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26 video games released on the Atari 2600 sold at least one million copies, of which 14 were developed and/or published by the console's manufacturer, Atari, Inc. Other publishers with multiple entries in the top 26 are Activision (six titles), Imagic (three titles) and Parker Brothers (two titles).
- 10 Dig Dug
- 9 Ms. Pac-Man
- T. The Extra-Terrestrial
- 7 Demon Attack
- 6 Frogger
- 5 Space Invaders
- 4 Missile Command
- 3 Asteroids
- 2 Pitfall!
- 1 Pac-Man
Dig Dug, like many entries on this list, started life as an arcade machine. Its maze gameplay is similar to Pac-Man and was praised at the time for its inclusion of loveable and marketable characters. As the name suggests, Dig Dug differentiates itself fromPac-Manby having players and enemies navigate through solid dirt. The game was developed by N...
Comfortably the second most recognizable game in the maze genre, the arcade classic came to the Atari 2600 in 1981. TheAtari 2600 version of the game was very well received, unlike the disastrous Pac-Manport. Ms. Pac-Man on the Atari 2600won the Video Game of the Year (Less than 16k ROM Memory) Arcade Award in 1983. ColecoVision's Lady Bugwon the o...
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is one of the most infamous video games ever made. The corresponding film looked set to generate huge income, with director Stephen Spielberg having recently directed the lucrative Raiders of the Lost Ark. Atari saw dollar signs and commissioned Howard Scott Warshaw to make a tie-in game in just six weeks. RELATED: The 10...
Demon Attack was a fixed shooter set in space. Its gameplay was similar to titles like Space Invaders, Galaxian, andPhoenix. Atari clearly picked up on the similarity to their game Phoenix, as they took legal action against Demon Attack's developer and publisher Imagic. Despite this setback, Demon Attack was a success. It was Imagic's highest ever ...
Frogger is one of the most iconic games on this list.The game tasks players with crossing a road and river to reach a safe space on the other side. This is far harder than it sounds though, as the unfortunate frog has to deal with alligator-infested waters and the world's busiest road. The game was praised for its addictiveness at the time. The gam...
If it wasn't for Space Invaders, video gaming may still be a niche form of media today. The game is recognized as one of the most influential games ever made, and for being a key figure in the aptly named golden age of arcade. Dates for when this golden age ended vary, but 1978 will always be the starting year, as this is the year when the iconic s...
One of the many Shoot em' up games that Space Invaders inspired is Missile Command. The game required players to shoot down enemy missiles that are trying to destroy six cities; it was inspired by the Cold War. Consequently, the six cities were originally based on six real American cities. However, game creator Dave Theurer removed the city names, ...
Asteroids is another key figure in the golden age of arcade. The space shooter differentiated itself from the popular fixed shooters by giving players full multi-directional control. This gameplay mechanic was enough to knock Space Invaders off its perch, as Asteroidsbecame the new leader of the arcade market. Furthermore, it was soon ported to the...
Pitfall! is a platformer made by current industry giants Activision. Interestingly, Activision was founded by game creators who felt that Atari wasn't giving them the financial reward or accreditation that they deserved. Furthermore, the first-ever gaming easter egg was also a by-product of Atari's treatment of game creators. Adventure, which only ...
Pac-Man, along with E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, is the Atari 2600game mentioned in the introduction that almost crashed the home console industry. The game was so bad, in fact, that stores began canceling customer's orders of the game. As they were receiving so many returns and complaints that it wasn't worth them selling it anymore. The game was c...
- Editor
Aug 26, 2008 · The best-selling Atari 2600 cartridge sold approximately 7 million copies, something many modern bestsellers cannot even accomplish. This list details the top 10 Atari 2600 bestsellers,...
- Levi Buchanan
Aug 26, 2024 · The year's highest-grossing video game was Namco's arcade game Pac-Man, for the third year in a row, while the year's best-selling home system was the Atari 2600. Additional video game consoles added to a crowded market, notably the ColecoVision and Atari 5200.
26 video games released on the Atari 2600 sold at least one million copies, of which 14 were developed and/or published by the console's manufacturer, Atari, Inc. Other publishers with multiple entries in the top 26 are Activision (six titles), Imagic (three titles) and Parker Brothers (two titles).
26 video games released on the Atari 2600 sold at least one million copies, of which 14 were developed and/or published by the console's manufacturer, Atari, Inc. Other publishers with multiple entries in the top 26 are Activision (six titles), Imagic (three titles) and Parker Brothers (two titles).
Jun 27, 2012 · Yars' Revenge (1982) was Atari's top-selling title for the 2600. Why was it so successful? Because the gameplay, graphics, and even the sound design were intense.
