The best Intellivison Games
, by Patrick Hetherton, 21 min reading time
The Intellivision, released by Mattel Electronics in 1979, was a pioneering console known for its 16-bit microprocessor, innovative controller, and strong lineup of sports, arcade, and adventure games. Despite its clunky controller, it offered some of the most sophisticated games of its era, often outshining the Atari 2600 in graphics and depth. Based on critical consensus from retro gaming sources and enthusiast communities, here’s a rundown of the best Intellivision games, focusing on those consistently praised for gameplay, innovation, or historical significance.
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Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Cloudy Mountain (1982)
- Genre: Adventure
- Why It’s Great: Often cited as the first licensed Dungeons & Dragons video game, Cloudy Mountain delivers a maze-based adventure where players explore randomly generated dungeons, fight monsters, and collect treasures. Its mix of exploration and combat was groundbreaking, offering a proto-RPG experience that felt like a digital D&D campaign. The game’s simple yet engaging mechanics and atmospheric design make it a standout.
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Source: Frequently tops lists, including RetroDodo and AtariAge forums, for its pioneering adventure elements.
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Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin (1983)
- Genre: Adventure/RPG
- Why It’s Great: A sequel to Cloudy Mountain, this game pushed the Intellivision’s limits with a first-person 3D dungeon crawler. Players navigate mazes, battle monsters like the Minotaur, and hunt for the titular treasure. Its ambitious visuals and deeper gameplay made it a critical darling, often praised for its replayability and complexity.
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Source: Lauded by RetroDodo and arcade-museum.com for its innovative 3D perspective and depth.
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Utopia (1982)
- Genre: Strategy/Simulation
- Why It’s Great: Considered one of the earliest strategy or city-building games, Utopia tasks players with managing two islands, balancing resources, and scoring points through development. Its strategic depth and multiplayer mode were ahead of its time, earning it a spot as a genre pioneer.
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Source: Highlighted by CBR and arcade-museum.com for its innovative gameplay and historical importance.
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Astrosmash (1981)
- Genre: Shoot ‘em Up
- Why It’s Great: A fast-paced space shooter inspired by Space Invaders, Astrosmash has players blasting meteors, spinners, and UFOs. Its addictive gameplay, hyperspace warp mechanic, and high-score chasing made it a massive hit, reportedly the best-selling Intellivision game.
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Source: Noted by CBR, Reddit, and X posts as a fan favorite and top seller.
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BurgerTime (1982)
- Genre: Arcade
- Why It’s Great: This arcade port puts players in the role of a chef assembling giant hamburgers while dodging food-based enemies. Its tight controls, colorful graphics, and addictive maze gameplay made it one of the Intellivision’s best arcade conversions.
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Source: Praised by GamesRadar+ and arcade-museum.com for its faithful arcade feel.
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Tron: Deadly Discs (1982)
- Genre: Action
- Why It’s Great: Inspired by the iconic movie, this game captures the disc-throwing combat of Tron’s Grid. Players fend off enemies and Recognizers while closing doors to stop more from spawning. Its fast-paced action and tie-in to the film made it a standout.
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Source: Frequently cited by Pyra-Handheld and CBR for its engaging mechanics and movie connection.
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Lock ‘N’ Chase (1982)
- Genre: Maze
- Why It’s Great: A Pac-Man-inspired game where you play a bank-robbing tomato evading colorful police. The ability to lock doors added a strategic twist, making it more dynamic than its arcade counterparts. Its charm and depth keep it a fan favorite.
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Source: Highlighted by GamesRadar+ and Video Game Critic for its unique take on maze gameplay.
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B-17 Bomber (1982, Intellivoice)
- Genre: Simulation/Shooter
- Why It’s Great: This innovative game used the Intellivoice module for voice warnings, adding immersion as players piloted a WWII bomber to take out targets. Its multiple camera angles and strategic gameplay were impressive for the time.
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Source: Praised by GamesRadar+ and Reddit for its use of voice and novel mechanics.
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Major League Baseball (1980)
- Genre: Sports
- Why It’s Great: A flagship title for Intellivision, this game showcased the console’s superior graphics and sound compared to the Atari 2600. Its fluid gameplay, clear visuals, and two-player action made it a sports classic, heavily featured in George Plimpton’s famous ads.
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Source: Reddit and CBR emphasize its role in establishing Intellivision’s sports dominance.
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Demon Attack (1982)
- Genre: Shoot ‘em Up
- Why It’s Great: A visually striking space shooter where players battle waves of alien ships with evolving weapons. Its colorful backgrounds and intense gameplay made it a standout, often considered superior to the Atari 2600 version.
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Source: Noted by Blockfort and arcade-museum.com for its polish and addictive nature.
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Night Stalker (1982): A tense maze shooter where players hunt for weapons to fend off robots and bats. Popular for its vulnerability mechanics.
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Thunder Castle (1986): A late release with lush graphics and roguelike fantasy action.
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Pitfall! (1982): A solid port of the Atari classic, with jungle exploration and tight platforming.
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Space Patrol (2007, Homebrew): A Moon Patrol clone praised for pushing the Intellivision’s hardware to its limits.
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Beauty and the Beast (1982): A Donkey Kong-like platformer with fast-paced climbing action.
- The Intellivision’s strength lay in its sports titles (like MLB and NFL Football) and unique adventure games, which leveraged its 16-bit processor and complex controller. However, its arcade ports, while often excellent, sometimes lacked the polish of later systems like the ColecoVision.
- The Intellivoice module enhanced games like B-17 Bomber and Space Spartans, adding a novel voice feature, though it was underutilized.
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Homebrew games like Space Patrol show the system’s enduring fanbase, with modern releases still pushing its capabilities.
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If you’re looking to play these, many are available on the Intellivision Lives! collection for modern platforms or via the Intellivision Flashback console, though some purists note that these versions may differ slightly from originals.
