1986 hasn't seen any major breakthroughs in game design, at least as far as the Electron is concerned, but we have seen some realistically priced re-releases, a few long awaited conversions, some excellent compilations, and one or two originals destined to become classics.

This year has seen the emergence of Superior Software as the leading source of new Electron games, a position recently enshrined in a partnership deal struck with former rivals Acornsoft, who found themselves victims of the Olivetti takeover. Acornsoft will be offering advice and their prestigious logo to Superior's new releases.

Other software houses to have made an impact during the year include several who have at last seen the potential of budget games for the Electron. Micro Power have re-released classics at less than half their original price, while Bug Byte and Mastertronic have dominated the £1.99 and £2.99 markets respectively, with a mixture of the old and the new, good and bad - but always cheap. A policy of 'never mind the quality, look at the price' may seem a little dubious, but it works.

Interestingly, these budget games haven't made any noticeable impact in the BBC micro games market.

The games chosen for my Top 10 were all released during 1986, or are older games still selling well. Rather than just select the games I've enjoyed most, I've tried to produce a balanced selection of game types, and value for money as an important criterion. The younger players have been taken into account too.

Model B owners will be pleased to know that all the games chosen are also available for their machine, or will run unaltered - occasionally better than on the Electron, sometimes ridiculously fast!

1. Thrust (Superior)
2. Caveman Capers (Audiogenic)
3. Frak! (Audiogenic)
4. Bug Eyes 2 (Audiogenic)
5. Repton 2 (Superior)
6. Twin Kingdom Valley (Bug Byte)
7. Treasure Hunt (Macsen)
8. Citadel (Superior)
9. 10 Computer Hits (Beau-Jolly)
10. Action Pack 2 (WH Smith/Alligata)

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My Game of the Year is Thrust, a game with all the hallmarks of an arcade classic - wonderful keyboard response, the most convincing representation of gravity I've ever seen and - perhaps best of all - it's perfectly judged as a game. Thrust has 24 levels, each with the same theme - fly a rocket down to collect a pod from a planet. Level One is soon mastered, and as the pod is protected by a single limpet gun, which experienced players can destroy with a single shot. On further levels, things are naturally a good deal more difficult, with pods buried round corners, and deep beneath the planets' surfaces. It's a truly wonderful game.

Graphics 90%
Sound 70%
Addictive Qualities 90%
Value For Money 90%

For family entertainment, two games have shared the honours in the Emblem household this year.

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The first is Caveman Capers, a game I didn't take to at first, as the graphics, and the plot - jumping over and dodging under endless obstacles - are rather uninspired. But soon I realised that other people, particularly the younger members of the family, loved it. It has the virtue of being very simple to play - the initial obstacles can be negotiated using just the jump key - and though it soon requires careful positioning before jumping, it remained a firm favourite with the little 'uns.

Graphics 50%
Sound 40%
Addictive Qualities 70%
Value For Money 70%

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I've selected Frak! for more family fun. This version of one of 1985's bestseller for the BBC Micro is every bit as good as the original. It's a game with lots of novel features, designed to appeal to all styles of players. The game involves getting fromone side of a series of obstacles to the other, on each of several screens, each screen involves several sideways scrolls. Frak! has a wonderfully smooth feel, with jumps and falls very true to life, and addictive sound effects. The most attractive feature for some players is the design your own screen feature. These DIY screens can be saved on tape and used again. A very classy game.

Graphics 90%
Sound 90%
Addictive Qualities 80%
Value For Money 80%

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Second versions of classics often sell well on the strength of the original - but soon prove disappointing. Two exceptions to this rule, Bug Eyes from ASL and Repton 2 from Superior, are games with that addictive quality that keeps you up at nights.

Bug Eyes 2 is a game with lots of humour and plenty of surprises, as you wander round the supposedly deserted shell of a huge spaceship, collecting keys and avoiding such hazards as flickering flames, snapping scissors, swishing swords and disappearing floors with plenty of nasty creatures including an interloper or two from other games. It's the game played most in our house this year, and though I've never finished it, I have seen it done, which is always an encouragement.

Graphics 80%
Sound 60%
Addictive Qualities 90%
Value For Money 80%

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Repton 2 featured high in last year's charts, and it's remained a bestseller throughout this year, becoming Superior's second bestseller of 1986. I haven't had Repton 2 long enough to get addicted, but I'm in no doubt that it has all the necessary qualities, and much of the humour of Bug Eyes 2. The plot is a similar and familiar one - collecting all sorts of things on each of a variety of interconnected screens. The Electron version features a smaller screen than the BBC Micro version, but the game is almost as playable, my only complaint being that scrolling sometimes can be a little jumpy.

Graphics 90%
Sound 59%
Addictive Qualities 80%
Value For Money 70%

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For adventure fans, I've included three very different implementations of the adventure theme. First, and cheapest, is the best budget game I've played this year - Bug Byte's Twin Kingdom Valley, a traditional adventure involving fighting your way through 175 illustrated locations while contending with 35 rather unfriendly creatures. Though I cannot recommend it unreservedly - mainly because of the inability to restart a game without reloading the whole thing - it's a very sophisticated program, offering a choice of screen display, including graphics which actually help you play the game better. Very good value for money.

Graphics 70%
Sound 70%
Addictive Qualities 70%
Value For Money 90%

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Another thought-provoking offering is Treasure Hunt, one of a number of games based on popular TV series produced in collaboration with independent TV companies. This is an adventure game with a difference, involving searching for and solving cryptic clues in real locations, shown on an on-screen map. It comes complete with a booklet of extracts from real guide books, and keen players can purchase supplementary data packs, to allow exploration of other UK locatins. Treasure Hunt scores in originality, and its professional presentation.

Graphics 60%
Sound N/A
Addictive Qualities 70%
Value For Money 70%

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Finally for adventurers, there's Citadel, another from Superior, at £9.95, and one of the most sophisticated games ever produced for the Electron. Citadel deserves inclusion because of the vastness of its map and the quality of its puzzles. It's a true arcade adventure, in which each of 100 screens involves arcade puzzles to be solved, often while under attack from a variety of nasties.

One of my pet hates is games which are too easy or too hard. We haven't been playing Citadel long enough to have got very far, but I'm impressed with the way the game starts fairly simply, with new players and youngsters able to make some progress before the really difficult problems present themselves.

Graphics 90%
Sound 50%
Addictive Qualities 80%
Value For Money 70%

Finally, and particularly for new owners and those counting the pennies, let me recommend two compilations - 10 Computer Hits from Beau Jolly at £9.95, and Action Pack 2 from WHSmith/Alligata at only £4.99.

10 Computer Hits features a mixed bag of oldies, not all of which could have been hits on the Electron, I'm sure, but it includes enough quality games to remain good value for money. Highlights are Chuckie Egg, Guardian, Ghouls, Killer Gorilla and Eddie Kidd's Jump Challenge.

Value For Money 90%

Action Pack 2 contains four high quality versions of standard arcade types - Video's Revenge (shoot everything that moves), Q-Bix (standard Q-Bert), Tarzan Boy (Swing from tree to tree), and Diamond Peter (Repton 2 for the fainthearted!).

Value For Money 90%

The outlook for 1987? With Electron versions of games now frequently selling better than BBC Micro versions, I predict a reduction in prices, more conversions and compilations, more games available on disc, and the use of double-sided Electron/BBC Micro tapes as standard.