ZX81 vs Jinks!
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ZX81
Experience early 1980s home computing with this app dedicated to the Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81. It includes a wealth of example software, offering a nostalgic journey into the origins of personal computing.
- Sinclair ZX80/ZX81 emulation
- Timex Sinclair 1000 support
- Includes example software
- Focuses on early 1980s computing
- ROM code included with permission
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Welcome to a taste of early 1980s home computing. This app focuses on the Sinclair ZX81 experience and is loaded with example software. A streamlined watchOS app is included, offering saved session syncing with the iOS app on the paired iPhone. Background: In 1980 the British company Science of Cambridge (later renamed Sinclair Research) released the Sinclair ZX80 home computer. The computer was developed with another technology company, Nine Tiles, and manufactured in a Timex Corporation factory in Dundee, Scotland. Followed in March 1981 by the even more popular successor, the Sinclair ZX81, both models had a profound impact on home and hobbyist computing in the UK and many other countries. Timex Corporation and Sinclair Research continued their joint venture and released the Timex Sinclair 1000 (TS1000) and 1500 (TS1500) variants of the ZX81 for the US market in July 1982 and July 1983 respectively. Meanwhile, another iconic British home computer, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, was under development and hit the market in April 1982... but that's another story. Special thanks to Nine Tiles for granting permission to include the ROM code, to which they retain the intellectual property rights after all these years. Additionally, many thanks to all the developers of the loaded ZX81 software who have all granted permission to include their titles in the app. We hope this list of software will continue to grow in future updates.
Jinks!
A highly addictive, fast-paced arcade game with simple one-touch controls. Dodge incoming objects and strategically use shields to survive as long as possible. Offers unlimited playtime with various themes.
- One-touch gameplay
- Unlimited playtime
- Fast-paced action
- Strategic movement
- Collectible shields
- Variety of themes
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Jinks! - A highly addictive game. Simple one touch game play with unlimited playing time. * Fast paced game play, can you keep up? * Develop strategies to stay in control! * Predict movement to plan your next step! No levels, no limits, keeps you entertained for hours. Jinks! comes in a variety of beautiful and fun themes. Contact: hello@jinks.app --- Leahland: "This game reminds me of so many other classic games, but with its own unique style. It’s easy to pick up and play, but gets challenging pretty quickly." walkernyranger: "First game I’ve found in a while that’s super simple, yet addictive. Great if you need to burn just a minute or two!" rminerick: "Addictive and easy to pick up when you have a few idle minutes." --- How to play: Dodge objects to stay alive. Just tap to move to a new position. A new object is generated every few seconds when staying in place. But every time you move, a new one is created immediately! Moving creates a black hole, absorbing everything it touches. Time your movement wisely! Collect shield items to gain extra protection. When you get hit, your shield gets destroyed in an explosion. This explosion will destroy every object it reaches. Maintain control over the board by timing your movement and using your shields. Have fun!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ZX81 at Free against Jinks!'s $1.99. ZX81 also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.2) and device support (4 vs 2). Jinks!'s advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 10 days). On review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
ZX81 is free to download; Jinks! costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
ZX81 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 92 and 26 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 98% of ZX81's written reviews are positive against 100% of Jinks!'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, Jinks! every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | ZX81 | Jinks! |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.9 (92 ratings) — better | 4.2 (26 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 98.4% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 92 — better | 26 |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 86 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kevin Palser | Simon Nickel |
Customer experience
ZX81
Jinks!
In-app purchases
ZX81
No in-app purchases
Jinks!
No in-app purchases









