Top 10 Atari 2600 Games From My Childhood - My Retro Life 

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I’m a comic book fan and I couldn’t believe it that your grandfather was Mike Esposito, the same inker who helped on one of the most iconic moments of Spider-Man and that was “Spider-Man No More”

You just made my day tyler thank you. I'm a trash man, my days get hard but listening to you talk about you're childhood makes my day so much better and faster.

This was my first console. It was set up in my dad’s “office” in our house, which was really just a spare room with a desk. Don’t think dad ever used that desk. But I sure did! It had the Commodore 64 on it!

Funny story . I had the 2600 but the game food fight was for the 7600 , I ripped off the cover and wrote 2600 on it and could never wonder why it wouldn’t work in the 2600 lol …

That so cool your grandfather inked comics! Also, I loved playing Adventure on PC in my after school day care. I never got far but funny how we got absorbed by geometry that represented a fantasy world

Holy shit! You just solved a lifelong mystery for me. I remembered playing Pitfall when I was very little, and there was a period of many years where I didn't see it again until I was an adult. Then, upon playing it, it just didn't seem the same to me. But now, I understand why. It was Pitfall 2 I was playing. I specifically remembered being able to actually go exploring down underground, collecting gold, and floating up using the balloon. Thank you, Tyler! It's been since I was probably 3 or 4 years old in '86 or '87 since I had seen that game and heard the music for it. Wow.

A very interesting top 10 ... we enjoyed it

I certainly wasn't alive then but its cool to see videos of people genuinely being surprised to open Atari games for Christmas

I'm 45 and probably on the tail end of those who remember playing the original 2600 console (with the fake wood panelling). It sounds like you're maybe 40 so it's crazy to see somebody as young as you that was into the 2600 as well.

You did it again man, you sharing your life and family with me gives me greatest feeling of joy and nostalgia. Family and memories is what life is all about imo Thank you again as usual!!!

I didn't get to experience the 2600 until last year with the Atari 50 collection and I've gained so much appreciation and enjoyment for the system that I never had. I feel like Squidward in that one episode where he says "All the wasted years!" Some of my favorites not mentioned in the video are Frogger, Dodge Em, Fast Eddie, and Video Pinball.

My pops introduced me to Atari 2600 in 1990…along with NES. Sega came about in 1992, but my introduction was Atari 2600. As always, Tyler …it’s a GREAT day to come across new content from you my guy! Hope to see some live content from you soon. Peace and love.

Wow, I've never heard of many of these games. Great video! Kaboom! was actually the very first video game I've ever played in my life! I remember when my cousin told me you could "win" my mind thought "win" meant win a prize, which meant win a TOY and I got excited. I didn't get a toy that day but that's when my love of video games began. I think I was 2, I'm 40 now. It's truly a core memory. Thank you, Tyler, I haven't thought about that in so long.

awww man. the 2600 is just a magical console. the games are so simple yet so addicting. video games in their purest form IMHO.

I'm your age, my dad's old Atari 2600 was how I cut my teeth on video games aside from the arcades, before I had an NES or a Genesis. Let me see if I can remember some of the titles that I used to play... Keystone Kapers was definitely one of them that I enjoyed and probably deserves one of the top spots like you have it here. There was also Galaga, Space Invaders, Pitfall, Joust, Asteroids... I'm really having trouble remembering the more obscure titles here. I know there were other shooters I played for sure, can't remember what they were called. I'm pretty sure we had Road Runner though. These days Atari really doesn't do anything for me, I have no inclination to collect for it, but as far as I know we should still have the collection somewhere. That being said, I'll never turn down a round or ten of Asteroids. That has got to be one of the most addicting games ever made.

You almost had me on the E.T. recommendation. I kept looking at my phone to make sure it wasn't April 1st. I was about to seriously write your taste in video games off. Nice one Tyler! lol

Weirdly enough, a wooden 2600 was my first experience of gaming full stop. We had all the classics and padels too.... No idea what happened to the system 😕 Because it wasn't in my collection when I was forced to sell 10 year ago. As a toddler playing this and upwards until aged 8, I wasn't really into games and thought "this was all there is" to gaming. It was only when a school buddy of mine won a competition baggin himself a master system with Hang on and global defence- did i suddenly know what I was having for my birthday that year 😂

Hi Tyler! The Atari 2600 was my first console growing up. I had such a blast with it. Lots of good games. Some of my favs off the top of my head are Adventure, Berserk, Yar's Revenge, Enduro, Pitfall, Defender, Krull, Vanguard.... This list could be much longer.

Here's my top 10 2600 games (results may vary overtime): 1. Yars' Revenge 2. A tie between Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man (the former in particular makes me think of my grandfather, who loved playing it back then) 3. Mario Bros. 4. Space Invaders 5. Berzerk 6. Pitfall! 7. Adventure 8. Video Pinball 9. Jr. Pac-Man 10. Missile Command

Your dad pretending to be Italian with the spaghetti on your shill section; that....that....bought a little tear to my eye as that's the sorta stuff my old man used to do over the dinner table. Man he's been gone 3 months nearly 4 now and it still feels like yesterday. Still don't feel right me being in the old house as mine. .....sorry over share. Just.... He seemed like a really good dad and similar to mine with the games etc.

I have pictures of me playing the Atari 2600 handed down to me by my brother who is 16 years older than myself. I didn’t realize later how iconic it was but the first game I ever bought brand new was ET. It was 50 cent in a bin full of Atari games probably around 1986. I instantly remember disappointment after playing it 8-10 minutes. If it wasn’t for RU-vid that memory may have been completely forgotten.

I’ve been tossing on lots of Atari games lately. I’d say what stands out most is the sound effects. They are so unique and interesting sounding

I remember finishing Pitfall 2 on my friend's C64 in his basement and having that sense of amazement in actually going on a quest that ended. This game is what really turned me on to video games in a big way beyond the early arcade classics.

Hey Tyler, Love watching your videos, I grew up around the same time as you so i cant help but get nostalgic from your content lol You are easily one of my favorite channels on here, In your top ten games video i seen you show some love to Lunar: Silver Star Story, Which is a massively underrated JRPG, I thought that was super cool, And it made me curious, Would love to know some of your favorite RPGs sometime! There's alot of fantastic RPGs from that era people tend to sleep on, Games such as Breath Of Fire 3, Wild Arms & The Legend Of Dragoon often get overlooked yet i feel stand toe to toe with the greats.

Great video as always! Brings back lots of Atari 2600 memories. Have you ever played or heard of Dragonstomper? An amazing game for the Atari 2600 and one of the first RPGs ever! You needed an expansion peripheral called the Starpath Supercharger and the game was actually on a cassette tape. This game had a huge impact on me when I was a kid. You should check it out.

It's nice that you post an Atari video, I can never imagine how people would have fun playing games so raw

Wow Tunnel Runner looked ahead of its time, cool you used its sound effect for your intro!

What's crazy is that I never knew Road Runner was on the NES as well. Checked the footage and while it looks more like the arcade the parallex scrolling was axed. Thanks for this video brought a whole bunch of memories from being a little kid.

Plenty of Activision representation, goes to show why they became one of the best third parties out there; so many great Atari 2600 games that it's almost impossible to keep it to just 10, but you did a good job at it Tyler, thanks again for including me!

Enduro is top spot for me followed by Keystone capers and Empire Strikes Back. Great video!

The music from Atari Karts for the Jaguar makes for a good entrance in this video. Recognized it right away and it made me smile - although the video is all about the 2600.

Your grandpa was a legend!

I grew up with the Atari 2600. We got the system in 1978, with Combat. My favorite games are Pitfall, Demon Attack, Missile Command, Space Invaders, Ms. Pac-Man, Haunted House, Vanguard, Raider of the Lost Ark, Warlords, Mountain King, Centipede and Defender.

Plaque attack and iceberg were my family's favorite games. I have amazing memories of my mom, dad and three sisters all playing those games together. That was 1984ish when I was 5. Atari is very nostalgic for me.

you seeing the Atari 2600 as this really old console when you were about eight years old resonated with me a bit. I was born in 2006, the same year the Wii came out. I’ve been playing the Wii for most of my life, and even at age 10 I was still thinking, “the Wii isn’t THAT old”

Dude I didn’t know your Gramps worked on Comics Awesome Tyler!!

Thank you for all the feelings and memories! Any way you could tell me how you converted the vhs home movies to RU-vid?

River Raid & Jungle Hunt are my top two but this is a solid list as well. I’ll have to get Tunnel Runner, that looks amazing

these videos bring back good times I had as a kid

I have a few favorite Atari games, Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Star Wars games, and Spider-Man! You gotta respect the classics! These top ten’s are really great Tyler! Keep it up man! By the way that so cool that you’re grandfather worked for Marvel Comics, I collected vintage Marvel Comics as a kid, I still do but not as much and I recognize his name! Small world I guess

Great video! So many awesome 2600 memories. It stinks that I missed out on Tunnel Runner as a kid! Pitfall 2 has better music and cleaner programming than Super Pitfall, but the latter has the creepy second half in the native village, and you can rescue your dog, and find a potion to turn your niece back from stone! It’s gotten a real bad rap, but I’d rather play it over Pitfall 2. Pitfall 2 was a Christmas gift for me in 1984 and it blew my mind-it would remain the most incredible game I’d play until Super Mario Bros. hit the scene!

HERO and Keystone Kapers have always been my top two 2600 games ever, so I definitely agree with them being way up there on this list! I never got to play Pitfall 2 though, even though I was aware of it... guess l have to give it a go sometime!

I'm 100 % I knew Manny growing up. We went to same school and we had some same friends. So crazy found this channel and happen to be someone I knew. So cool. Tell him Brad from Ronkonkoma says hi. And feel free.get my info is love to say hello see what life been like. Love the channel.

I cant believe your subscribers at 118k from 30k! Keep going it. Im playing my atari 2600 with zenith data system green screen ^^

Never would've guessed your intro sound comes from Atari 2600 Tunnel Runner! 🤯

Awesome list of games! Had a ton of fun with H.E.R.O. what an amazing game that is..

I still own my original Woody lite 6 switcher. For me the games were Chopper Command, Moon Patrol, Enduro Racer, Asteroids, Space Invaders, Pitfall, River Raid, Combat, Air/Sea Battle and Ms. Pacman. The Atari replaced the Pong console pretty quickly.

Lot of classics. Never got into the ol 2600 myself but I'm familiar with a lot of these games

Oh man. Both the honorable mention and the actual #1 would easily top my list as well. Kaboom with a paddle controller is one of the best games on the platform, the controls have never been replicated properly in any future rereleases of it. And Pitfall II, I got for my birthday in 1987 along with a 7800 (and Pole Position and Asteroids). It was the first game I ever beat, since it was the first game I ever had that could be beaten.

Personally I don't play the 2600 myself. But I do appreciate the fact that Atari does rerelease their old games in physical form which is nice. A game I feel is underrated though is Ms Pacman. Most people won't even try it because Pacman on 2600 was so bad. The thing is the 2600 was capable of doing a playable Pacman but depending on who you ask either rushed production to make sure it came out before christmas or Atari tried to save money by using a cheaper carts which made the game unstable. Ms Pacman didn't have the same problem. It had more time to develop and actually worked pretty decent. Apart from that I can only recomand games that use the paddle controller like Breakout. I hate the original controller so much. But than again you can also use the Genesis 3 button controller.

Berzerk is the first video games i ever play.it made me a fan of video games.thanks atari.queens new york represent.word up son

You have to try Saboteur ... Howard Scott Warshaw 2600 title that was not released until recently. Three distinct gameplay loops/level types. Super fun, but less well known for obvious reasons.

i got to play it when i went to my grandmother's house when i was a kid... My uncle was the youngest of my mom's siblings so he stil lived at home since he was age 16. When he got a Nintendo he shelved it, but they let me have it so i could keep quiet when i was at my grandmother's house and he was at his part time job at some store. I wasn't allowed to play with the Nintendo when he was at work so i was left playing with the Atari in my grandparent's guest bedroom... it sounds like but those were some of the best pre-Kindergarten memories i have lol

It's kind of funny when he mentioned that one title in this video called keystone capers when I think of keystone capers of the title itself it sounds like a beer game cuz get it keystone but it has capers at the end so it makes it separate from the keystone beer LOL

Only played 3 of your 10. Cool list!

HERO is easily my favorite Atari game. I used to play Atari collections on PS2 and that was a big one for me.

Bruh… 😐… you got me on the ET BS LOL 😂

Awesome video Tyler!! Might I suggest that you play Montezuma's Revenge on the 2600. The Colecovision/C64/Apple ][ version is better but it is one of the best games on the 2600. Also check out the Starpath Supercharger games on the 2600, the version of Frogger when played on the 2600 though the Supercharger it looks almost arcade perfect!

Awesome videos! Legend

You're the same as me, pitfall 2 was brilliant back in the day and still is.music, gameplay, graphics.spent many happy hours playing it

Tunnel Runner looks freaking crazy for an Atari 2600 game, looks like a reversed first person version of PacMan where you run away from the PacMan style monster. Pretty crazy how Atari was recreating 3D style envionments. And Plack Attack Is something you would find on those Atari Jaguar that were converted into dental equipment 🤣

Loved this video

Def was an odd time but i really did have fun with the 2600 before the nes rolled around. played a ton of defender and prob what got me prepped for the arcades and nes : )

Agreed. Pitfall and Pitfall 2 were my favorites as well

Super Pitfall on the COCO3 was my favorite game.

I never had a problem with E.T. I found it really easy to pick up and play. It had great graphics and even an ending.

Desert falcon is probably my favourite atari 2600 game!

The 2600 was my first console. I barely rember what games i had for it but 2 that stick out in my mind are combat and Pac Man

I would say looking at the artwork that this is not done form anyone in the comic industry but a job for an illustrator that based it on a comic panel.

Nice story man, as usual.

Woah, so cool about your grandfather! I'm a comic book writer/illustrator so that blew my mind.

One of your friends had a pool table in their lower level; that’s where they played Atari.

I’ve literally never played Pitfall before. That’s kinda crazy actually. How has that not happened? I wonder if it’s even easy to access on modern consoles.

It's almost like I was there for the making of this video... I did miss parts.but I didn't know where the sound effect for the channel splash screen came from. I should've known it was Atari, but never gave it much thought. Now that I think of it, I kinda wanna know what the other song is during the "new Nintendo! Sega CD rom?" Part

I love Yar's revenge and solaris. For 2 player games outlaw and combat

I think some games considering the super weak hardware was very impressive. Nearly all made by David Crane.

We had the Original Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game system.

H.E.R.O. is a great game and the 2600 version is the best.

Yo bro will it be some more Gamecube content on the channel? i really like this console and i love watching videos abt it :D

Megamania was another classic game.

...Cool list

pitfall 2 was great, The first game I played that had an ending

asteroids is the first console game i ever saw. my friend got the 2600 xmas mid 80's.

Have you played Road Runner on SNES and Genesis?

OMG your grandpa inked Killing Joke? That’s more legendary than Atari 2600 spider-man bro.

Oh cool, I never seen Gremlins for 2600. I have it for 5200 and it's very different. E.T. was my first game ever 😂

13:43 I never understood being chased by a Seahorses

I didn't get my own atari until 2012 i found the mother load at a thrift store and for that entire summer we played atari. No way we had wii and gamecube but we played jungle hunt and asteroids for hours.😂

Awesome

So if I’m gonna do a top 10 with #10 being a movie that I love, I have to go with E.T.🤭. Now despite it being the scapegoat for the video game crash of ‘83, it’s actually way more based on the movie than you think, for example: E.T.’s ship lands in the forest, just like in the movie. He wanders into cleanings and finding Reese’s piece’, just like in the movie You can contact Elliot telepathically, just like in the movie Your being hunted down by scientists and agents, just like in the movie You try to find parts to “phone home”, just like in the movie If you die,you turn white, just like in the movie. You can resurrect a flower, just like in the movie. And if you make it to the forest just in time you get to go home,just like I the movie👽🥹 And if you complain about the pits, there’s two things you need to understand🧐. First: if you get out, move to the left or right, and you’ll escape falling back down again. And 2: I believe this scene is in the movie where Elliot’s brother Mike finds him in a ditch below a bridge🧑‍🦱👽, that the pit😀. As for the rest of the list, it goes as follows: 9: Berserk 8: Missile Command 7: Keystone Kapers 6: Joust 5: Jr. Pac-Man 4: Millipede 3: River Raid II 2: Pressure Cooker And #1 California Game’s.😊👾

My top 10 personally (No particular order of best to worse) 10. Spiderman 9. Pitfall 8. Burger Time 7. Space Invaders 6. Fast Food 5. Breakout 4. Yars Revenge 3. Ghostbusters (Only the Atari version because it feels fitting for the time. The NES has absolutely no excuse) 2. Frogs Vs Flies 1. Frogger

Interesting that you say HERO is not widely known. In Europe it was like really known as on of the key Atari titles

I had a 5200 just before i had a NES back in 1989. But once i tried the NES, i never looked back... i mean i did played a bit every now and then, mostly Mario Bros, Popeye, Pitfall and Q-bert. But ATARI just feel outdated even back then. I can play NES, SNES or N64 alongside more modern games like Skyrim, Fallout 76, L4D2 and GTA4 or GTA5, but ATARI games really don't age well.

My mom loved pac-man and super breakout

My first was an IntelliVision!

How have we not gotten modern metroidvania's for pitfall and/or hero?

I thought I was the only one who had Plaque Attack in my top 10

Lot of rare games on this list

And I thought I was the only one as a kid who came to that amazing revelation that other consoles came before nintendo, lol.