Atari 2600 · 1980
Missile Command
Intercept incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles while defending six cities in this Atari 2600 classic.
- Publisher
- Atari, Inc.
- Format
- Cartridge
- Genre
- shoot 'em up
- Released
- 1980
01
Overview
Players fire counter-missiles to stop enemy attacks from reaching their cities, with each salvo costing one of a limited supply. Waves escalate as more enemy missiles appear, forcing careful targeting under constant pressure. The cartridge was one of the early Atari 2600 titles that brought arcade-style defense gameplay into living rooms.
02
Why it matters
Missile Command helped define the home defense-shooter formula on the Atari 2600. Its simple intercept-and-survive loop made it a reference point for early cartridge-era strategy action.
03
The physical edition
A typical complete copy includes the cartridge in a box with the manual, though packaging and inserts vary by region and printing. Confirm the specific edition, region, and contents before approving any physical listing.
04
Playing it today
The game runs on original Atari 2600 hardware and on many modern emulators. Difficulty is high and unforgiving, so expect long learning curves and sudden collapses.