Atari
Ever since the 1970s, Atari became a pivotal fixture in the fledgling video game industry, starting with arcade games that changed gaming forever. Following this, Atari paved the way for home gaming platforms, from home consoles like the Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 to early personal computers like the Atari ST. Though failures like the Atari 5200 toppled the company from its position as an industry leader, the company’s legacy remains lovingly intact in the modern era. But even as Atari continues to endure and thrive today, we’re looking back at classic titles from the company that warrant more recognition today.
With that in mind, we’re highlighting games that were developed and published by Atari through its variety of platforms, from the arcades to the Atari Jaguar. These titles may have received a certain amount of contemporary critical and commercial success upon their launch, but they just aren’t remembered these days to the level that they each deserve. We’re listing our particular overlooked favorites, several of which being available through remastered re-releases standalone or as part of compilation titles.
These are the five best Atari games nobody talks about anymore, despite their clear qualities.
Yars’ Revenge
Atari
With space shooters like “Space Invaders” and “Galaga” ruling the Atari 2600, “Yars’ Revenge” put a fresh twist on the familiar genre. The 1982 game revolves around a conflict between two extraterrestrial forces, the Yars and the Qotile, divided by a colorful neutral zone in outer space. The goal of the game is to blast away the shields protecting the Qotile, exposing enough of the enemy to blow them out of the cosmos. Players also have to evade incoming enemy missiles though they can be evaded by seeking refuge in the neutral zone.
“Yars’ Revenge” is one of the more original space shooters from the early ’80s, with its horizontal perspective and gameplay mechanics. Developed and published by Atari specifically for the 2600, the title showcased what the console was capable of. This is most saliently seen in its robust color palette compared to most home platform games of its era and unique action. A forgotten highlight in the Atari 2600 library whose legacy faded over time, “Yars’ Revenge” is worth checking out.
Gauntlet (1985)
Atari
The original “Gauntlet” is an arcade game from 1985 that no one remembers today, despite its important place in the medium’s history. With its arcade version developed and published by Atari, the game is a foundational dungeon-crawler as players explore levels full of treasure and monsters. After vanquishing a certain amount of enemies and/or recovering loot, the passage to the next level is unlocked, with greater treasure but also more formidable monsters. The arcade version allows for up to four-person co-op, with each player controlling a different fantasy archetype, including a warrior, a wizard, and an elf.
To be clear, “Gauntlet” was a hit when it was released in the ’80s, followed by a whole line of home platform ports. The 1985 game essentially set the template for similar titles like “Diablo” and “Hades” to follow years later. The four-person multiplayer was also something of a revolutionary feature for its time, at least as far as hack-and-slash or beat’em-up titles were concerned. A landmark title in the fantasy genre, “Gauntlet” demonstrated Atari could still find success in the arcade scene in the mid ’80s.
Solaris
Atari
Even after the Atari 5200 and 7800 were released, the company kept developing and publishing titles for the Atari 2600. One of the best late-stage 2600 games was “Solaris,” published by Atari in time for the 1986 holiday season. The game has players explore the cosmos, with 48 space sectors across 16 quadrants to traverse. Players battle a hostile interstellar empire, known as the Zylons, liberating entire sectors and driving them from individual planets that they can visit to reclaim the galaxy.
One of the most ambitious titles on the Atari 2600, “Solaris” features a mix of standard space shooter action and third-person exploration when visiting planets. The sheer breadth of the game, with its amount of space sectors and planets is unrivaled in the console’s library as well. But beyond its scope, the game just feels fun to play, keeping players riveted as they venture deeper into the cosmic unknown and regularly shift perspectives. The last true gem on the Atari 2600, “Solaris” likely remains overlooked due to its arrival late in the console’s lifecycle.
Rampart
Atari
Atari continued making arcade games into the ’90s, including the 1990 strategy title “Rampart,” which was eventually ported to several home platforms. Set during the advent of gunpowder-fueled weapons during the medieval era, with players defending their territory with castle walls. The game is divided into turns, with players building walls around their territory in the first phase before trading cannon fire with enemies in the second phase. The amount of exposure from damaged walls dictates how much territory is still held between phases as factions gain and lose ground steadily.
Just as “Gauntlet” helped establish dungeon-crawlers, “Rampart” helped lay the foundation for tower defense games. The alternating gameplay between construction and repair with explosive combat helps players stay invested with how well they do in each phase. The title also works well as both a single-player experience and head-to-head competitive multiplayer, driven by its turn-based mechanics. Heralding Atari’s continued presence in the ’90s, “Rampart” is another underrated title from its arcade output.
Tempest 2000
Atari
After the failure of the Atari 7800, the company tried to stage a comeback in the home console market with the Atari Jaguar in 1993. The truth behind the Atari Jaguar was that it wasn’t quite as powerful as its marketing attempted to lead gamers to believe. That said, the short-lived console did feature some truly standout titles, including “Tempest 2000” as a particular highlight. Published by Atari in 1994, “Tempest 2000” is a sci-fi tube shooter, with players navigating a spaceship around a colorful space corridor as they blast enemies.
With its arcade-style action and engaging presentation, “Tempest 2000” is easily one of the best games in the entire Atari Jaguar library. One of the biggest strengths that rightfully gets cited from the 1994 title is its soundtrack, which perfectly encapsulates mid ’90s electronica. This provides a driving sonic backdrop for the sci-fi mayhem that unfolds, beautifully drawing gamers in. If there was ever a single game to justify picking up an Atari Jaguar, “Tempest 2000” is as good as it got on the console.