Here are the top 10 best Atari games of all time
- Space Invaders: One of the first shooting games ever, Space Invaders’ lines of lurking aliens appeared in arcades before it became the first arcade game officially licensed for a console. The game quadrupled sales of the 2600 console in 1980, making it the first game to sell more than one million cartridges.
- Kaboom!: Activision’s Kaboom! (1981) became another million seller. The game starred a mad bomber who dropped bombs that the player had to catch with buckets of water. The game was fast and furious, and required a paddle controller for precise movement.
- Combat: Combat (1977) was one of the nine launch titles for the Atari 2600, and came bundled with the console for several years. The game featured various modes of tank and plane battles, either against another player or the computer. The game was simple but addictive, and showcased the potential of the 2600.
- Demon Attack: Demon Attack (1982) was another hit from Imagic, and one of the best-looking games on the 2600. The player was represented by a spaceship that shot vertically at demons that shot right back. Over time, different waves would have different attributes, like splitting when hit.
- Atlantis: Atlantis (1982) was a game similar to Missile Command, but with a more elaborate setting and story. The player used three stationary missile bases to fire at invaders dropping from the sky. Atlantis is also highly praised for being one of the first games with a true ending. When all of Atlantis is destroyed, a small craft escapes to fight again another day.
- Adventure: Adventure (1979) was the first action-adventure game ever made, and a landmark in video game history. The player controlled a square that explored a maze-like world, collecting items, solving puzzles, and fighting enemies. The game also featured the first Easter egg in a video game: a hidden room that revealed the name of the programmer, Warren Robinett.
- Asteroids: Asteroids (1981) was a faithful port of the arcade classic, where the player had to blast asteroids and flying saucers while avoiding collisions. The game used vector graphics to create smooth and realistic movement, and featured a wraparound screen that added to the challenge.
- Missile Command: Missile Command (1981) was another arcade port that became a huge success on the 2600. The game put the player in charge of defending six cities from incoming missiles, using three anti-missile bases. The game was tense and frantic, and had a dark undertone of nuclear war.
- Pitfall!: Pitfall! (1982) was one of the first platform games ever made, and one of the best-selling games on the 2600. The game starred Pitfall Harry, an adventurer who had to swing on vines, jump over crocodiles, and avoid other hazards in a jungle. The game had 256 screens to explore, and a time limit of 20 minutes.
- Yars’ Revenge: Yars’ Revenge (1982) was an original game created by Atari, and one of its most popular titles. The game featured an insect-like creature called Yar, who had to destroy an enemy base protected by a shield and a deadly missile. The game had colorful graphics, sound effects, and gameplay mechanics that made it stand out.
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