Comparison

ZX81 vs ScRAEmble

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Sinclair ZX80/ZX81 emulation
  • Timex Sinclair 1000 support
  • Includes example software
  • Focuses on early 1980s computing
  • ROM code included with permission
Features
Read full description

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.

About

ScRAEmble

Experience a classic side-scrolling shooter with varied levels and dynamic terrain. Navigate mountains and caves, collect fuel, and dodge enemy fire. Enjoy retro gaming with full gamepad or touch controls.

Highlights
  • Side-scrolling shooter gameplay
  • Multiple levels
  • Fuel collection mechanic
  • Variable terrain navigation
  • Full MFI Gamepad support
  • Touch controls
Read full description

Another RAE-Tro recreation for you - this time the first side scrolling shooter with levels, shoot the buildings, collect fuel and dodge rockets all while navigating a variable terrain of mountains, caves and other suprises.....  Bring back the golden age of gaming to your iPhone / iPad Full MFI Gamepad support Touch controls also - left side of screen to move ship - top right to fire bullets, bottom right to drop bombs Good luck pilot

Screenshots

ZX814 screens
ScRAEmble4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ZX81 at every 10 days against ScRAEmble's every 2 months. ZX81 also leads on ratings volume (92 vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for ZX81 against 5.0 for ScRAEmble. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZX81 has 92 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 98% of ZX81's written reviews are positive against 100% of ScRAEmble's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, ScRAEmble every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
ZX81 versus ScRAEmble: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZX81ScRAEmble
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (92 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews98.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings92 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB4 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperKevin PalserSteve Rae

Customer experience

ZX81

All ratings92 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.1%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive98.4%
Neutral1.6%
Negative0.0%

ScRAEmble

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ZX81

No in-app purchases

None

ScRAEmble

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ZX81 free?
ZX81 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ScRAEmble free?
ScRAEmble is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ZX81 or ScRAEmble?
ScRAEmble is rated higher. ZX81 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 92 ratings, while ScRAEmble averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do ZX81 or ScRAEmble have ads?
Neither ZX81 nor ScRAEmble shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZX81 or ScRAEmble?
ZX81 ships an update every 10 days, and ScRAEmble every 2 months. Most recently, ZX81 was updated on October 26, 2026 and ScRAEmble on October 28, 2026.

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