SINCLAIR BASIC
Learn programming from scratch by building 16 complete games
Games
16 complete games teaching Sinclair BASIC from absolute zero to a graphical text adventure with autonomous NPCs. Start with a number guessing game, finish with a haunted manor.
1
Foundations Learn the language by building six small games. Each introduces one visual dimension — colour, sound, screen control, strings, data — until your programs look like real Spectrum software. 6 games · 8 units each
1
Lucky Number
Number guessing — your first complete program
PRINTLET / variablesINPUTIF/THENGO TORND
2
Bomb Defusal
Cut the right wire before time runs out
CLSPRINT ATPAUSEBEEPINKEY$
3
Colour Flood
Watch the panels flash, repeat the sequence
FOR/NEXTBORDER/PAPER/INKBEEPBRIGHTStrings (LEN/VAL/STR$)
4
Hot and Cold
Find the treasure — the border knows where it is
PRINT ATPosition variablesABSGame loop
5
Word Scramble
Unscramble the letters — content comes from data
String slicingDATA/READLENConcatenation
6
Quiz Master
Four categories, GO SUB subroutines, scored breakdown
RESTOREAND/ORArraysCode organisation
2
Skills Characters move, enemies chase, the screen transitions between levels. Frame-rate timing, colour-based collision, the full character set, and flicker-free XOR drawing. 4 games · 16 units each
7
Snake
The snake moves — you steer
PEEK timingContinuous movementArraysCollision detection
8
Minefield
Every colour hides a clue
2D arraysNeighbour checkingFlagsData vs display
9
Breakout
Bricks, ball, bat — pixel meets character
CHR$ block graphicsPLOT/DRAW/POINTBall physicsCollision detection
10
Night Patrol
Maze chase with enemies that think
Map dataSimple AIMultiple enemiesRESTORE to line
3
Projects Custom character sets, pixel graphics, UDGs, and machine code helpers. Your output looks like commercial Spectrum software — because you're using the same techniques. 4 games · 32 units each
11
Tarmac
Design every tile — your game, your world
Custom character setPOKE CHARSTile designTrack layout
12
Flood
Every turn paints the screen
Direct attribute POKEColour as mechanicFlood fill algorithmFast screen updates
13
Rooftops
Hand-designed sprites that run and jump
USR/BIN/UDGsAnimation framesJump physicsPlatform collision
14
Blockstorm
UDG action shooter pushing BASIC to its limits
USR/BIN/UDGsAnimationBullet poolSpeed optimisation
4
Advanced No new tricks — instead, use everything you know to create atmosphere, procedural worlds, and a graphical text adventure with autonomous NPCs. 2 games · 32–64 units