10 Essential Games for Atari 2600 (VCS) - Player One Start

In this video I will showcase 10 games that I feel are essential for those wanting to collect/play games for the Atari 2600 / VCS (Video Computer System).

#atari #retrogaming #playeronestart #top10

Check out my channel for more videos. Thanks for watching!

[willmistretta]

Surprising to see no Space Invaders. That port was what put the system on the map.

[theoff-gridgamer]

Nice list! If we go for 20 games, I would add:
KABOOM!
Mega Mania
River Raid
Jungle Hunt
Berzerk
Ms PacMan as already mentioned
Jr. PacMan
Spider Fighter
Demon Attack
Circus Atari

Really, you can't go wrong with any thing from Activision. They ruled back in the days of Atari!

[markstahl]

There are so many good games to choose from! It’s hard to narrow it down. I like your thoughtful, well made videos. I was a little surprised that Defender made the list. I’ve never considered the 2600 port to be particularly good. Stargate would be a better candidate if it didn’t require a second controller (Pro-Tip: use a Sega Master System controller as a foot pedal if you don’t have a co-pilot). River Raid probably should have made the list, and Super Breakout is one of the paddle games that really made the system unique. Beamrider is a bit closer to the expensive end of the spectrum, but it’s one of the games I go to immediately and keep coming back to. Gravitar is a hidden gem that’s readily available and is one of the best games on the system. It’s very difficult, unless you know to select Game 5 to turn off the gravity when you’re first starting out. Superman is a great game, and it’s right up there with Adventure in a lot of ways. The learning curve is a bit steeper though. Pitfall II is arguably a big upgrade over the original Pitfall!, and it’s not even as expensive as H.E.R.O. Moon Patrol has a really good port on this system, and it’s a personal favorite.

[PixelSlayers]

Very nice list! My favorite on 2600 is Star Trek Strategic Operations Simulator, which has some pretty great spaceship shooting for the system.

[Mofongazo_]

Pretty awesome great stuff keep it coming new supporter and follower on Twitter

[ronslayton]

Warlords, Secret Quest, Solaris, Keystone Kapers, Yar's Revenge and Gravitar are my favorite 6.

[cronocyde]

Great list buddy. As someone that is unfamiliar with the Atari 2600, this is a great starting point.

[kevinstrade]

Yes. I love these kind if lists. No top number, just a list of recomended, good games. I love collecting for the 2600 and suggest a super charger if you dont have one already. I could list dozens and dozens of games for this list but each has thier own preferences. Thank you for posting!

[jmmmn]

Hi "Player One" and thx to share your nice videos and experience ;-)
Obviously every "top-X" music, games, movies, ... is radically different from a person to another, it's highly subjective.
I would like to mention maybe those ones :
1) River Raid
2) Keystone Kaper
3) Galaxian
4) Missile Command
5) Atlantis
6) Phoenix
7) Death Star Battle
8) Space Invaders
9) Berzerk
10) Chopper Command

And, by the way, welcome from Belgium ;-)

[GameplayUnknown]

I agree with most of them especially frogger but you missed two of my personal favourites missile command and jungle hunt.

[BriansManCave]

Great video! I did a similar series but I broke it down into a bunch of 5 must plays for Atari :)

[pheugo]

Brings back so many good memories. Great review, thanks for making it.

[jamesbrown]

Great list. I'd have probably put Space Invaders or Missle Command as better ports than Battlezone. Nice call on props for HERO. Underrated game for sure! The other game that IMHO is amazing and fun to play for hours is Starmaster.

[patsfanlife]

The system’s best 2-player head-to-head games are often overlooked but are extremely fun: Freeway, Ice Hockey, Tennis, Super Football, Boxing, Outlaw, Air Sea Battle, Maze Craze and yes, Frogs & Flies

[iespostavid]

Definitely agree Ms. Pac-Man. After the disappointment of Pac-Man, everything in Ms. Pac-Man was done right.
Paddle controlled games were overlooked - as that Pong controller partly defines “Atari”. Warlords is arguably best, along with Kaboom!, Breakout, Circus Atari...

[AlwaysLimey]

Great list! I owned them all and played the heck out of every last one back in the day.

[bmkretrogaming]

Sweet video Tyler! I own a good number of these games on ROM game cartridge, and have many more via emulated game ROMs. I think you pretty well nailed this list!

[WayOutGaming]

Weird fun fact, but there's actually an episode of CHiPs where they play the arcade version of Defender. Neat list! I actually own quite a few of these, and you have a lot of solid picks!

[acruz]

Great videos. I just dont think there aren't any essential games for 2600. It's too primitive. I grew up in the era and own a 2600. I think the earliest I can go back is 5200. I would like to see a video for 5200 or 7800. Very well done!

[masonwilcox]

Solid list. I'd like to mention couple gems: 1.) Toy Shop Trouble. 2.) Pitfall 2.