Impossible Mission – How to Play It Today and Whether It Is Worth It

How to play it today

The easiest legal recommendation for most players is Impossible Mission on Nintendo Switch. It is a current console release and the most useful single purchase if you want to try the game without setting up old hardware or committing to a C64-specific ecosystem.

The Switch release is especially practical because it includes three versions: the C64 original classic, a re-skinned classic, and a fully updated version. That matters. You are not only buying one fixed presentation of the game. You can sample the classic shape of Impossible Mission, then compare it with a more modernized look if the old presentation feels too severe.

PC players also have a legal route through Impossible Mission Revisited on Steam. That is the simpler answer if you want a Windows storefront purchase and do not care about playing on Switch. It is a remake-style PC version rather than the default recommendation for everyone, and its reception is more mixed, but it is still a practical option.

For C64-focused players, Evercade THEC64 Collection 1 is the more specialized route. That option makes sense if you already own Evercade hardware, or if you specifically want a licensed C64 collection context. It is not the lowest-friction path for a normal modern player.

The original Commodore 64 release remains the purist reference point, but it is not the practical starting point unless you already have legitimate hardware and software access.

Why this is the recommended version

The Switch version is the best choice for most players because it solves the main access problem without forcing you to decide too early how purist you want to be. You can play on a modern console, use handheld or TV play, and compare the included versions without hunting for legacy equipment.

That does not make it the perfect C64 preservation option. The key tradeoff is convenience versus authenticity. If your priority is the historical Commodore 64 feel, a C64-focused route such as Evercade THEC64 Collection 1, or original hardware if you legally own it, is the better purist answer. If your priority is simply to play Impossible Mission today with minimal friction, Switch is the better recommendation.

Steam’s Impossible Mission Revisited sits in the middle. It is convenient for PC players, but it is not as broadly useful as the Switch package. Choose it if you want a direct PC purchase and are comfortable with a modern remake-style route. Choose Switch if you want the more flexible mainstream recommendation.

The important thing is not to treat every version as interchangeable. Impossible Mission’s reputation comes from the 1984 C64 game, but the easiest modern package is not necessarily the same thing as sitting in front of a Commodore 64. For most readers, that compromise is acceptable. For C64 purists, it is the main reason to choose differently.

Is it still worth playing?

Yes, Impossible Mission is still worth playing, with caveats. It has aged better than many early computer action games because its identity is clear: tense movement, room reading, searching, and puzzle assembly under pressure. It is still distinctive, not just historically notable.

The caveat is that it asks for patience. If you want a smooth modern platformer, it may feel stiff and punishing. If you enjoy learning old rules and seeing how a compact design creates pressure from limited systems, it still has real value.

Most modern players should not start by chasing original C64 hardware. Start with the Switch version. It gives you the best balance of legal access, convenience, and version flexibility. If you later decide you care deeply about the original C64 presentation, then look at a C64-focused route.

Skip it if you dislike timers, repeated room attempts, or games that expect you to observe enemy behavior before moving. Play it if you want a short, demanding, still-interesting puzzle platformer that rewards careful play more than reflex alone.