gremlin Graphics Vol. 3     - 6 games. Includes Switchblade, Trailblazer, Super Scramble Simulator, Percy The Potty Pigeon Odin Computer Graphics Anthology     - 9 games. Includes Nodes Of Yesod, Robin Of The Wood, Heartland Realtime Games Pack     - Starstrike II     - 3D Tank Duel Stephen Crow Anthology (Free!) ©1983-2013 Stephen Crow. All rights reserved.    - 5 games. Includes Firelord, Starquake, Wizard's Lair Vortex Anthology     - 6 games. Includes Alien Highway, Deflektor, T.L.L. (Tornado Low Level) Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 1     - 6 games. Includes Aura-Scope, The Gods of War, Leopold The Minstrel Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 2     - 6 games. Includes The Khangrin Plans, The Krazy Kartoonist Kaper, A Murder Mystery Weekend Zenobi Adventures Vol. 3    - 5 games. Includes The Apprentice, The Bardic Rite, Jester Quest, Knight Life, Mutiny! The following single games are available from the in-app shop:     - Carrier Command     - Dynamite Dan II     - Frank N. Stein     - Laser Squad     - Lords Of Chaos     - The Lords Of Midnight     - Doomdark's Revenge     - Everyone's a Wally     - KWAH!     - Redhawk     - Skool Daze ## Key features - Play over 150 licensed ZX Spectrum games - Save game progress with multiple slots - Enter cheats and lookup game hints - Authentic 1980s TV screen simulation - Virtual and external keyboard support - iCloud save syncing across devices - Program in Sinclair BASIC ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: $2.99. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Design Design Anthology | $1.99 | one-time | | Gremlin Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time | | Vortex Anthology | $1.99 | one-time | | Wheelie | $0.99 | one-time | | Realtime Games Pack | $0.99 | one-time | | Odin Anthology | $1.99 | one-time | | The Lords Of Midnight | $0.99 | one-time | | Skool Daze | $0.99 | one-time | | Alternative Software Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time | | Strike Force Cobra | $0.99 | one-time | | Doomdark's Revenge | $0.99 | one-time | | Gremlin Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time | | Alternative Software Pack 3 | $1.99 | one-time | | Gremlin Pack 3 | $1.99 | one-time | | Splat! | $0.99 | one-time | | Zenobi Adventures Vol. 2 | $1.99 | one-time | | Zenobi Adventures Vol. 3 | $1.99 | one-time | | Rex | $0.99 | one-time | | Zenobi Adventures Vol. 1 | $1.99 | one-time | | Dynamite Dan 2 | $0.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (10 of 118) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spectaculator/id421662150/reviews.md ### 3/5 — iOs version inferior to Android version *2026-08-11, version 8.0* Whilst the emulator is great the iOS version lags far behind its Android cousin, whilst both are superficially identical the Android version -which you pay for gives you the opportunity to add games. The iOS edition which is free leaves you only with the freebies and asks you to pay for a very limited selection of games. The other issue affects both editions- and that is the use of an onscreen virtual joystick which is clumsy and sluggish compared to similar emulators that opt for joypad control -which as every sane person knows - is preferable to joystick. The travel of the stick is to unwieldy for an emulator using touch screen and this needs to change - or at the very least offer an alternative to players. Aside from those things Spectacular is well worthy of its status as a premier Spectrum emulator- fix the joystick issue (on both versions) and allow the use of your own roms on iOS and there would be nothing that comes close. ### 5/5 — Yeh… *2026-07-31, version 8.0* Quality!!! ### 5/5 — Perfekt *2026-05-14* Eine Erinnerung an früher. Läuft gut auf Mac neo ;-) ### 5/5 — Fantastic work by Mr. Needle *2026-02-26, version 8.0* Varied and reasonably priced game selection - something for everyone. Controller supported for those not so familiar with touch screen joysticks, and a straightforward UI. Pretty much perfect. I have only one suggestion - please get some more licences sorted (Codemasters, System3, Ocean, Hewson… the list goes on). I guarantee there are many of us out here who want to play ZX Spectrum games legally on iOS, supporting the rights of the original devs and/or publishers, and we’re willing to pay a few quid for the privilege! ### 5/5 — Retro heaven *2026-02-01, version 8.0* Great to play these Speccy classics with more to come. The app is superb, works with the iCade, a very polished product. Top marks to the dev Jon Needle. One of the best apps i've got. Don't listen to the review by ginger tips. Obviously doesn't understand how it works! Doesn't have a clue about games as most were games from back in the day and others are great new homebrew ones Plus now you can also add your own games !!! ### 5/5 — L'émulateur parfait *2025-12-21* Tout est dans le titre ! Mais je peux developper : pratique, complet, non limité (on peut même importer ses propres fichiers via un PC). ### 1/5 — Bof, juste des jeux *2025-10-28* De Pour moi c’est de l’arnaque, ce n’est pas un émulateur de programmation en spectrum basic comme indiqué, sur une (petite) ligne du contenu, 3 euro à la poubelle et éditeur banni ### 1/5 — Very limited *2025-10-20, version 8.0* You cannot play your own games on it, you can only buy ones from them ### 1/5 — Can’t load own games *2025-08-18, version 8.0* Says it has the ability to load own games but I can’t see anyway to do it. Developer no help refund requested doesn’t work as it should ### 5/5 — Impressive with a few quirks *2025-08-14, version 8.0* Some may moan that this one costs you (but the ZX81 is free I hear you cry) but you do get a few games as well as an impressive ZX Spectrum 48 emulator. For me that was my main interest as I did program on it when I did 16 plus computer science at school, using the built in BASIC. If that’s you, you really should check out the ZX Spectrum manual from worldofspectrum.org rather than paying out a tenner for basically the same thing. One strange oddity is that I have to use Bluetooth headphones in order to hear sound. If you need the virtual keyboard and using on an iPad use it in portrait mode as in landscape the keyboard will obscure the output screen. The second is storing basic programs - you’re limited to 4 which have a filename as the date stamp (no you can’t change it to something useful) and an additional iCloud one so if you have more than one Apple device (on a family group) programs can be transferred. Might have been better for the programmer to have had a built in 100K virtual Microdrive, that you could save and load from along with an additional window to view the file name. Not sure how much of a pig that would be to do - along with a mechanism to share your creations. Maybe that’s why you buy the physical hardware device, and to access the more popular games that came out for it. Or to look at emulators on the various PC OS’s. From a programming BASIC point of view it’s a very good clone of how it worked. It was infuriating to program on one at times, but also reduced the number of commands you needed to remember and to speed up the typing and learning process. Anyone thinking of buying the physical hardware device might be wise to try this app out first. Not used a Bluetooth games controller yet. To get 40 games, along with a basic spectrum 48 and 128 emulator for 3 quid, given how easy it is to access a free BASIC original manual (thanks to AMSTRAD) you can’t grumble. A lot of work has gone into it which the programmer has a right to ask for payment as he’s also done legwork on getting consent to bundle games with it from the games authors. He’s not charging much. Next step is sorting out is the naming of saved basic files and a mechanism of sharing them. Hopefully in years to come Apple will give you the APIs to do it dear developer. ## Frequently asked questions about Spectaculator ### What is this app? This app is a ZX Spectrum emulator that allows you to play classic 8-bit computer games from the 1980s. It provides an authentic experience with features like save states, cheat codes, and visual simulations of old televisions. ### How many games can I play? The app comes with 22 officially licensed classic ZX Spectrum games pre-installed. Additionally, over 150 licensed games are available for purchase through the in-app shop, with more game packs being offered. ### Is this app free to use? The app itself is free to download and includes a selection of games. Additional game packs and titles can be purchased through in-app purchases to expand your game library. ### What devices is this app compatible with? This is a universal app designed to run on iPhone, iPod, and iPad devices. It supports various screen sizes, including those of the iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5th generation, and can be played in portrait or landscape orientations. ### What are the main features of this emulator? Key features include saving game progress to multiple slots (including iCloud), entering cheats, looking up game hints and maps, playing with authentic black and white TV simulation, using virtual or external keyboards, and programming in Sinclair BASIC. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 8.0 — 2024-08-01 - Add your own games (.tap/.tzx/.z80/.szx/.dsk) - Physical keyboard support (iOS 13.4+ only) - Various bug fixes ### 7.11 — 2024-06-28 • Refreshed for the latest versions of iOS. • Fixed iCloud Saves • Stomped various bugs. ### 7.1 — 2024-06-24 • Refreshed for the latest versions of iOS. • Fixed iCloud Saves • Stomped various bugs. • *** STAY TUNED *** Major update incoming in the next few weeks! ### 7.0 — 2015-10-15 This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon. Now over 150 licensed ZX Spectrum games available! • Updated for iOS 9 • Added an additional 20 licensed games:     - Splat! (1987)     - Strike Force Cobra (1986)     - Julian Gollop Anthology: • Chaos • Laser Squad • Lords Of Chaos • Rebelstar • Rebelstar 2 • Rebelstar Raiders     - Cronosoft: Bob Smith Anthology: • Farmer Jack - Treasure Trove • Farmer Jack and the Hedge Monkeys • Farmer Jack in Harvest Havoc • splATTR • Stranded 2.5 • W*H*B     - Cronosoft: Jonathan Cauldwell Anthology: • Egghead 4: Egghead Entertains • Egghead 5: Egghead Round the Med • Gamex: The Games Exchange • Loco Bingo • Quantum Gardening • Slubberdegullion Miscellaneous bug fixes. ### 6.1.0 — 2015-03-26 • iOS Game Controller support • Added an additional 24 licensed games:     - Wheelie     - Rex     - Magic Knight Anthology         • Finders Keepers         • Spellbound         • Knight Tyme         • Stormbringer     - Alternative Software Pack 1         • Skool Daze         • Dead Or Alive         • River Rescue         • Eliminator         • Gun Boat         • Hideous     - Alternative Software Pack 2         • Back to Skool         • Confusion         • Turbo Bike         • Revolver         • Slug         • Combat Zone     - Alternative Software Pack 3         • Pheenix         • Punch and Judy         • The Big Sleaze         • Excalibur         • Hysteria         • Mad Flunky ## Apps similar to Spectaculator | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Chuckie Egg®](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chuckie-egg/id1564651093) | — | $2.99 | Games | | [AsteRAEds](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/asteraeds/id6452471612) | 3.0 (1) | Free | Games | | [Bounder](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bounder/id1376014825) | 4.0 (4) | Free | Games | | [Dotty The Kangaroo ZX](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dotty-the-kangaroo-zx/id1636267962) | 4.0 (4) | Free | Games | | [Astro Wars](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astro-wars/id665882635) | 4.2 (5) | $1.99 | Games | | [Retro Classics: Collection 2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-classics-collection-2/id853727709) | — | $3.99 | Games | ## More apps by Jonathan Needle - [The Rocky Horror Show (ZX Spectrum)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-rocky-horror-show-zx-spectrum/id494539831) - [Skool Daze (ZX Spectrum)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skool-daze-zx-spectrum/id921378885) - [Robin Of The Wood (ZX Spectrum)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/robin-of-the-wood-zx-spectrum/id991301785) All apps by Jonathan Needle: https://appshunter.io/developer/421662153 ## Related topics [zx spectrum](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zx-spectrum) · [zx spectrum gamer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/zx-spectrum-gamer) --- *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 2026-08-28.*