Introduced by Commodore in January 1982 and launched later that same year in the United States, the Commodore 64 went on to spread with enormous success across Europe, including Italy, becoming one of the defining symbols of 1980s home computing. In a market populated by the ZX Spectrum, Atari 8-bit family, Apple II, BBC Micro and, later, the Amstrad CPC, the C64 found its balance between price, multimedia capabilities and software availability.

Based on the MOS 6510 processor, derived from the 6502, it featured 64 KB of RAM and mainly used cassette tapes, 5.25-inch floppy disks and cartridges. The VIC-II graphics chip offered 16 colours, hardware sprites and smooth scrolling, while the SID 6581 gave the machine a unique sonic personality, made of bass lines, filters and melodies that remain instantly recognisable today. Total sales are generally estimated at around 12.5 to 17 million units, making it one of the best-selling home computers of all time.

More than for any single feature, the Commodore 64 remains important for its balance of accessibility, creativity and play. Its legacy lives through titles such as The Last Ninja, Impossible Mission, International Karate, Maniac Mansion, Turrican, Bubble Bobble, Mayhem in Monsterland and Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders.