Return to Blacktooth: A Head Over Heels Adventure will launch on May 4, 2026 for Amiga and Atari ST, giving one of British gaming's best-loved 1980s puzzle adventures a new sequel after a very long wait.

The date comes after the game missed its intended 2025 release window. Thalamus Digital said Head and Heels are back, confirming the May 4 launch for both 16-bit home computer versions and pointing players to its itch page for launch updates.

Return to Blacktooth has an unusual history even by retro game standards. Colin Porch, who converted the original Head Over Heels to Atari ST, has been working on the sequel since 1989. Thalamus Digital Publishing and Atari are now bringing the project to release.

"You simply cannot believe how excited I am," Porch said in the announcement. "Since working on the original game back in the ‘80s, this sequel has been an enormous part of my life. Over the last 30+ years, I’ve added a host of new features to give a new edge to the gameplay while retaining the core ‘feel’ of the original. It’s definitely my sort of game, with logical puzzles that challenge your brain rather than your reflexes. Devious? Certainly! But fair, too. Let battle commence!"

A 16-bit sequel built around the original's puzzle feel

Head Over Heels first arrived in the 1980s from Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond, following their isometric Batman game. It became a home computer classic across formats including C64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga and Atari ST.

Return to Blacktooth is being pitched as a 3D isometric arcade adventure with more than 350 rooms across five worlds. It will feature two playable characters, a host of enemies and 16-bit-style visuals suited to its Amiga and Atari ST targets.

Thalamus Digital says Porch has added new rooms, level designs and puzzles, alongside new gameplay mechanics intended to expand the original formula without losing its emphasis on logic over reflexes.

"As a diehard fan of the original Head over Heels, I was adamant that we had to bring Colin’s sequel to its target audience," Thalamus founder and CEO Andy Roberts said. "The game is a labour of love crafted with the utmost care and respect for the original, and I can’t wait for players to dive back into the world of the eponymous Head and Heels once again. I’m also incredibly grateful that Atari shared our passion for the project from the outset – it’s been a privilege to work with their team to bring the game to fruition."

The Amiga and Atari ST versions are first up, but Thalamus Digital also plans to bring Return to Blacktooth to other retro platforms such as Atari Jaguar, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and ZX Spectrum Next, as well as PC and consoles.