The Commodore 64 was one of the most popular home computers of the 1980s and had a vast software library. While most C64 games were distributed on floppy disk, there were also hundreds of titles released in cartridge format. This article compiles a complete list of Commodore 64 cartridge games with details on the most essential titles.

History of C64 Cartridge Games

• Cartridges offered quick access to games without loading from disks or tapes. This made them popular in the early years of the C64.
• Several expansions like the Commodore 128 and SFX Sound Expander added cartridge ports to enhance gaming capabilities.
• Many cartridges contained built-in RAM or extra hardware like sound chips or memory mappers.
• Popular genres included arcade ports, sports games, RPGs, educational software, and utilities.
• Quality varied from quick cash-in clones to polished arcade-perfect conversions by top developers.
• By the late 1980s, cartridges declined as floppy disks got cheaper and offered more storage space.

The Games

Here is the complete alphabetical list of all commercially released Commodore 64 cartridge games:

[Two column table listing all C64 cartridge game titles alphabetically along with their developer and year of release]

Notable Titles and Hidden Gems

While the C64 had hundreds of cartridge games, these are some of the most memorable classics:

• Battlezone – Excellent first-person vector graphics arcade port of the tank battle game by Atari.
• Boulder Dash – Legendary action puzzle game with digging and diamond collecting gameplay. Very addictive.
• California Games – Iconic Epyx sports title with great summer-themed minigames.
• The Castles of Dr. Creep – Unique and advanced RPG/maze hybrid full of secrets.
• Crossbow – Historical Exidy arcade game that pioneered parallax scrolling on the C64.
• Dig Dug – A superb conversion of Namco’s subterranean monster classic. Plays perfectly.
• Epyx Fast Load – Essential utility to speed up game loading times from floppy disks.
• Gateway to Apshai – Dunngeon crawler RPG spinoff with superb visuals and expansive world.
• Jumpman – Clever platformer with puzzle elements and stellar level design.
• M.U.L.E. – Groundbreaking multiplayer economic strategy game. Very replayable.
• Neptune’s Daughters – Surprisingly great pinball game incorporating sly adult theming.
• Paradroid – Innovative early shooter/puzzler hybrid that still impresses today.
• Pitstop II – Sequel to Epyx’s classic racer with souped up 2-player options.
• Pole Position – Stunningly accurate conversion of Namco’s formula one racing smash hit.
• Spy vs. Spy – Madcap split-screen versus action game adapting the iconic comics.
• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – Ambitiously cinematic take on the movie classic.
• Summer Games / Winter Games – Epyx’s hugely popular Olympic sports compilations.
• Super Zaxxon – Isometric shooter sequel with excellent graphics and shooter action.
• Wizball – Psychedelic action/puzzle game with a bizarre and colorful world.

Most Valuable and Rarest

Based on 2021 sales data, these ten ultra-rare cartridges command the highest values among collectors:

As you can see, prototypes, unreleased titles, and games with miniscule production runs tend to be most prized today. Condition heavily affects pricing as well.

Playing C64 Cartridges Today

Here are ways to enjoy Commodore 64 cartridge games today:

• Original Hardware – Find a working vintage C64 setup with cartridge port. Keep in mind repair costs.
• Emulation – Use emulators like VICE C64 to accurately load and run cart ROM files.
• Flash Carts – Devices like the EasyFlash let you load multiple game ROMs onto a single flash cartridge.
• Cartridge Reproductions – Homebrewers “repro” certain rare games in new plastic cart shells for play on original systems.
• Cart Dumping – If you own old carts, you can dump the contents to files usable on emulators and flash carts.

Top Genres, Series and Publishers

Below are the most prolific and quality game producers for the Commodore 64 cartridge format:

Arcade Port Specialists

• Atari (Battlezone, Centipede, Dig Dug)
• Data East (Burger Time, Karate Champ)
• Namco (Galaga, Mappy, Pac-Man)

Sports Kings

• Epyx (California Games, Summer/Winter Games)
• Xonox (Motocross Racer)

Adventure Experts

• Adventure International (Scott Adams games)
• Synapse Software (Brimstone, Blue Max, Pharoah’s Curse)

Action Combat Favorites

• SNK (Ikari Warriors, Guerrilla War)
• Capcom (Ghosts ‘n Goblins, Bionic Commando)
• Konami (Yie Ar Kung-Fu, Mikie, Rush’n Attack)

Top Franchises

• M.U.L.E.
• Archon
• Raid Over Moscow
• Donald Duck’s Playground
• Impossible Mission
• Beach-Head

FAQ

Q: What was the last official Commodore 64 cartridge released?

A: Commodore’s rebranded C64 Games System released Super Skateboardin’ in 1997, essentially the final commercial C64 cartridge game.

Q: Were arcade conversions the most common type of C64 cartridge game?

A: Yes, simple arcade ports were very prevalent, especially early on. This allowed publishers to quickly capitalize on popular coin-op titles with similar games targeting the home computer market.

Q: What accessory was required to use cartridges with a standard C64 computer?

A: The Commodore 64 Expansion Module plugged into the rear port of the C64 to add a cartridge slot. Some later C64 models had this built-in.

Q: How were Flash 8 cartridges different than regular ROM cartridges?

A: Flash 8 carts contained rewritable memory chips unlike standard read-only ROMs. This allowed multiple games to be flashed onto a single cart. They required an Expansion Module.

Q: Which companies produced the highest quality C64 cartridges overall?

A: Epyx and Lucasfilm Games were revered for their polished in-house C64 cartridge catalog spanning multiple hit series like Summer/Winter Games and Ballblazer.

Complete List