Stargate 2600 box art

Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Shooter

Stargate

Deep cut

SystemAtari 2600
Released1984 (originally 1981)
GenreShoot 'em Up, Shooter
DeveloperVid Kidz
PublisherAtari
Players1 player
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
LegacyDeep cut · legacy score 4

Developed by Vid Kidz and published by Atari, Stargate arrived on the Atari 2600 in 1984 as a shoot 'em up. This 2600 release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1981. It blends shoot 'em up and shooter elements.

It landed about 7 years into the 2600's life. Other notable 2600 releases from 1984 include Beamrider, Gremlins and Mr. Do's Castle.

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 Stargate 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.

Stargate gameplay screenshot on 2600
In-game screenshot (2600)

Stargate walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Stargate.

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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.

Stargate FAQ

When did Stargate come out on the 2600?

Stargate was released for the Atari 2600 in 1984; the original game dates back to 1981.

Who made Stargate?

It was developed by Vid Kidz and published by Atari.

Is Stargate multiplayer?

No. Stargate is a single-player game.

How long does Stargate take to play?

As a shoot 'em up, Stargate 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 Stargate 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.

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