Developed by Knights of Bytes and published by Protovision, Sam’s Journey is a super-polished platform game released for the C64 in 2025. It has numerous similarities to Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo, which is no bad thing, and features 27 levels, each with multiple sections.

Playing as Sam, you must make your way through various scrolling landscapes, collecting gems and using special costumes that confer additional skills. The pirate outfit, for example, allows Sam to wield a sword to kill enemies. The ninja outfit allows wall-climbing; the space suit allows for an additional jet pack boost to jumps, and so on. There are six different outfits in total. And if Sam gets hit when wearing an outfit he’ll simply return to his normal form. So it acts like a shield – for one hit at least.

The game has three different overworld maps, all of which work similarly to those seen in Super Mario World. As you complete levels, you open up the path through each map, to new levels – eventually reaching a boss battle at the end.

Sam’s Journey has exceptional graphics, really good sound and excellent playability. It is a serious challenge too, and can be frustrating unless you’re good at platform games. There are many hidden items and secret passages to find; tons of checkpoints, and a save game feature to help keep you going. Completing the game will take a concerted effort, though.

The full game is available to buy on itch.io, and it’s worth buying if you’re a serious fan of platform games on the C64, such is its quality.

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