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Atari 8-bit Cartridges

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Atari 8-bit Cartridges

Games and more...

Paul Lefebvre
Nov 18, 2022
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Atari 8-bit Cartridges

www.goto10retro.com

The Atari 8-bit computers were an interesting combination of a powerful 8-bit computer and a great video game console. One big aspect of this is that cartridges, especially game cartridges, were very common on the Atari. Other similar systems, such as the Commodore VIC-20, Commodore 64 and TI 99/4a, also had cartridges but it sure feels like the Atari 8-bits had way more cartridges available.

To that end, here’s a list of the 8-bit carts that I currently have:

Games

  • Joust

    • This is my all-time favorite game.

      Joust atari screenshot
  • Ms. Pac-Man

    • The Atari 8-bit version is a classic.

      Ms. Pac-Man atari screenshot
  • Wizard of Wor

    • I never really played this back in the day. It’s a fast-paced maze shoot-em-up I really like it.

      Wizard of Wor atari screenshot
  • Miner 2049er

    • Another one of my favorite games that is kind of a combination of Donkey Kong and Pac-Man.

      Miner 2049er atari screenshot
  • Pole Position

    • I played this a lot as a kid, but I’m not sure I like it as much now. The steering is a bit touchy. Driving games are not meant for a digital joystick.

      Pole Position atari screenshot
  • Hardball!

    • I has this on floppy back in the day and played it a lot.

  • Centipede

    • Not one of my favorites, but still entertaining. I bet it would be great with a trackball.

  • Missile Command

    • I love this!

      Missile Command atari screenshot
  • K-razy Shoot-Out

    • A good Berzerk clone.

      K-Razy Shoot-Out atari screenshot
  • Caverns of Mars

    • This was originally an APX (Atari Program eXchange — kind of an app store of sorts, for the time) game that proved so popular that it got a full release from Atari. Impressive vertical scrolling.

      Caverns of Mars atari screenshot
  • Computer Chess

    • I don’t much like chess and I don’t think I’ve even tried this one.

  • Defender

    • This looks and works great, but I may actually like the Atari 2600 version better.

      Defender atari screenshot
  • Donkey Kong

    • Another one of my all-time favorites. This was the first game we got with our Atari 400 back in 1983.

      Donkey Kong atari screenshot
  • Super Breakout

    • I live this, but having to hook up paddles to play it means I don’t play it much.

  • Submarine Commander

    • Mid. I actually couldn’t figure this one out.

  • Gorf

    • This requires a 400/800, so I have not been able to play it. As a space shoot-em-up, it looks like I’d like it.

      Gorf atari screenshot

Non-Games

  • OSS BASIC XL

    • My favorite BASIC is OSS BASIC XE, but I like having an original cart of BASIC XL.

  • OSS Action!

    • I never had or used Action! back in the 80s, but it looks really interesting. I’ve only done some simple things with it, but I hope to use it for some programming projects in the future.

  • OSS 4-in-one Cart

    • I wrote about this last summer. I primarily got this for BASIC XE, but it also has MAC/65 assembler, BASIC XL and Action! all in one place.

Plus, there is one other important cartridge that I recently bought (from The Brewing Academy): SiDE3. This is a super-powerful cart that has built-in SpartaDOS X, a real-time clock, the ability to run things off an SD card, use the SD card as a hard disk and much more. It really supercharges an Atari 8-bit. I’ll be doing a series of posts on the SiDE3 at some point.

There are just so many Atari topics to write about!

Be sure to sign up for the free Goto 10 mailing list so you don’t miss any retro content!

What are your favorite Atari computer cartriges?

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Atari 8-bit Cartridges

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DENIS
Dec 19, 2022·edited Dec 23, 2022Liked by Paul Lefebvre

My favorite and my first cartridge : H.E.R.O. from Activision

The newest : FLOB

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christopher caen
Writes A Long Time Ago In A Valley Far…
Nov 19, 2022Liked by Paul Lefebvre

Star Raiders! My favorite cartridge but...so glad to see Atari APX mentioned and actually worked there many years ago...if you really want to test an Atari acolyte ask them if they remember Dog Daze...the greatest game ever created

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