Lost ZX Spectrum Prototypes Thomas & Sooty 2 Released
Two lost Commodore 64 prototypes, 'Thomas the Tank Engine 2' and 'Sooty and Sweep 2', have been preserved and released as playable ROMs by Games That Weren’t. This discovery offers a glimpse into the UK's late-era 8-bit development, allowing retro enthusiasts to experience these 'what if' games.
The preservation group Games That Weren't has released playable prototypes for two unreleased British children's games from the 1990s: Thomas the Tank Engine 2 and Sooty and Sweep 2. The ROM files for both titles, which were originally in development for the Commodore 64, are now available for download from the group's website.
📜 The C64's Long UK TailWhile the Commodore 64 launched in 1982, it remained commercially viable for new game development in the UK well into the early 1990s, long after it was considered obsolete elsewhere. This was due to its massive installed base and the UK's strong 8-bit microcomputer culture, which differed from the console-dominated markets of North America and Japan.
According to the Christmas update on Games That Weren't, Thomas the Tank Engine 2 was being developed by Enigma Variations, the studio behind the 1991 original. The prototype, dated 1993, reveals a more ambitious platformer with new characters and locations that never saw an official release. Sooty and Sweep 2, a follow-up to the 1990 puzzle game, was in development at Alternative Software and appears to have been cancelled around the same period.
These discoveries are significant for charting the often-overlooked library of British-developed software for 8-bit microcomputers. While the North American and Japanese markets were dominated by the NES and Mega Drive in the early 1990s, the Commodore 64 retained a strong, active development scene in the UK, particularly for licensed children's titles. Finding complete, playable builds from this era, especially sequels to known games, fills important gaps in that history.
📊 Preservation by the Numbers ~17,000+*: Estimated commercial games released for the Commodore 64 during its lifespan. 1993*: The year these prototypes were dated, showing C64 development active over a decade after the machine's launch. 100s*: The number of 'lost' or unreleased game projects documented by preservation groups like Games That Weren't.
These prototypes offer a tangible connection to a specific niche of gaming history. They allow us to see how developers like Enigma Variations were iterating on their earlier work during the twilight years of the 8-bit era, a time when commercial focus was rapidly shifting to 16-bit machines. Playing these builds provides insight into the design challenges and ambitions of studios working with the C64's hardware limitations years after its commercial peak.
The release underscores the vital, ongoing work of preservationists in recovering software that was nearly lost. It adds two more pieces to the complex puzzle of 1990s British gaming, reminding us that for every Super Mario World or Sonic the Hedgehog, there were countless other projects shaping the experiences of a generation of gamers.
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