River Raid Classic
Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Spider Fighter
Deep cut
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1983 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Activision |
| Publisher | Activision |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Deep cut · legacy score 3 |
Spider Fighter is a shoot 'em up released in 1983 for the Atari 2600, developed by Activision. It blends shoot 'em up and action elements.
It landed about 6 years into the 2600's life. Other notable 2600 releases from 1983 include Mario Bros., E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Halloween.
Activision also made River Raid, Kaboom! and Barnstorming for the 2600.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
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've played the 2600 hits and want something less obvious
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Spider Fighter 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.
Spider Fighter walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Spider Fighter.
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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.
Spider Fighter FAQ
When did Spider Fighter come out on the 2600?
Spider Fighter was released for the Atari 2600 in 1983.
Who made Spider Fighter?
It was developed by Activision.
Is Spider Fighter multiplayer?
No. Spider Fighter is a single-player game.
How long does Spider Fighter take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Spider Fighter 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 Spider Fighter 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.