Combat Classic
Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Warlords
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1980 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Atari |
| Publisher | Sears |
| Players | 1–4 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 5 |
Released for the Atari 2600 in 1980, Warlords is a shoot 'em up developed by Atari and published by Sears. It blends shoot 'em up and action elements.
It landed about 3 years into the 2600's life. Other notable 2600 releases from 1980 include Adventure, Phoenix and Boxing.
Atari also made E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Combat and Asteroids for the 2600.
Warlords supports up to 4 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
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Warlords 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.
Warlords walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Warlords.
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Missile Command Classic
River Raid Classic
Obelix Deep cut
Phoenix Classic
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.
Warlords FAQ
When did Warlords come out on the 2600?
Warlords was released for the Atari 2600 in 1980.
Who made Warlords?
It was developed by Atari and published by Sears.
Is Warlords multiplayer?
Yes. Warlords supports up to 4 players.
How long does Warlords take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Warlords 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 Warlords 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.