Game2019

Horace

ActionAdventureIndie

Developer Paul Helman, Sean Scaplehorn

Horace is a 2019 platform video game developed by British indie developers Paul Helman and Sean Scaplehorn, and published by 505 Games. The game was originally launched for Microsoft Windows on July 19, 2019, with a Nintendo Switch port released on October 21, 2020. The game also released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on February 28, 2023. Players control the titular Horace, a sentient robot who is adopted by a… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

74 reactions from 1 source (Bluesky) · newest Aug 29, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works

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Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
555 of 695 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)

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Reactions

60 of 74 · most liked first
  • Sam @samburr.bsky.socialBluesky · May 21, 2026

    My take on Horace, the Iron Poet, from the game Armello, training outside on a hot day. The in-game model's fur pattern differs from the official art, and much of his fur is covered by armor anyway, so I just did my best!

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  • Brendel @brendelbored.bsky.socialBluesky · May 27, 2025

    When people bring up Boebert or something it’s like yeah she’s dumb but her level of dumb is Horace Grant to his Michael Jordan. Both great players but only one of them is redefining the game

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  • Brendel @brendelbored.bsky.socialBluesky · Aug 9, 2026

    I like how even in the Michael Jordan videogame his teammates have to be portrayed as losers compared to Michael Jordan, you know Michael demanded that. He was like I’m not making this game about magic flaming basketballs unless people know Horace Grant plays like ass compared to me.

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  • Jaime: The Jaimes of Fate @jaimev2.bsky.socialBluesky · Aug 20, 2025

    @darthbluesky.bsky.social from mom: Horace just left for the weekly poker game.

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  • Jake Birkett - Veteran Indie @greyalien.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 3, 2025

    Got myself a Horace mug. “Horace goes skiing” was the first computer game I owned.

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  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 17, 2025

    June 16, 1993: Chicago's Michael Jordan finishes with 55 PTS (21-37 FG) in a 111-105 win over Phoenix in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Horace Grant added 17 PTS/16 REB/3 BLK/3 STL for the Bulls, who took a 3-1 series lead. The Suns' Charles Barkley had 32 PTS/12 REB/10 AST/3 STL.

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  • Historic Cricket Pictures @picturesporting.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 19, 2026

    Sixteen-year-old Fred Titmus on the first day of a career that spanned more than three decades, Somerset v Middlesex, Bath, June 19th 1949. This was last game for Horace Brearley, Mike's father. Over 33 years later Titmus' 792nd and final first-class game was also Mike Brearley's last at Lord's

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  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · May 17, 2025

    May 17, 1993: Michael Jordan hits a game-winning buzzer beater at Cleveland to complete the Bulls' series sweep in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Jordan had 31 PTS/9 REB/6 AST and Horace Grant added 17 PTS/10 REB for Chicago in a 103-101 victory over the Cavaliers.

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  • Steam user Steam user …7094Steam reviews · Mar 19, 2023 · 48 h played

    Having more or less finished the game (moon base and all), I can confidently say: this game is much less impressive than it thinks it is. TLDR: a mediocre platformer that can't pick a genre wrapped in a poorly written and cliche "robofeels" story that can't keep track of its own themes, hiding behind some references to 70s and 80s arcade titles. First, gameplay: this is a game that really can't decide what it wants to be. The first 15% or so is a decent platforming tutorial that wildly…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 20, 2026

    June 20, 1993: Chicago's Horace Grant blocks Kevin Johnson as time expires in Game 6, and the Bulls hold on for a 99-98 win over the Suns in Phoenix—clinching their 3rd NBA Championship in a row. Grant also assisted on John Paxson's game-winning three with 3.9 seconds remaining.

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  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · May 17, 2026

    May 17, 1993: Michael Jordan hits a game-winning buzzer beater at Cleveland to complete the Bulls' series sweep in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Jordan had 31 PTS/9 REB/6 AST and Horace Grant added 17 PTS/10 REB for Chicago in a 103-101 victory over the Cavaliers.

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  • Steam user Steam user …6246Steam reviews · May 26, 2021 · 39 h played

    One of the best and most entertaining games I have played lately. Probably not for everyone, but huge recommendation for anyone who likes platforming, story-heavy games, tons of pop culture references (especially for people my age who grew up in the 80s), and who got nothing against lots of silliness in-between, but also cherishes quick switchovers into emotional and serious undertones. Horace as a game actually is really difficult to describe, it’s a lot of things simultaneously, making it…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 26, 2025

    April 26, 2001: The Lakers' Horace Grant dunks on Arvydas Sabonis of the Trail Blazers during Game 2 of their first round playoff series. For Los Angeles, Shaquille O'Neal had 32 PTS/12 REB and Kobe Bryant added 25 PTS. Scottie Pippen had 21 PTS/8 REB for Portland. 📺 NBA Action

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  • Steam user Steam user …5536Steam reviews · Nov 16, 2023 · 3 h played

    [url=store.steampowered.com/app/629090/Horace/?snr=1_1056_ajaxgetfilteredrecommendations_1056_curator-tabs&curator_clanid=35523649]Fell in love with it quick.

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 20, 2026

    March 20, 1994: Chicago's Scottie Pippen dunks on Chuck Person of Minnesota. Pippen had 14 PTS/11 REB/6 AST/3 BLK and Horace Grant scored 18 PTS in the Bulls' 90-80 win. Isaiah Rider scored a game-high 25 PTS and Stacey King had 19 PTS/7 REB for the Timberwolves.

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  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 16, 2026

    January 16, 1988: A Bulls-Pistons brawl. Rick Mahorn (DET) & Charles Oakley (CHI) were ejected. Mahorn was suspended one game & fined $5K. Oakley was fined $2K. Bulls coach Doug Collins was fined $1,500. Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Granville Waiters, John Salley & Vinnie Johnson were fined $500.

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  • Christo @mccustard.bsky.socialBluesky · Dec 25, 2025

    Nothing but repeats on TV this evening, folks, so how about a game of dominoes instead? Confession: I'd never heard of artist Horace Pippin (1888 to 1946) till about 10 minutes ago but I love his work already.

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  • Steam user Steam user …5744Steam reviews · Aug 16, 2022 · 1 h played

    I like the pixel art and the music. Unfortunately most of the game is watching lengthy and mostly monotonous cutscenes. And many of those cutscenes do extreme close ups on characters which makes everything look horrible and gave me a headache after a while. The cutscenes can be skipped, but if you do that you're missing all the story. If the cutscenes were heavily trimmed I'd give it another go.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …9499Steam reviews · Apr 15, 2022 · 27 h played

    Starts off well, but falls off in every way the farther one gets into it. By the end, the game abandons all attempt at either resolving the plots it set up or having anything to say about the topics it suggests it wants to explore. Some of the gameplay is good, and here and there there are some fantastic visuals and pleasing takes on classic pieces of music, but the platforming suffers too much from its own flaws to even begin redeeming the narrative issues, and the narrative issues are too…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 26, 2026

    April 26, 2001: The Lakers’ Horace Grant dunks on Portland’s Arvydas Sabonis during Game 2 of their first round playoff series. Shaquille O'Neal had 32 PTS/12 REB and Kobe Bryant added 25 PTS in Los Angeles’ 106-88 victory. Scottie Pippen had 21 PTS/8 REB for the Trail Blazers. 📺 NBA Action

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  • Joy Parry @joy13.bsky.socialBluesky · Feb 19, 2026

    #BookologyThursday "Where'er a casque that suits this sword is found, With perils is thy daughter compass'd round; Alfonso's blood alone can save the maid, And quiet a long restless prince's shade." Horace Walpole - The Castle of Otranto - Alfonso's ghost plays a waiting game ... 🎨 Anna Podedworna

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  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 20, 2025

    June 20, 1993: Chicago's Horace Grant blocks Kevin Johnson as time expires in Game 6, and the Bulls hold on for a 99-98 win over the Suns in Phoenix—clinching their 3rd NBA Championship in a row. Grant also assisted on John Paxson's game-winning three with 3.9 seconds remaining.

    unlabelledView post →
  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 20, 2025

    March 20, 1994: Chicago's Scottie Pippen dunks on Chuck Person of Minnesota. Pippen had 14 PTS/11 REB/6 AST/3 BLK and Horace Grant scored 18 PTS in the Bulls' 90-80 win. Isaiah Rider scored a game-high 25 PTS and Stacey King had 19 PTS/7 REB for the Timberwolves.

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  • Steam user Steam user …4627Steam reviews · Jun 6, 2022 · 2 h played

    Started out nice enough, both the gameplay as well as the storytelling which is quite enjoyable. But then it turned into a very annoying platformer with a gravity/rotation gimmick which just makes me nauseous. After about 2 hours of playing the difficulty started to ramp way up, with instant death everywhere. Thanks, I'm done.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • MrPaulRobinson @mrpaulrobinson.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 26, 2025

    "The game is called Horace Goes Skiing, why does he have to cross a road?"

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  • Steam user Steam user …3512Steam reviews · Jun 29, 2024 · 5 h played

    Unfortunately, the amount reliance on infinite lives and constantly retrying to get something right just once is really not fun. Can not recommend to anyone except a platforming enthusiast.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • NBA Cobwebs @nbacobwebs.bsky.socialBluesky · Nov 24, 2025

    November 24, 1993: San Antonio’s Willie Anderson dunks on Bill Cartwright of Chicago. Anderson scored a game-high 21 PTS (8-11 FG) in 21 minutes during the Spurs' 109-84 win. Horace Grant scored 18 PTS to lead the Bulls.

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  • Steam user Steam user …0163Steam reviews · Feb 3, 2021 · 15 h played

    Is the game fun and entertaining? Yes Would I recommend this? No. The game is, at its heart, a platformer, but it is a platformer with very terrible hitboxes, often not in the players favor. The camera, at times, is reminiscent of Super Mario 64 in that it can turn in wild and unpredictable ways that make platforming near impossible. There are also many times when the camera intentionally doesn't shift with the players orientation, meaning that the controls also don't adjust (meaning that left…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • 🕹RetroGuyBry🎮 @retroguybry.bsky.socialBluesky · May 26, 2025

    🕹C64 Game of the Day🕹 Hungry Horace (1983) by Gregg Barnett and published by Melbourne House. The fun little Pac-Man style game that first introduced us to Horace. I’ve not played this in a while and I forgot how tough it could be. #Commodore64 #RetroGames #C64GameOfTheDay

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  • Steam user Steam user …5436Steam reviews · Aug 12, 2024 · 17 h played

    It's a story-focused adventure platformer with a cute story and really nice pixel art, but it's just too long. The most considerable criticism is how long and slow the game is, primarily because of the numerous cut scenes and the platformer parts in between. Having some mini-games to break up the platformer would be nice, though. Still, it doesn't happen as often as I would have wished, and the core remains a platformer. Text-to-speech is thematic and a nice way to save on the budget, but due…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • 🕹RetroGuyBry🎮 @retroguybry.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 17, 2025

    🕹C64 Game of the Day🕹 Horace Goes Skiing (1984) by Gregg Barnett and published by Melbourne House. Its been a hot one today so Let’s cool down with a spot of skiing. Now, if I can just get across that busy old road… #Commodore64 #RetroGames #C64GameOfTheDay

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  • L Break Into Program @breakintoprogram.co.ukBluesky · Nov 5, 2024

    I paid homage to Horace Goes Skiing in my Incredible Crash Dummies Gameboy game.

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  • Steam user Steam user …5099Steam reviews · Jul 6, 2023 · 1 h played

    EFF the timed zone! It was a cute, relaxed, fun game until the bloody timed zone. After 20 tries, the unforgiving 1-mistake-you're-dead-while-time-still-races-on, and the unforgivable inability to cancel out of ANY cutscene, it has been deleted. If you're going to make it THAT bloody deadly and unforgiving, at least reset the time to when you entered the door.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4109Steam reviews · May 8, 2021 · 21 h played

    Criminally underrated, a real hidden gem of 2D platformers. With tons of non-repeating mechanics, well thought boss fights and great story alongside interesting characters and fantastic music that combined with challenging gameplay makes one truly memorable experience. Props to the developer, I really enjoyed it.

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Des @indecisivedes.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 17, 2025

    Poor Horace just wants to play with the pretty flea too bad they aren't playing the same game lol

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  • SpeedyBRE @speedybre.bsky.socialBluesky · Apr 8, 2025

    I know I'm late for @heckmaybe.bsky.social 's Make Anything game but I still wanted to draw something for the occasion. Hungry Horace performs his secret technique, the Tatsumaki Senpukyaku.

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  • Fruitlesseffort @fruitlesseffort.bsky.socialBluesky · Dec 2, 2024

    Introduced the lad to a real video game mascot—Horace—courtesy of the Spectrum. He’s never shown any interest in Speccy games before when using emulators on Windows … but there’s something about those rubber keys!

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  • paulseesequasis @pseesequasis.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 27, 2024

    Caddos and Wichitas playing a hand game at Binger, Oklahoma around 1955. 📷 Horace Poolaw (Kiowa) | © Horace Poolaw Estate

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  • Steam user Steam user …1764Steam reviews · Jan 31, 2021 · 5 h played

    An adorable platform game with an insane amount of world-building and storytelling. You might think it’s just a dingy little platformer with some pop-culture references. But this is more inline with an epic, with long stretches of dialogue and exposition, interspersed with segments of gameplay. It actually spends a lot of time justifying gameplay through its narrative, meaning that you’re not going to get the easy-going trappings or quick pacing of a Mario game. There’s this wonderful sense…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Sean Jordan | Sharing Great Games You Probably Never Played! @greatestgames.substack.comBluesky · Oct 3, 2025

    Speaking of 2D open-world platformers you must play - I highly recommend Horace. It's under $5 right now and starts off a bit slow, but it's a one of a kind game that will grab you and refuse to let go once it gets moving. It's an amazing (and at times, challenging but fair!) gaming experience.

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  • Quazar @samcoupe.comBluesky · Sep 30, 2025

    The first (or possibly second) game I played on the #ZXSpectrum. When I received a 48K ZX Speccy in '83 it had the Horizons cassette and Hungry Horace - so either this or Thro' The Wall (on Horizons) was loaded first!

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  • cloth gown gridlock @rosyrhapsody.bsky.socialBluesky · Sep 10, 2025

    Playing an indie game called Horace, you can really tell it was made by brits because the Nintendo references are super surface level "haha mushroom" but then the Sega references are perfect recreations of Space Harrier and Outrun

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  • Chicken Puppet 🏳️‍⚧️ @chickenpuppet.onlineBluesky · May 13, 2025

    Umpire who tried to fix a game: Dick Higham Physician who tried to bribe an umpire: Joseph Creamer Complained about the umps too much: Horace Fogel Unknown, probably bad domestic violence: Roberto Alomar Remembering his bosses old password: Chris Correa

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  • Steam user Steam user …2533Steam reviews · Jul 10, 2022 · 28 h played

    One thing: A hidden gem. There is a lot of good platformers out there in steam and nothing away from all those titles who have climbed to the top and selling millions of copies. The Horace however has faded away in history still delivering really good challenging and innovative gameplay with a lot of content crowned by the story who made me swept a tear and burst out laughing loud and a lot. The only thing which is kinda its pro and con at the same time is a main character who is totally…

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Iain Mew @superchartisland.comBluesky · Feb 3, 2025

    Over 3 interpretations of arcade games, Horace became an icon of the early Spectrum era. The third game got to #1 in the UK chart. But no more followed. I looked at what happened, and why the normal reason given may not be the full story: www.superchartisland.com/horace-and-the-spiders

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  • Steam user Steam user …7147Steam reviews · Sep 20, 2024 · 15 h played

    Really underappreciated hidden gem of a game, even if the presentation can look jarring at first. Very fun game with emotional story.

    positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4702Steam reviews · Nov 6, 2022

    the pacing is so bad

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …4743Steam reviews · Oct 29, 2021 · 6 h played

    I think the best way I can describe this game is "worse than the sum of its parts". There's a lot to like about this game, but unfortunately when stuck together these elements mix about as well as cold water and grease. The game is basically a reflex testing platformer. For the first few stages it feels like competent (if not particularly interesting) basic platforming fare, then just a few steps later it turns into Super Meat Boy on acid. The problem here is the complete lack of consistency.…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Emmy @emmfoolery.bsky.socialBluesky · Jul 31, 2026

    Aw, look at Australians just casually inventing the first official 4X video game. I'm not happy yet, but seeing Horace helps. 😎

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  • Steam user Steam user …7258Steam reviews · Mar 15, 2026 · 27 h played

    Horace outstays its welcome period. The story seems good at first, but it is too unnecessarily stretched. Some parts of the game are hard to follow, and locking story progression behind forced mini-games is absolutely rubbish. I got genuinely enraged at those times. The close-up camera switches are also one of the worst design choices of this game

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Jason Heeley @jaseheeley.bsky.socialBluesky · Mar 4, 2025

    No, it's Horace. He probably won't mean much to people outside of the U.K. but he was the star of a number of games for 8-bit home computers in the early '80s. His most popular game featured him skiing. 🙂 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_...

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  • Steam user Steam user …5375Steam reviews · Oct 30, 2024 · 20 h played

    This is one of the games I've requested that Steam remove from my Library. It has been a long time since I finished this one so my memories may not be 100% clear. I am sure I hated it though, which I feel bad about because a lot of love clearly went in to its development. I think it was kind of a precision platformer, but it didn't feel rewarding, just clunky. The story was also a way bigger part of the experience than I've seen any any other precision platformers. I feel like 40% or more of…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Steam user Steam user …6036Steam reviews · Jun 9, 2024 · 1 h played

    This has the slowest, most godawful pacing in any game I've ever played. It's almost unplayable.

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Beth is three Beths in a trenchcoat @anguaji.bsky.socialBluesky · Sep 4, 2023

    First game I remember playing: (Horace Goes Skiing, ZX Spectrum)

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  • Steam user Steam user …7376Steam reviews · Aug 19, 2021 · 9 h played

    EDIT: Having now fully completed the game, I can definitely say that this is an acquired taste. A lot of aspects of the game could use a fair bit more polish, and all of the more interesting developments in both story and gameplay take their sweet time getting rolling, but there definitely is still fun to be had here. The issues are still a bit too much for me to switch to a full thumbs-up - particularly having multiple sets of minigames which control pretty poorly, which you are required to…

    negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
  • Claudie - Buy Nerezia While I Vacation ;) @clh2oars.bsky.socialBluesky · Aug 29, 2026

    A3. For Nerezia? Food items. So many food items for your to cook with as Horace. I think a lot of eir game mechanics would be around that. E's very much like a mix of Dungeon Meshi's Laios and Sea of Stars' Garl. #TBBChat

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  • The NLSC @thenlsc.bsky.socialBluesky · Jun 21, 2026

    John Paxson puts up a three in NBA Showdown (SNES). On this day in 1993, a three-pointer from Paxson and a block by Horace Grant gave the Chicago Bulls the victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, wrapping up the championship and a threepeat.

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  • Vinny Mainolfi | FREEZE64.com | Commodore 64 @freeze64.bsky.socialBluesky · Jan 4, 2026

    TOUGH GAMES ON THE #COMMODORE64 Horace goes Skiing from Melbourne House (1984) Watch how crap I am at playing this classic #C64 game 🤣 youtu.be/oDSRk-jO6i4

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  • Thaliarchus @thaliarchus.bsky.socialBluesky · Oct 14, 2025

    guy obliged by username to pay attention if Horace is in your game

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  • njenkin - Retro Gaming @njenkin.bsky.socialBluesky · Feb 7, 2025

    Genius game. Horace and the Spiders from Sinclair Research in 1983 Absolutely loved the thing... ... and still do !!!!!!!!!!!! 😆👍🕹️ #retrogaming #zxspectrum #gaming #games #art

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