Comp.Sys.Sinclair Crap Games Competition 2026

About the Competition Spirit

Welcome to the most paradoxical competition in retro gaming! Here, the traditional rules are delightfully inverted: making the worst game wins, while creating the best game loses – and burdens you with organising next year's competition.

However, we seek quality craftsmanship even in our gloriously terrible games. We're looking for simple, functional, type-in quality games with humorous or bizarre themes. Broken or non-functional games are not what we're after – we want games that work perfectly well but are brilliantly, deliberately, and comedically awful in concept. It's harder than it sounds!

Entries for the ZX Spectrum and near relatives are welcomed.

Send entries to zxkerl AT gmail DOT com before the closing date [December 31th 2026]

REVIEWS and DOWNLOADS will be posted on this site throughout the year as we do them.

AWARDS AND PRIZES will be given in January of 2027.

📊 Evaluation System

The Paradox: In this competition, making the "worst" game wins the Golden Crap Award, while creating the "best" game earns you the Organiser's Curse.

Evaluation Attributes (1-10 scale):

1. FUNCTIONALITY

Does the game work without critical errors or bugs? Can it be played from start to finish without breaking?

2. SIMPLICITY

How basic and minimalist are the mechanics? Simple controls, straightforward concept, easy to understand?

3. COMEDY

Is it funny or amusing? Does it make you laugh intentionally through visuals, concept, or situations?

4. PLAYABILITY

How polished and professional does it feel? Smooth controls, good balance, well-designed?

5. REPLAYABILITY

Do you want to play it again? Does it have lasting appeal or addictive qualities?

General Rules

Games should be "bad" by design, not broken by accident
Functionality is mandatory (minimum score of 7/10)
The goal is comedy and absurdity, not offense
When in doubt, keep it light, silly, and harmless

The judge reserves the right to disqualify any entry that violates these guidelines or the spirit of good-natured competition.

PRIZES

The Golden Crap Award

🏆 THE WORST/BEST GAME (The Winner!)

Awarded to the most gloriously absurd yet functionally complete game of the competition. This is the trophy everyone wants – the ultimate recognition of creating something magnificently terrible.

Criteria:

Comic originality and creative absurdity
Ridiculous concept executed correctly
Unnecessarily simple but perfectly functional gameplay
The perfect balance between "why does this exist?" and "I can't stop playing"

The Organiser's Curse

😱 THE BEST GAME (The Punishment!)

The dubious honour given to the game of highest technical quality and polish. The creator of this entry must organise next year's competition – a fitting penalty for excellence.

Criteria:

Clean, well-structured code
Solid game mechanics and design
Professional execution and polish
The kind of game that makes us say "This is too good for this competition"

The Type-In Excellence Medal

📝 BEST TYPE-IN GAME

For the best game worthy of being published in a retro computing magazine. This entry respects the noble tradition of type-in programs from the golden age of home computing.

Criteria: