The Dam Busters
The Dam Busters — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is The Dam Busters on?
- The Dam Busters was released on ColecoVision, PC-9800 Series, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, DOS, Apple II, Amstrad CPC, MSX.
- When did The Dam Busters release?
- The Dam Busters was first released on December 31, 1984.
About The Dam Busters
Dam Busters is an early flight simulation, set in World War II. It focuses on Dam Busters who historically were used to heavily bombard strategic objectives, in this case dams. This task is not easy, as en route you will face heavy opposition forces. Fortunately, you won't be a sitting bomber in the air. Your aircraft is equipped with machine guns (left and right) with unlimited rounds of fire power, so fire at will as the enemy approaches. When the time comes, you will have to bomb the target manually. So, get ready to unload the cargo and give them hell!
Summary via IGDB.
The Dam Busters on Wikipedia
The Dam Busters is a combat flight simulation game set in World War II and published by U.S. Gold. It was released in 1984 for ColecoVision and Commodore 64; in 1985 for Apple II, MS-DOS, MSX, and ZX Spectrum; then in 1986 for the Amstrad CPC and NEC PC-9801. It is loosely based on Operation Chastise and the 1955 film.
Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Game details
- Platforms
- ColecoVision, PC-9800 Series, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, DOS, Apple II, Amstrad CPC, MSX
- Developer
- Sydney Development Corp.
- Publisher
- Accolade
- Game modes
- Single player
- Themes
- Action, Historical, Warfare
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Built by | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ColecoVision | 1985 | $22 | $85 | — | Graphics ★★★½ · Play-Action ★★★★ | Sydney Development Corp. | Low (look-alike) |
Release timeline
- ColecoVision1984
- Commodore C64/128/MAX1985
- DOS1985
- MSX1985
- ZX Spectrum1985
- Apple II1985
- PC-9800 SeriesJan 1, 1986
- Amstrad CPC1986
First release on each platform, from IGDB’s records of this game’s ports and editions. Remakes are separate games with their own pages, so they are not listed here.
We haven’t priced or authenticated the versions without a section on this page yet.
Collector value & authenticity
ColecoVision · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-19
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about 4 times a year
- Sealed: about once a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-19.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $9.00 in Jul 2009, $14.99 five years ago, and $22 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | $9.00 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $19.49 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $10.47 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $11.99 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $11.51 | $10.50 |
| Jan 2015 | $7.85 | $10.50 |
| Jan 2016 | $15.99 | $10.50 |
| Jan 2017 | $11.21 | $38 |
| Jan 2018 | $13.06 | $75 |
| Jan 2019 | $14.76 | $39 |
| Jan 2020 | $15.03 | $41 |
| Jan 2021 | $16.18 | $50 |
| Jan 2022 | $18.77 | $49 |
| Jan 2023 | $19.95 | $62 |
| Jan 2024 | $19.92 | $97 |
| Jan 2025 | $24 | $82 |
| Jan 2026 | $20 | $75 |
| Oct 2026 | $22 | $85 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Label | Model # |
|---|---|---|
| North America Coleco | End label: for ColecoVision and ADAM | 2686 |
- North America: Model number confirmed by the game's own manual.
- Region
- NA
- Released
- 1985
- Controller
- Hand controller
- Players
- 1
- Authenticity
- Low
A cartridge flight and bombing game that Computer Entertainer ranked among the best on the system, and one of Coleco's last releases.
The Dam Busters came to the ColecoVision as a Coleco release in 1985, developed by Sydney according to the library, and it is one of the last two titles Coleco itself published for the console. It began as a computer game, so it is an unusual entry in a library that is mostly arcade ports and kids' software.
Computer Entertainer reviewed the cartridge and called it one of the very best programs then available for the ColecoVision and Adam, recommending it. It described the game as a challenging wargame experience, and noted the cartridge lacks the practice bombing run found on the Commodore 64 disk version.
The game uses the keypad, and the keypad overlay is part of a complete copy.
How it was made
Developed by Sydney and published by Coleco in March 1985; Wikipedia credits J. Stewart Eastbrook as designer and says the game is loosely based on Operation Chastise and the 1955 film.
What the press said at the time
| Computer Entertainer Vol. 4 No. 2 | May 1985 | Graphics ★★★½ · Play-Action ★★★★ |
“We rate THE DAM BUSTERS one of the very best programs currently available for ColecoVision and Adam.”
Computer Entertainer rated graphics first and play action second, from four symbols (excellent) to one (poor) — diamonds through early 1987, stars after — comparing each game only with other games for the same system.
How the ColecoVision version differs
Computer Entertainer said the program is playable at two experience levels, and the cartridge comes with a keypad overlay.
Also on other platforms
Commodore 64
| ColecoVision | Sydney Development Corp. |
- Commodore 64. Info rated the Commodore 64 version three-plus stars out of five, calling it short on depth but better than average in graphics and play features.
Worth knowing
- From the ColecoVision manual. There are no skill levels; you pick Flight Lieutenant (the recommended starter) or the harder Squadron Leader mission.
- From the ColecoVision manual. The keypad switches between seven crew positions, including pilot, gunners, bomb aimer, navigator and engineers.
- From the ColecoVision manual. A successful bomb run needs speed 232 mph and altitude 60 feet, released at the correct distance from the dam.
Before you buy
A complete copy includes the keypad overlay, so check it is present; reproduction overlays exist. Play uses a standard ColecoVision controller. The box and manual carry much of the value of a complete copy, since loose carts are far cheaper.
The Dam Busters screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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