Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Action
River Raid
Certified classic
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1982 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Activision |
| Publisher | Activision |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 15 |
Released for the Atari 2600 in 1982, River Raid is a shoot 'em up developed by Activision. It blends shoot 'em up and action elements.
It landed about 5 years into the 2600's life. Other notable 2600 releases from 1982 include Custer's Revenge, Haunted House and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Among the 72 2600 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #4 by legacy score.
Activision also made Kaboom!, Barnstorming and The Activision Decathlon for the 2600.
River Raid 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
- you want to experience one of the 2600's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing River Raid 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.
River Raid walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for River Raid.
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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.
River Raid FAQ
When did River Raid come out on the 2600?
River Raid was released for the Atari 2600 in 1982.
Who made River Raid?
It was developed by Activision.
Is River Raid multiplayer?
Yes. River Raid supports up to 2 players.
How long does River Raid take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, River Raid 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 River Raid 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.