Best Atari Game From Each Console Generation

Back in 1972, a small company in the United States called Atari was formed, and it quickly became one of the most important video game companies in history. As time passed, the company contributed to the Video Game Crash of 1983, but it continued making games and hardware for some time. Nowadays, Atari is owned by Warner Bros. Games, but for much of its history, the name “Atari” meant something to gamers. We reviewed the company’s history to identify the best Atari game for each console generation. For generations where Atari had its own console, only those were considered. The winners were selected based on contemporary critics’ reviews upon release, the importance each game had on the industry, and how much fun they were to play.

1st) Pong

1st Gen: Atari Pong

The first console generation’s winner is a no-brainer, as Pong ruled outright, pushing numerous companies to clone it to death. Atari created Pong in 1972, which was modeled after the Tennis game on the Magnavox Odyssey. It didn’t take long for Pong to become the first commercially successful video game, and Atari worked with Sears to sell home consoles that could play it exclusively. These sold incredibly well, establishing Atari on a solid foundation as the leading video game developer in the United States. Pong wasn’t the first video game, but it was the first to show that games could be profitable, and we have Atari to thank for that.

2nd) Adventure

2nd Gen: Atari 2600 | Atari 5200

During the 2nd console generation, Atari’s hardware success began and ended on the Atari 2600, as the Atari 5200 was a failure. Over 500 games were released for the system, many of which were developed by Atari. With plenty to choose from, we selected the most impactful: Adventure. The aptly titled game is widely recognized as the first action-adventure and fantasy game, featuring exploration and adventure elements that would become commonplace in those genres. It was highly influential on game developers for years, and it’s one of the first games to feature an Easter egg.

3rd) Alien Brigade

3rd Gen: Atari 7800

There were several great Atari games released on 3rd-generation consoles, but Atari also had its own system, the Atari 7800. While not a successful console, the Atari 7800 featured some great games, including Alien Brigade. The 1990 rail shooter is centered around a soldier who fights off aliens who take over the bodies of his dead comrades. Alien Brigade came around towards the tail end of the Atari 7800’s lifecycle, so Atari marketed it as much as possible, and it was well received. It’s a fun rail shooter similar to Operation Wolf in many ways, but few had the chance to play it due to the system’s low sales.

4th) Primal Rage

4th Gen: TurboGrafx-16 | Genesis | Neo Geo | Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Atari experienced ups and downs during the 4th console generation, focusing its console initiatives primarily on the Atari Lynx. Since this list is focused on home consoles, the best Atari game of the period was Primal Rage, which was released in arcades before being ported to several 4th-generation consoles, including the Sega Genesis, 32X, and Super Nintendo. Primal Rage is a 2D fighting game set in a post-apocalyptic world where prehistoric monsters fight it out to settle the planet’s fate. The game was a hit, and the Genesis port was probably the best version.

5th) Alien vs Predator

5th Gen: Atari Jaguar

Atari returned to the home console market in the 5th generation with the Atari Jaguar, and while it failed to overtake the competition, the system featured some good games. The best one, developed by Atari, was Alien vs Predator, the best game in the AvP franchise. The game is the system’s killer app, selling remarkably well and earning widespread critical acclaim. Alien vs Predator is a first-person shooter featuring three scenarios involving the Colonial Marines, Xenomorphs, and Yautja. There are several interconnected levels, and the game was a huge hit. Unfortunately, it came on a system few people purchased, but it was nonetheless Atari’s best game from the 5th generation.

6th) Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone

6th Gen: GameCube | Dreamcast | PlayStation 2 | Xbox

Following the Jaguar’s failure, Atari stopped making new consoles and focused on software development, though the company was already in serious decline by the 6th generation. It still developed several games for various systems, with the best being Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. The Dungeons & Dragons game features a large cast of voice actors and was written by R.A. Salvatore. It’s an excellent storyline with great voice acting, music, graphics, and sound, though the hack-and-slash gameplay is a touch repetitive. Still, Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone is an entertaining game, but it would be the last original title to bear the Atari name.

7th) Test Drive Unlimited

7th Gen: PlayStation 3 | Wii | Xbox 360

Atari’s financial troubles resulted in the company passing from one buyer to another. While this was happening, various studios released games under the Atari banner, and the best entry in the 7th generation was Test Drive Unlimited, the 18th entry in the franchise, which rebooted the series. The game was ported to multiple systems, including the PlayStation Portable, and included more than 125 licensed cars and motorcycles. The racetracks consisted of over 1,000 miles of roadways modeled after the Hawaiian island of O’ahu, offering beautiful visuals during the game’s fast-paced races. The open-ended racing game offers countless hours of gameplay and was a great achievement for Atari.

8th) Tempest 4000

8th Gen: Atari VCS

Back in 1981, Atari changed gaming with Tempest, offering a challenging shooter with vector-based depth and spinner controls that dominated arcades. In 2018, Atari released Tempest 4000 as a reimagining of the classic arcade game for the 8th console generation. Like the OG, Tempest 4000 features gameplay similar to its progenitor, with the player fighting increasingly difficult waves of enemies, but the graphics, colors, and soundtrack make it feel retro-futuristic. You can’t help but feel yourself being pulled into the game in much the same way that Geometry Wars does the same — it’s that kind of aesthetic, but with 1981’s Tempest at its core.

9th) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind

9th Gen: Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X|S

During the 9th console generation, Hasbro, which owns Atari, launched a Retro Arcade Initiative. To that end, the company, through Digital Eclipse, launched Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, a side-scrolling beat-’em-up featuring the titular team. The game is loaded with puzzles, combat, and exploration related to the popular franchise, and gameplay involves switching between Rangers. Each one has their own unique abilities, so selecting the right Ranger means progressing across various obstacles throughout the game. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is a fun, retro take on a classic genre that’s entertaining for fans of the franchise.

10th) Hogwarts Legacy

10th Gen: Nintendo Switch 2 | PlayStation 6 | Xbox Project Helix

As of writing, there’s no consensus as to when the 10th console generation will begin, or whether it has already begun. That said, some in the industry have pointed to the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 as the launching point for the generation, so going with that, the best game released thus far is Hogwarts Legacy. Granted, it was released during the 9th console generation, but there’s no denying how well it plays on the Switch 2. Still, with more time, the folks at Warner Bros. Games will likely produce more, newer titles that will blow Hogwarts Legacy away, and whenever Sony and Microsoft release their 10th-generation consoles, who knows what will arrive on those systems?

What’s your all-time favorite Atari game? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

53 Years Ago Today, One of Gaming’s Most Pivotal Releases Happened