Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Star Wars
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Parker Brothers |
| Publisher | Parker Brothers |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Star Wars |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 6 |
Developed by Parker Brothers, Star Wars arrived on the Atari 2600 as a shoot 'em up. Depending on the region, you may also know it as Star Wars: The Arcade Game. It blends shoot 'em up and action elements.
Among the 72 2600 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #20 by legacy score.
It is part of the Star Wars series; on the 2600 you can also try Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, 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 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 Star Wars 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 walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Star Wars.
If you like Star Wars, the Matrix also picks…
Defender Classic
Phoenix Classic
River Raid Classic
Combat Classic
Star Wars Arcade Deep cut
Demon Attack Classic
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 FAQ
Who made Star Wars?
It was developed by Parker Brothers.
Is Star Wars multiplayer?
No. Star Wars is a single-player game.
How long does Star Wars take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Star Wars 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 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.