Manic Miner
Manic Miner is a 1983 platformer developed by Bug-Byte for the ZX Spectrum, created by a teenage Matthew Smith and a landmark of early British game design. Players control miner Willy as he explores twenty underground caverns, collecting every flashing key in each to open the exit portal while a steadily depleting air supply forces quick, decisive movement.
Each screen is a self-contained puzzle of precise jumps, collapsing floors, conveyor belts, moving platforms, and deadly hazards and creatures, such as the marching penguins and killer toilets, that must be memorised and mastered through repeated attempts. Its tight, single-screen challenge, quirky enemies, and inclusion of an in-game tune, unusual for the hardware at the time, made it hugely influential on the platform genre on home computers.
Manic Miner's success led directly to its celebrated and larger sequel Jet Set Willy. The original remains a beloved piece of gaming history, accessible today through emulation and various retro re-releases and remakes.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Manic Miner, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
Celeste Indie
€ 19,99An indie precision platformer with tight single-screen challenges echoing Manic Miner's difficulty.
Celeste runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
N++ Indie
€ 14,99Thousands of single-screen precision platforming rooms with a strict timer, the purest Manic Miner descendant.
N++ runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Xbox. It is Steam Deck Verified.
10 Second Ninja X Indie
€ 9,99Bite-sized single-screen levels you retry dozens of times to shave off tenths of a second.
10 Second Ninja X runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Unsupported.
They Bleed Pixels Indie
€ 9,99An indie hardcore action-platformer with punishing single-screen challenge rooms.
They Bleed Pixels runs on PC, Mac. Not available on Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Verified.
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