Ports

Over the years, Chip's Challenge has been ported to a variety of systems.

Overview

Platform	Release year	Developer	Publisher	Levels
Amstrad CPC	1990	Images Software	U.S. Gold	148
Atari Lynx	1989	Epyx	Atari	148
Atari ST	1990	Images Software	U.S. Gold	148
Amiga	1990	Images Software	U.S. Gold	148
Commodore 64	1990	Images Software	U.S. Gold	148
DOS	1990	Audio Visual Magic	Epyx	148
NES	N/A	Images Software	N/A	149 (136 normal, 12 hard-only, 1 exclusive)
Windows	1992	Microsoft	Microsoft Home	149
Windows	2015	Niffler Ltd.	Steam	149
ZX Spectrum	1990	Images Software	U.S. Gold	148
SNES & SEGA Genesis	2021	RetroRoomGames	RetroRoomGames	149
Evercade	2020	Blaze Entertainment	Blaze Entertainment	148
Nintendo Switch	2024	Imagine Software	Pixel Games	148

Commodore 64

The Commodore 64, commonly abbreviated as C64 is a personal computer, first released by Commodore international in 1982. The Commodore 64 port of Chip's Challenge was released in 1990. Like most other ports, it was developed by Images Software and released by U.S. Gold.

The C64 ruleset is largely similar to the original Lynx game, but with several differences. Notably, blobs move at full speed, and try to move each tick. If the chosen direction is blocked, they wait one tick, then try again. Also, walkers use a new random seed each try. The port also suffers from a bug that breaks scoring and level skipping.

The PAL version of the port has a few additional issues. Thieves steal keys in addition to boots, which renders All Full unsolvable. Additionally, level 122, Totally Fair, is missing and replaced with level 131, Totally Unfair. The level order otherwise matches the original Lynx game (citation needed).

Amiga & Atari ST

The Amiga and Atari ST rulesets are nearly identical (notable exceptions being that ST runs at 6 moves per second verses Amiga and other's 5, and ST having fast teeth). Blobs move at full speed except in Blobnet, and block cloners are sometimes glitchy (easiest to see in Tossed Salad and On The Rocks). Monster Lab is actually Colony rotated 180 degrees, likewise Three Doors is Goldkey rotated 180 degrees. Much like the C64 version, and any PAL version handled by U.S. Gold, thieves steal keys and boots.

Interestingly, the game contains a cheat code system, if the player presses the f key during game play, the game will flip upside down, display the message:

"MY HAND-HELD CAN

DO THIS AS WELL!

HI TO RUTH, FLU,

BUFF, EMMA, JESS,

TIM, BEN, ADAM,

PIPPA, IVAN, SCAMP,

WORM, CHRIS, JUDE,

AND DARLING TESSA."

and then allow the player to enter a message.

Message	Effect
"I THINK THEREFORE I AM."	Chips left set to 0
"09/12/57."	Timer frozen
"SAGITTARIANS MAKE BETTER LOVERS."	Unlimited keys and items that can't be removed

These effects persist through level completion and death. The only way to remove them is to exit to the main menu.

NES

Main article: Chip's Challenge NES

Evercade

The Evercade released on May 22, 2020. It is a handheld focused on physical rereleases of retro games for prior systems via emulation, and as such, Chip's Challenge is identical to the Lynx original, as it's merely an emulated version of said game.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch port of Chip's Challenge, like the port released on the Evercade, is again an emulation of the Lynx original, and, as such, is identical. However, there is also a unique menu that allows the player to save and load up to four save states at anytime, as well as access the game's manual, change their controls to a left-handed control scheme, and apply three different filters: an antialiasing filter, CRT scanlines, or an LCD grid.