River Raid Classic
Intellivision · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Beamrider
Certified classic
| System | Intellivision |
|---|---|
| Released | 1983 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Activision |
| Publisher | Activision |
| Players | 1–4 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 6 |
Released for the Intellivision in 1983, Beamrider is a shoot 'em up developed by Activision. It blends shoot 'em up and action elements.
It landed about 4 years into the Intellivision's life. Other notable Intellivision releases from 1983 include Defender, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin and Happy Trails. Among the 14 Intellivision shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #5 by legacy score.
Activision also made Happy Trails, Pitfall! and River Raid for the Intellivision.
Beamrider 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
- you want to experience one of the Intellivision's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Beamrider 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.
Beamrider walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Beamrider.
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Playing Intellivision games today
Intellivision games reward patience: many are slower, more strategic designs than their Atari rivals. Official compilations have kept a large part of the library available on modern platforms.
Beamrider FAQ
When did Beamrider come out on the Intellivision?
Beamrider was released for the Intellivision in 1983.
Who made Beamrider?
It was developed by Activision.
Is Beamrider multiplayer?
Yes. Beamrider supports up to 4 players.
How long does Beamrider take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Beamrider 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 Beamrider 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.