Bonsai Next: a challenging new ZX Spectrum Next platform game

The ZX Spectrum Next has become one of the more interesting places to watch in modern retro gaming. It is not only a machine for replaying old favourites or revisiting the look and feel of the 1980s. It has developed into a living platform, with new games still arriving from developers who understand both the charm and the limits of classic computer hardware. Bonsai Next fits neatly into that movement: a new ninja action platformer that feels traditional in the right ways, but not frozen in the past. Set in a stylised version of feudal Japan, the game puts players in the role of a ninja warrior trying to recover stolen sacred bonsai trees from mysterious invaders. It is a simple setup, but it gives the game an immediate identity. There is no heavy storytelling here, no long exposition and no cinematic padding. Bonsai Next instead uses its theme as a clean framework for action: move through dangerous stages, study enemy patterns, search for the right route and make every jump count.

A sharp new entry for the ZX Spectrum Next scene

The ZX Spectrum Next library continues to grow with games that understand the difference between nostalgia and simple imitation. Bonsai Next lands firmly in that space. It looks back to the fast, readable action platformers of the 8-bit and early 16-bit years, but it does not feel like a museum piece. This is a compact ninja adventure designed around movement, risk, timing and player learning.

The premise is straightforward enough for an arcade platformer. Sacred bonsai trees have been stolen in a version of feudal Japan threatened by mysterious invaders, and the player takes on the role of a ninja warrior sent to recover them. The story does not get in the way of the game. Instead, it gives the action a clear frame and a strong visual identity, allowing the stages, enemies and abilities to do most of the talking.

For computer magazine readers, the interesting part is not only that Bonsai Next exists, but where it exists. The ZX Spectrum Next has become one of the more active modern retro platforms, combining FPGA-based hardware, Spectrum compatibility and enhanced graphics and sound features. Bonsai Next fits that ecosystem neatly, offering a game that looks and behaves like it belongs on dedicated 8-bit hardware while still taking advantage of a modern retro audience hungry for new software.

Retro action platforming with a tactical edge

At first glance, Bonsai Next appears to follow familiar platform-game rules. There are enemies to defeat, traps to avoid and jumps to measure. The more interesting layer sits in how the game asks the player to deal with each situation. This is not only a run-right-and-attack experience. Each level is built around obstacles, multiple paths and small strategic decisions that shape how safely and efficiently the player can progress.

Combat gives the ninja several options. Shurikens are available for ranged attacks, kicks handle close encounters, magic can remove more dangerous threats, and special brews increase strength and power. That variety matters because enemy placement and level design appear to encourage more than one solution. The player is not simply reacting to whatever appears on screen. The best route may involve conserving resources, choosing when to engage, and deciding when movement is smarter than fighting.

That structure gives Bonsai Next a useful magazine-friendly hook. It is a retro platformer, but it is not only retro because of its pixels. It respects the old-school idea that games become interesting when the player has to observe, adapt and improve. Mistakes matter, but they also teach.

Movement is the real star

The strongest design promise in Bonsai Next is movement. Good platformers live or die by how the character travels through space, and this game puts a broad toolset in the player’s hands. Super jumps open hidden areas, wall climbing adds verticality, ropes introduce timing, swimming changes the rhythm, and parachute gliding stretches jumps across larger gaps.

These abilities suggest a game that grows as it goes along. Rather than relying only on new enemies or more punishing traps, Bonsai Next can change the shape of its levels by asking the player to master new forms of traversal. That is important for a five-level game. With a limited number of stages, each one needs a clear identity. A new movement mechanic can make a level feel fresh without bloating the design.

The ability to hide inside scenery objects is especially interesting. Camouflage is a natural fit for a ninja game, but it is also a useful way to slow the pace without stopping the action completely. It gives the player a defensive option and adds another layer to enemy encounters. In a genre often dominated by jumping and attacking, stealth-like behaviour can help Bonsai Next stand out.

A game built around readable challenge

Retro platformers often walk a narrow line between satisfying challenge and unnecessary frustration. Bonsai Next seems to aim for the former by offering clear tools and asking the player to use them well. The presence of shurikens, magic, power brews and advanced movement abilities suggests a design where success depends on understanding the system rather than simply memorising hazards.

That does not mean the game is soft. Early player impressions point to enemies that are not especially forgiving, which may be exactly what some Spectrum Next players want. This audience tends to value games that push back. The crucial question is whether the challenge feels fair. From the available design outline, Bonsai Next appears to build difficulty through obstacle combinations and decision-making rather than cheap surprises.

Five levels, many routes, one clear goal

The five-level structure is a smart choice. It keeps Bonsai Next focused and gives the game a shape that suits the retro market. Many players looking for new Spectrum Next games are not necessarily asking for a 40-hour adventure. They want something they can learn, replay and improve at. Multiple paths and hidden areas help extend that value without turning the game into a sprawling maze.

The sacred bonsai objective also works because it is simple and memorable. It gives the game a search-friendly identity and a clean narrative drive. Recover the bonsai, survive the invaders, restore balance. That is enough. The design attention can remain where it belongs, on platforming, combat and discovery.

Verdict: a focused ninja platformer for modern retro players

Bonsai Next looks like a confident addition to the ZX Spectrum Next catalogue. It has a clean premise, a recognisable ninja theme, varied abilities and a structure that should appeal to players who enjoy compact, challenging platform games. The promise is not excess. The promise is craft.

For fans of retro computers, that is often enough. Bonsai Next understands the appeal of a screen full of danger, a limited toolset used well and the small satisfaction of reaching a place that looked impossible a few attempts earlier. It is a modern indie release with an old-school spine, and it gives the ZX Spectrum Next community another reason to keep watching the platform’s growing software scene.

The result is a game worth noting for anyone interested in new retro releases, pixel-art platformers or the continuing life of 8-bit-inspired computer gaming. Bonsai Next does not need to pretend to be bigger than it is. Its strength is in being focused, readable and direct: a ninja adventure built for players who still believe a good jump, a well-timed attack and a hard-earned route through a level can carry a game.