Astrosmash 2600 box art

Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Shooter

Astrosmash

SystemAtari 2600
Released1981
GenreShoot 'em Up, Shooter
DeveloperMattel Electronics
PublisherM Network
Players1–2 players
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
LegacyWell-known · legacy score 6

Released for the Atari 2600 in 1981, Astrosmash is a shoot 'em up developed by Mattel Electronics and published by M Network. Depending on the region, you may also know it as Astroblast. It blends shoot 'em up and shooter elements.

It landed about 4 years into the 2600's life. Other notable 2600 releases from 1981 include Defender, Asteroids and Amidar. Among the 72 2600 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #16 by legacy score.

Mattel Electronics also made Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man, Tron: Deadly Discs and Star Strike for the 2600.

Astrosmash supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.

Pick it if…

  • you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
  • you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
  • you have a friend to play against

Maybe skip it if…

  • you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets

What playing Astrosmash is like

Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.

Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.

Astrosmash gameplay screenshot on 2600
In-game screenshot (2600)

Astrosmash walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Astrosmash.

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Playing 2600 games today

Most 2600 games are built for short, score-chasing sessions, which makes them perfect for a quick nostalgia hit. Original hardware is cheap and plentiful, the Atari 2600+ reissue plays original cartridges on modern TVs, and official collections such as Atari 50 bundle many first-party classics.

Astrosmash FAQ

When did Astrosmash come out on the 2600?

Astrosmash was released for the Atari 2600 in 1981.

Who made Astrosmash?

It was developed by Mattel Electronics and published by M Network.

Is Astrosmash multiplayer?

Yes. Astrosmash supports up to 2 players.

How long does Astrosmash take to play?

As a shoot 'em up, Astrosmash typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Astrosmash on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

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