The Budget Revolution
When games cost £9.95 and lived only in specialist shops, Mastertronic asked a radical question: what if they cost £1.99 instead?
The Idea
Martin Alper, Frank Herman, Terry Medway, and Alan Sharam founded Mastertronic in London in 1983 with a simple but revolutionary premise: sell cassette games at £1.99 through mass-market retail channels — Woolworths, W.H. Smith, newsagents, petrol stations — rather than specialist computer shops that most families never entered.
The strategy worked spectacularly. Mastertronic became one of Britain's largest software publishers within three years, selling millions of cassettes across the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Atari 8-bit, and beyond.
The Catalogue
Mastertronic published dozens of original titles across the 1983–1988 period. Their roster included motorcycle trials game Kikstart, the action platformer Action Biker featuring Clumsy Colin, the treasure-hunt classic Finders Keepers, and the creepy Chiller.
The premium M.A.D. (Mastertronic Added Dimension) sub-label launched in 1985 with The Last V8 at £2.99, and later published the first UK licensed edition of Tetris for C64 and Spectrum — a landmark moment in gaming history.
The Legacy
A 1987 Sega distribution deal led to Virgin Games acquiring a stake, and by 1988 Mastertronic was absorbed into Virgin Interactive Entertainment. Along the way they had given the Darling brothers their first publishing deal — the same brothers who would found Codemasters.
Their Arcadia arcade venture brought Amiga hardware to arcades. Their budget philosophy democratised gaming. And their back-catalogue continues to be lovingly preserved and played by retro gaming communities worldwide.
See It in Action
Kikstart — the motorcycle trials classic that launched a franchise
Kikstart (1985, C64) — one of Mastertronic's most enduring titles, with its addictive motorcycle trials gameplay. Rob Hubbard SID soundtrack included.
Key Titles
Eight games that defined Mastertronic's catalogue — from budget originals to licensed blockbusters
Kikstart
1985
Motorcycle trials game with superb Rob Hubbard soundtrack. Spawned a sequel and remains a beloved C64 classic.
Action Biker
1985
Clumsy Colin's open-world motorcycle adventure. Distinctive character-licensed action across a large map.
Finders Keepers
1985
Multi-screen treasure hunt platformer by David Jones. A Mastertronic original that punched above its price tag.
The Last V8
1985
First M.A.D. label release. Post-apocalyptic driving at £2.99 — Mastertronic's premium tier begins.
Chiller
1985
Atmospheric horror platformer. Atmospheric, tense, and surprisingly dark for a £1.99 release.
Knight Tyme
1986
Fantasy adventure sequel to Finders Keepers. David Jones' isometric follow-up expanded the original's world.
Tetris
1987
The UK's first officially licensed Tetris edition. Mastertronic brought the Soviet puzzle sensation to British homes.
Flash Gordon
1988
Licensed M.A.D. label release based on the classic Flash Gordon licence. High-budget production for the era.
More to Discover
1983
History
From a bold London startup to a Virgin subsidiary — the full Mastertronic story.
Read the history →★★★
Flagship Games
Deep dives into Kikstart, Action Biker, and the Mastertronic Tetris edition.
Explore flagship titles →▶
Videos
Longplays, retrospectives, and era footage. See the games as they were played.
Watch videos →◉
Play Now
Browser-based emulators for C64, Spectrum, and Amstrad. No downloads needed.
Play in browser →◈
Gallery
Box art grid spanning cassette covers across all Mastertronic platforms.
Browse the gallery →