Carol Shaw's River Raid 5200 box art

Atari 5200 · Action

Carol Shaw's River Raid

SystemAtari 5200
GenreAction
DeveloperActivision
PublisherActivision
Players1–2 players
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
LegacyDeep cut

Carol Shaw's River Raid is an action game released for the Atari 5200, developed by Activision.

Activision also made Pitfall!, Kaboom! and Megamania for the 5200.

Carol Shaw's River Raid 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've played the 5200 hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you prefer slow, thoughtful games over reflex tests

What playing Carol Shaw's River Raid is like

Action games test reflexes and nerve. Expect fast enemies, tight controls and stages you clear by reacting quickly and learning enemy patterns.

Tip for newcomers: Retro action games are often short but tough. Treat early deaths as practice runs; every attempt teaches you where the next threat comes from.

Carol Shaw's River Raid gameplay screenshot on 5200
In-game screenshot (5200)

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Playing 5200 games today

The 5200 library is small and arcade-focused, so it suits players who enjoy classic coin-op ports. The original non-centering joysticks are famously fragile, which is why many collectors use refurbished or modern replacement controllers.

Carol Shaw's River Raid FAQ

Who made Carol Shaw's River Raid?

It was developed by Activision.

Is Carol Shaw's River Raid multiplayer?

Yes. Carol Shaw's River Raid supports up to 2 players.

How long does Carol Shaw's River Raid take to play?

As an action game, Carol Shaw's River Raid 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.

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.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you