River Raid Classic
Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Laser Blast
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1981 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Activision |
| Publisher | Activision |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 5 |
Developed by Activision, Laser Blast arrived on the Atari 2600 in 1981 as a shoot 'em up. It blends shoot 'em up and action 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 #24 by legacy score.
Activision also made River Raid, Kaboom! and Barnstorming for the 2600.
Laser Blast is a single-player game, so it's one to enjoy at your own pace.
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)
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Laser Blast 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.
Laser Blast walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Laser Blast.
If you like Laser Blast, the Matrix also picks…
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.
Laser Blast FAQ
When did Laser Blast come out on the 2600?
Laser Blast was released for the Atari 2600 in 1981.
Who made Laser Blast?
It was developed by Activision.
Is Laser Blast multiplayer?
No. Laser Blast is a single-player game.
How long does Laser Blast take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Laser Blast 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 Laser Blast 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.