Santa’s Workout is a free-to-play ROM for Commodore 64 emulators. Developed by vector5games, this indie puzzle game puts you in charge of Santa Claus who must navigate each level filled with obstacles, mechanisms, traps, and enemies. Even as a game with a short playthrough, it’s challenging enough to assure you of several hours of old-school gameplay.

From its gameplay to graphics, Santa’s Workout is a bonafide C64 experience, similar to C64 Commando Remake or Bagman Comes Back (C64 Version). If you’re looking for a nostalgic game with technology from the 80s, this game is worth checking out.

A Yuletide game experience

It is important to note that Santa’s Workout is only a ROM, which means that it cannot be run alone and requires a compatible emulator to run it. Downloading the package offers three different file types of the same game, which are the most common extensions for this kind of file. Additionally, it runs only on PAL and NTSC modes, with a few visual limitations for NTSC settings.

The game, true to its C64 roots, has a short playthrough–consisting of only 24 levels. However, it has no save game feature. Instead, each level has a certain code which you will have to input if you want to start on that particular stage. The games are enjoyably challenging but once your lives run out, it’s game over and you have to start all over again.

Graphics are what you’d expect from the Commodore 64, 8-bit graphics that are nostalgic to the people who played them and too low-quality for the younger ones. However, the stages are uniquely designed despite adhering to a Christmas theme. This creates a sense of progress and you know the developers put some effort into creating this retro game. From snowmen to bags of goodies, each element visually recalls the theme.

For C64 fans

If you’ve experienced playing with the Commodore 64, whether it’s the real thing or through emulators, you’ll appreciate Santa’s Workout. It optimizes the capabilities of the engine to create a consistent Yuletide idea. The game also captures the frustratingly difficult games of the console, with no save points but with passcodes for each level. Remember to set up your emulator first, then enjoy this short but fun game.