The best Atari 2600 Games
, by Patrick Hetherton, 5 min reading time
The Atari 2600, a pioneer of home gaming, had a library of iconic games that defined an era. Based on widespread acclaim, historical impact, and player enjoyment, here are some of the best Atari 2600 games:
- Pitfall! (1982) - David Crane’s masterpiece. You play as Pitfall Harry, swinging through jungles, avoiding crocodiles, and collecting treasures. Its smooth controls and innovative design made it a standout platformer.
- Adventure (1980) - Warren Robinett’s groundbreaking title. It’s one of the first action-adventure games, with a knight navigating castles, slaying dragons, and finding keys. The Easter egg hidden in it was legendary.
- Space Invaders (1980) - A port of the arcade classic. You shoot waves of descending aliens, and it was a system-seller for the 2600, bringing arcade thrills home.
- River Raid (1982) - Carol Shaw’s vertical shooter. You pilot a jet, blasting enemies and managing fuel over a scrolling river. Tight controls and endless replayability made it a hit.
- Yars’ Revenge (1982) - Howard Scott Warshaw’s unique shooter. You control a Yar insect, chipping away at a shielded enemy. Its trippy visuals and sound, plus deep mechanics, keep it memorable.
- Missile Command (1981) - Another arcade port that nailed the tension of defending cities from missile barrages. The trackball was missed, but the joystick worked well enough.
- Asteroids (1981) - A faithful port of the arcade vector classic. You blast asteroids and UFOs in space, with tight controls and addictive gameplay.
- Demon Attack (1982) - A visually stunning shooter for its time. You fend off waves of colorful alien ships with fluid movement and intense action.
- Kaboom! (1981) - Larry Kaplan’s frantic paddle game. You catch bombs dropped by a mad bomber with spinning buckets. Fast-paced and addictive, it’s a paddle controller showcase.
- Berzerk (1982) - A maze shooter where you blast robots and avoid the relentless Evil Otto. Its voice synthesis (rare for the 2600) added to the atmosphere.