Once upon a time loading games on a computer that connected to a CRT television was done via cassette tape - and took minutes. Of course we're talking about the Commodore 64, one of the biggest names in 1980s computing, and also computer games. And now the fine folks over at Internet Archive have compiled tens of thousands of C64 software relics - including countless classic games.

Which are all playable in-browser via emulation. A testament to the essential need to preserve gaming history and a fantastic way to take a trip down memory lane.

The Commodore 64, also known as the C64 or the CBM 64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas, January 7–10, 1982). It has been listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest-selling single computer model of all time, with independent estimates placing the number sold between 10 and 17 million units.

The C64 dominated the low-end computer market for most of the 1980s. For a substantial period (1983–1986), the C64 had between 30% and 40% share of the US market and two million units sold per year, outselling IBM PC compatibles, Apple computers, and the Atari 8-bit family of computers. Sam Tramiel, a later Atari president and the son of Commodore's founder, said in a 1989 interview, "When I was at Commodore we were building 400,000 C64s a month for a couple of years."

With tens of thousands of classic games and bits of software to choose from (with the added bonus of old school loading screens), why not take a few minutes today to play some Altered Beast, Ghosts N' Goblins, Sim City, Karateka, or Breakdance. Which as far as we can tell is based on the popularity of break-dancing in the '80s.

Head here for all your C64 needs.