Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Certified classic
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1982 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Parker Brothers |
| Publisher | Parker Brothers |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Star Wars |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 11 |
Released for the Atari 2600 in 1982, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is a shoot 'em up developed by Parker Brothers. 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, River Raid and Haunted House. Among the 72 2600 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #6 by legacy score.
It is part of the Star Wars series; on the 2600 you can also try Star Wars, Star Wars: Jedi Arena and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Death Star Battle. The series also appears on other systems with Star Wars Episode I: Racer (N64) and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (N64). Parker Brothers also made Spider-Man, G.I. Joe: Cobra Strike and Gyruss for the 2600.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 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 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 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.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
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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.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back FAQ
When did Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back come out on the 2600?
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was released for the Atari 2600 in 1982.
Who made Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back?
It was developed by Parker Brothers.
Is Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back multiplayer?
Yes. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back supports up to 2 players.
How long does Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 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 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 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.