From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atari was an early pioneer in the video game industry . In fact, it virtually created the industry with its introduction of the arcade game Pong . The brand name "Atari" was used for many years and applied to several other entities that developed products ranging from arcade video games to home video game consoles to home computers to video games for personal computers .
Below is a list of arcade video games produced by Atari . These games were produced by Atari, Inc. from 1972 to 1984 starting with Pong , and Atari Games from 1984 to 1999. Atari no longer manufacturers arcade games. In fact, the entity that now owns the brand name, (French company, Infogrames ), never has.
For a full list of games developed or published by Atari from 1972 to 1984, see List of Atari, Inc. games .
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
720°
1986
2, alternating
A skateboarding game with a unique joystick which moves in a circular fashion.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
A.P.B.
1987
1
The player as "Officer Bob" drives around the city from an overhead view, catches criminals and issues fines.
Accelerator
1988
2, simultaneous
A futuristic racing game where players race on twisting tubes.
Akka Arrh
1982
2, alternating
An unreleased prototype space shooter in which the player must defend a spaceship from approaching enemies and prevent them from building a cannon.
Anti-Aircraft
1975
2, simultaneous
Each player controls an anti-aircraft gun and tries to shoot down more aircraft than their opponent.
Arcade Classics
1992
2, simultaneous
Player can select from enhanced versions of earlier Atari games, Super Centipede or Missile Command II , both of which allow for two-player simultaneous play.
Area 51
1995
2, simultaneous
The players attempt to kill the aliens and their mothership .
Area 51/Maximum Force Duo
1998
2, simultaneous
Players can choose to play either of the previous games, Area 51 or Maximum Force .
Area 51: Site 4
1998
2, simultaneous
An updated version of Atari's 1995 game with better graphics and smoother animation.
Asteroids
1979
2, alternating
The player must avoid floating asteroids and blast them to smithereens. Alien spacecraft must also be avoided or killed. One of Atari's biggest hits.
Asteroids Deluxe
1981
2, alternating
Sequel to Asteroids featuring harder gameplay, shields and automatic firing.
Atari Baseball
1979
2, simultaneous
A black and white video game of baseball where player compete against one another.
Atari Basketball
1979
2, simultaneous
A black and white basketball game where players can compete head-to-head.
Atari Football
1979
2 or 4, simultaneous
A black and white American football game where players are represented by X's and O's.
Atari Mini Golf
1978
1
An unreleased black and white mini-golf game.
Atari Soccer
1979
2 or 4, simultaneous
A black and white video game of soccer with players with X's and O's atop their heads.
Avalanche
1978
2, alternating
Players attempt to catch falling rocks via several paddles. Black and white, but uses a color overlay.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Badlands
1989
2, simultaneous
An auto racing game with guns set in a post-apocalyptic world.
Batman
1990
2, alternating
The player takes on the role of the Caped Crusader participating in scenes taken from the 1989 film of the same name . Scenes are varied and include a final confrontation with The Joker .
Battlezone
1980
1
A big hit for Atari, the player controls a tank from the point-of-view from inside the tank. Novel controls, game cabinet and graphics made this a standout.
Beat Head
1993
2, simultaneous
A competitive rhythm game . Never released into full production.
Beavis and Butt-Head
1996
2, simultaneous
A prototype of a game based on the animated TV series ; never released.
Black Widow
1982
2, alternating
The player is a spider at the middle of a web, trying to defend it from enemies.
Blasteroids
1987
2, simultaneous
Players blast asteroids and other targets and try to catch powerups to upgrade their weapons.
BMX Heat
1991
1
An unreleased motorcycle racing game.
Boxing
1977
2, simultaneous
An unreleased black and white prototype of a boxing game.
Bradley Trainer
1980
1
A special-purpose version of Battlezone for the U.S. military. Players do not control the tank as in the original game, only the tank turret.
Breakout
1976
2, alternating
Players break down a wall at the top of the screen with a ball and paddle.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
California Speed
1998
1
A racing game with several different tracks set in California.
Cannonball
1976
2, alternating
An unreleased black and white game where the player tries to fire a human cannonball through an opening in a wall.
Canyon Bomber
1977
2, simultaneous
Players control blimps which fly over a canyon dropping bombs. Canyon "boulders" are worth different points. Black and white.
Centipede
1981
2, alternating
A big hit for Atari, the player controls the character at the bottom and shoots a segmented centipede as it advances down the screen through a field of mushrooms . Other enemies, such as spiders and fleas, also threaten the player.
Championship Sprint
1986
2, simultaneous
A racing game in which players attempt to beat each other around tracks while avoiding hazards.
Cloak & Dagger
1983
2, alternating
The player attempts to destroy Dr. Boom's underground bomb factory. Featured in a film of the same name .
Cloud 9
1983
2, alternating
The player shoots down clouds in the sky that threaten to flood his chamber at the bottom of the screen.
Cops
1994
1
A laserdisc game based on the TV series of the same name ; players must shoot criminals or chase after them in their patrol car.
Cops N Robbers
1976
4, simultaneous
A black and white game; players can choose to be cops and shoot at and stop robbers or vice versa.
Crash 'N Score
1975
2, simultaneous
A black and white demolition derby game where the object is to hit randomly appearing numbered pylons .
Crystal Castles
1983
2, alternating
A moderate success, the player controls a bear character to collect crystals along paths in various caves with avoiding enemies. The player can find and use various powerups and secrets.
Cyberball
1988
4, simultaneous
Robotic football of the future. Robots can explode with the ball if it reaches critical temperature. Players can upgrade robots from funds from successful plays.
Cyberball 2072
1989
2, simultaneous
American football with robots .
Cyberstorm
1993
2, simultaneous
A futuristic one-on-one fighting game with robots.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Danger Express
1992
2, simultaneous
A two-player brawler which takes place on a train.
Destroyer
1977
1
A black and white game,;the player moves a destroyer along the top of the water and drops depths charges towards enemy subs.
Doctor Pong
1973
2, simultaneous
A black and white game; a free-to-play variant of Pong designed specifically for pediatricians' waiting rooms.
Dominos
1977
2, simultaneous
A black and white game; players try to make a competitor's domino trail run into theirs.
Drag Race
1977
2, simultaneous
A black and white game; players compete in a drag race.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Fire Truck
1978
2, simultaneous
A black and white game; the player drives a fire truck through twisting city streets. In two-player mode, both players cooperatively drive the truck, one in front, one in back.
Firebeast
1983
2, alternating
An unreleased prototype also known as Dragon Master , this game was apparently inspired by Anne McCaffrey 's Dragonriders of Pern series of books. Riding a flying dragon , the player must destroy silver threads before they reach the ground and start fires.
Firefox
1984
1
Based on the film of the same name , the player pilots and experimental craft as he attempts to blast enemies and gain enough fuel to finish the level.
Flyball
1976
2, simultaneous
A black and white baseball game.
Food Fight
1983
2, alternating
The player attempts to gathers piles of food and hurl them at angry chefs as he attempts to reach and eat an ice cream cone before it melts.
Freeze
1996
2, simultaneous
A puzzle game ; the player must try to match three of the same colored fish in a row.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Gauntlet
1985
4, simultaneous
A huge hit for Atari, released during the Dungeons & Dragons craze, Gauntlet features four adventurers exploring a dungeon. "Health" continually runs out, requiring players to steadily pump credits into the game.
Gauntlet II
1986
4, simultaneous
A sequel to Gauntlet . Profitable, though not as big a hit as the original.
Gauntlet Dark Legacy
1999
4, simultaneous
An expansion of Gauntlet Legends featuring 5 new levels and 4 new characters
Gauntlet Legends
1998
4, simultaneous
A sequel to Gauntlet . Though it sportedsome innovative features, it garnered a lukewarm reception.
Goal IV
1975
4, simultaneous
A foosball -like game, with paddles instead of players.
Gotcha
1973
2, simultaneous
Two-player maze game where the players try to catch each other.
Gran Trak 10
1974
1
A black and white driving game where the player races around a track for points.
Gran Trak 20
1974
2, simultaneous
A black and white racing game . Players drive cars around a track for points.
Gravitar
1982
2, alternating
A difficult shoot-em up , where gravity factors into the gameplay.
Guardians of the 'Hood
1992
3, simultaneous
Players attempt to break up gangs that have taken over the character's neighborhood.
Guts and Glory
1989
2, simultaneous
An unreleased military-style shoot 'em up with multiple missions.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Hard Drivin'
1989
1
Players test drive a high-powered sports car on different stunt courses.
Hard Drivin's Airborne
1993
1
An unreleased sequel to Hard Drivin' , in this racing game , the player controls a car that can transform into an airplane.
Hi-way
1975
2, alternating
A black and white driving game where players must avoid oncoming traffic.
Hot Rod Rebels
2000
1
An unreleased sequel to the San Francisco Rush series.
Hydra
1990
1
The player drives a hovercraft trying to deliver secret documents. He must avoid mines and other obstacles.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Jet Fighter
1975
2, simultaneous
Players fly around the screen, behind clouds and open sky and fire missiles at each other.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
The Last Starfighter
1984
1
Unreleased prototype. The player shoots down enemy spaceships in 3D . Based on the film of the same name .
LeMans
1976
1
A black and white driving game . Players drive a car around a track using a steering wheel controller and other authentic driving apparatus.
Liberator
1982
2, alternating
The player controls four cannons facing a planet. Using a track ball and cannons, the player can shoot down incoming missiles and destroy planetary bases.
Lunar Lander
1979
1
Atari's first vector game. The player pilots a lunar landing module , trying to guide it to an appropriate landing site and set it down gently so it doesn't disintegrate on impact.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Mace: The Dark Age
1997
2, simultaneous
In this fighting game , players try to wrest control of the dark magic of the Mace of Tanis from the demon Asmodeus.
Major Havoc
1983
2, alternating
The player must defeat the enemy's defenses, dock with the enemy mothership and blow it up.
Marble Madness
1984
2, simultaneous
A hit for Atari. Using a trackball , players guide their marbles around a geometrically Escher-like landscape.
Marble Man: Marble Madness II
1991
3, simultaneous
An unreleased sequel to their hit Marble Madness . Up to three players control marbles around a fanciful landscape.
Maximum Force
1997
2, simultaneous
A shooting game ; the players battle a terrorist organization.
Maze Invaders
1981
2, alternating
A shoot 'em up game in a maze with moving walls.
Metal Maniax
1994
4, simultaneous
A destruction derby game where points are awarded based on how much the player damages opponents' vehicles.
Millipede
1982
2, alternating
A sequel to Atari's hit Centipede , this game features harder gameplay and a larger variety of enemy bugs.
Missile Command
1980
2, alternating
Another huge hit for Atari. The player defends cities from incoming ballistic missiles with three anti-missile installations. Missile blasts take out incoming warheads.
Missile Command 2
1982
2, simultaneous
An unreleased sequel to Missile Command , this game introduced simultaneous multiplayer action to the game.
Monte Carlo
1980
1
Player drives a car through a twisting road viewed from above.
Moto Frenzy
1992
2, simultaneous
A motorcycle racing game where players can compete on a variety of different tracks.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Night Driver
1976
1
A black and white driving game where the player only see the reflectors to the side of the road.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Off the Wall
1991
2, simultaneous
Players try to break through a block formation using a paddle and ball to get to the next level.
Orbit
1978
2, simultaneous
A Star Trek -inspired game. Two players try to destroy each other's ships, which are shaped like ships from the Star Trek universe.
Outlaw
1976
1
A black and white game where the player tries to outdraw his computer opponent.
Name
Year
1
Description
Paperboy
1984
1
The player controls a paperboy on a bicycle as he delivers newspapers on his route. Players must navigate around obstacles, deliver papers to correct houses and attempt to vandalize non-customers' homes. Notable for custom bicycle handlebar control and high resolution raster display.
Peter Pack Rat
1985
2, alternating
The player plays a rat and must collect a variety of objects while avoiding enemy animals.
Pin-Pong
1974
2, alternating
A black and white video game version of pinball .
Pit-Fighter
1990
3, simultaneous
A fighting game where players can choose to be a variety of different types of fighters.
Pong
1972
2, simultaneous
A simulated table tennis game where the player competes against an opponent for the highest number of points. First extremely successful video game, the game that launched the video game industry .
Pong Doubles
1973
4, simultaneous
A four-player version of Pong with up to four players playing simultaneously. Upright and cocktail versions were produced of this variant. It was released as Coupe Du Monde in France.
Pool Shark
1977
2, simultaneous
A black and white video game version of billiards .
Powerpuff Girls
1982
2, simultaneous
An action series by reliance games corporation with the player controls with the fighting and shooting games
Primal Rage
1994
2, simultaneous
The player controls a dinosaur or a giant ape and fights head-to-head against an opponent dinosaur.
Primal Rage II
1996
2, simultaneous
Exists only as a prototype . The player's monster can morph into its human representation.
Pursuit
1974
1
The player flies a biplane in World War I and tries to shoot down enemy aircraft.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Quadrapong
1974
4, simultaneous
Similar to Pong , in this four-player variant, players must protect their goal.
Quantum
1982
2, alternating
Player must capture particles with their probe's tail.
Quiz Show
1976
2, alternating
A multiple-choice question and answer game.
Qwak
1982
2, alternating
Unreleased prototype. The player shifts blocks with paths on them to create a safe path for a duck and her ducklings.
Qwak!
1974
1
Not to be confused with Qwak , this is a duck hunting game.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Race Drivin'
1990
1
A fairly standard racing game with a variety of types of tracks, such as stunt or autocross.
Rampart
1990
3, simultaneous
Players build up castles and then assault other players' towers or enemy boats. Players can reinforce their castles before another round of assault. Play continues in this fashion.
Rebound
1974
2, simultaneous
A black and white volleyball game. Players use paddle controllers to serve the ball over the net in the middle of the screen.
Red Baron
1981
1
A World War I flight /combat simulator. Players attack other planes and score higher points for long-range kills.
Relief Pitcher
1992
2, simultaneous
A baseball game with a number of advanced features; allows for detailed customization.
Return of the Jedi
1984
1
A sequel to Atari's two previous Star Wars games, this one breaks from the standard set by the previous two by featuring raster graphics . The player competes in three stages inspired by the film.
RoadBlasters
1987
1
In a futuristic setting, the player drives an advanced car and must attack enemy cars, collect fuel globes and catch power-ups . Atari provided a contest that players could win a special T-Shirt by completing all of the levels.
Road Burners
1999
8, simultaneous
A motorcycle racing game set in several famous cities around the world.
Road Riot 4WD
1991
1
An off-road driving and combat game . Players can choose from a variety of tracks.
Road Riot's Revenge Rally
1993
2, simultaneous
An offroad racing game where the player uses weapons to hinder opponent trucks.
Road Runner
1985
2, alternating
The player controls the eponymous character trying to collect birdseed and avoid Wile E. Coyote 's traps. Based on the popular cartoons with the same characters.
Runaway
1982
2, alternating
The player pilots a speeding train trying to collect mailbags and avoid collisions with other trains.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
S.T.U.N. Runner
1989
1
The player drives a futuristic motorcycle -like vehicle. Running time trials, he can hinder other players with his weapons, including the eponymous S.T.U.N. gun.
San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing
1996
2, simultaneous
A racing game set in San Francisco , California .
San Francisco Rush: The Rock
1997
2, simultaneous
A sequel to San Francisco Rush with extra, harder tracks, including one set on the former prison island, Alcatraz .
San Francisco Rush 2049
1999
2, simultaneous
A sequel to San Francisco Rush , a futuristic racing game which takes place in the eponymous city.
Sebring
1979
1
An unreleased first-person racing game.
Shark Jaws
1975
2, alternating
The player is a diver trying to catch small fish while a great white shark tries to eat him.
Shuuz
1990
2, alternating
A video game of horseshoes with a distinct redneck theme.
Skull & Crossbones
1989
2, simultaneous
The players control pirates on a quest to kill the evil wizard, along the way battling and dispatching enemies.
Sky Diver
1978
2, simultaneous
The player tries to land a skydiver to a marked position on the ground, accounting for wind speed and timing the opening of the diver's chute.
Sky Raider
1978
1
The player pilots an aircraft and tries to destroy as many of a variety of enemies as possible in the allotted time.
Smokey Joe
1978
1
One-player version of Fire Truck where the player drives a fire engine through a crowded street to a fire and must avoid obstacles such as parked cars.
Solar War
1979
4, alternating
An unreleased space-themed video pinball game.
Space Duel
1982
2, simultaneous
A space combat game where players fight one another and shoot various geometric objects which float about.
Space Lords
1992
8, simultaneous
An ambitious space combat game with numerous options where the player has to complete several phases of the game.
Space Race
1973
2, simultaneous
Player attempts to guide a spaceship to the top of the screen, avoiding asteroids along the way.
Sparkz
1992
2, simultaneous
A puzzle game where players attempt to connect both sides of a pit using falling blocks.
Sprint 1
1978
1
A racing game with a variety of tracks with hazards.
Sprint 2
1976
2, simultaneous
The first game in Atari's Sprint line of racing games .
Sprint 4
1977
4, simultaneous
A racing game with a variety of tracks with hazards.
Sprint 8
1977
8, simultaneous
An 8-player variant of Atari's Sprint line of racing games .
Star Wars
1983
1
A big hit for Atari. The player pilots an X-wing fighter attacking the Death Star , a scene inspired by the hit movie Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope . Use of digitized voice samples from the film and slick vector graphics helped this game attract a lot of attention.
Starship 1
1976
1
The player pilots a spaceship around planets and shoots enemy spacecraft.
Steel Talons
1991
2, simultaneous
Players pilot a virtual helicopter and compete head-to-head or cooperate to destroy ground targets. Features 3D polygonal graphics.
Steeplechase
1975
6, simultaneous
A horse racing game. Horses and riders are represented in simple rows on the game screen. Players must make horses jump over obstacles on the way to the finish line.
Street Drivin'
1990
1
An unreleased sequel to Hard Drivin' with a variety of types of tracks, such as stunt or autocross.
Stunt Cycle
1976
2, alternating
A black and white motorcycle racing game where players attempt to perform stunts.
Subs
1977
2, simultaneous
Player attempts to torpedo an unseen sub as many times as possible in allotted time.
Super Breakout
1978
2, alternating
The player moves a paddle back and forth to bounce a ball into a wall of bricks, breaking bricks with each hit. The goal is to destroy all the bricks.
Super Bug
1977
1
A black and white driving game where the player drives a small car through a twisting course.
Super Pong
1974
2, simultaneous
An enhanced version of Pong , with several new features. Harder than the original, and not very popular.
Super Sprint
1986
3, simultaneous
An enhanced remake of the original Sprint line of racing games , with enhanced color graphics, better controls and more immersive gameplay.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
T-Mek
1994
4, simultaneous
A 3D vehicular combat game where players must defeat their opponents while piloting a MEK vehicle.
Tank
1974
2, simultaneous
An early tank combat game.
Tank II
1975
2, simultaneous
The sequel to Tank .
Tank 8
1976
8, simultaneous
An 8-player version of Tank . Also the first Atari game to use a CPU.
Tempest
1981
2, alternating
Players control a crab-shaped ship and must destroy incoming enemies which slide down tunnels towards them. A very successful game for Atari, Tempest was one of the first games to feature color vector graphics.
Tenth Degree
1996
2, simultaneous
Unreleased one-on-one fighting game with the 3D characters modeled in an anime style. Similar to other one-on-one fighting games of the time, such as Tekken and SoulCalibur .
Tetris
1988
2, simultaneous
One of the most popular video games of all time in all media combined, Tetris is a puzzle game where players try to stack differently shaped blocks into solid rows.
ThunderJaws
1990
2, simultaneous
The player is an elite underwater special agent tasked to infiltrate Madam Q's headquarters and stop her nefarious plans.
Tomcat
1983
1
An unreleased and unfinished flight combat game where the player controls an F-14 Tomcat.
Toobin'
1988
2, simultaneous
A popular game for Atari. Up to two players paddle down a stream full of rapids and other obstacles, including targets to toss cans at. Atari provided a contest that players could win a special T-Shirt by collecting all of the letters in the game's name, including the apostrophe.
Touch Me
1974
4, simultaneous
A timing/pattern game similar to the popular electronic game Simon . Later converted into a handheld electronic game.
Tournament Cyberball 2072
1989
4, simultaneous
Players compete against each other or the computer in a football game played by robots. Winners receive money to upgrade their robots.
Tournament Table
1978
4, simultaneous
Features a number of selectable and graphically similar simple games (such as Pong and Soccer). For one to four players.
Triple Hunt
1977
1
A black and white hunting video game .
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Ultra Tank
1978
2, simultaneous
The final game in the Tank series. Options allow the battlefield to be open or have barriers.
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Vapor TRX
1998
2, simultaneous
A futuristic racing game where players pilot flying vehicles.
Vicious Circle
1996
2, simultaneous
Unreleased violent 3D fighting game .
Video Pinball
1978
4, alternating
A video game version of pinball . The playfield is a color cardboard cutout and the black-and-white video is reflected on top of it.
Vindicators
1988
2, simultaneous
A tank combat game where players fight the evil enemy, the Tangent Empire. Play is from a top-down perspective. Atari provided a contest that players could win a special T-Shirt by completing the contest level in 30 seconds.
Vindicators Part II
1988
2, simultaneous
A stripped-down version of the original Vindicators .
Name
Year
Max Players
Description
Xybots
1987
2, simultaneous
Players traverse a maze with an over-the-shoulder viewpoint of their characters. Players must destroy robots and other enemies along the way. Players have the option to buy upgrades between levels.