Video Game Explosion

We rate every game in the world

Three hundred and forty-seven. That’s the number of home video games in existence. And we know of 52 more games due to be released in the nextfew months. It seems like just afew years ago, our video game libraries were complete if we had Space Invaders, Asteroids and Missile Command. This Christmas, with 22 companies producing software, there will be more games than you can shake ajoystick at. That's the good news. The bad news is you can't buy them all. At $30 a pop, a complete video game collection would set you back $8,675. Unless you own stock in one of the major video game companies, you can forget that idea. If you're a games fan, you've got some choices to make and we can help. We’ve rated every game that we know exists on a scale from A to F (just like a report card)—A is for excellent and F is for less-than-excellent. This should make your decision just a bit easier.

legend
S	=	Space		AF	=	Adventure/Fantasy
M	=	Maze		G	=	Gambling
A	=	Action		E	=	Educational
SP	=	Sports		D	=	Driving
	=	Game Type
	=	Graphics
	=	Playability (including challenge, difficulty and interest level)

ACTIVISION
BARNSTORMING	A	A	B
BOXING	SP	C	B
BRIDGE	SP	D	B
CHECKERS	SP	C	C+
CHOPPER COMMAND	A	A	B-
DRAGSTER	D	A	B
FISHING DERBY	SP	A	B
FREEWAY	A	B	B
GRAND PRIX	D	A	A
ICE HOCKEY	SP	A	A
KABOOM	A	A	A
LASER BLAST	S	B	C
MEGAMANIA	S	B	B+
PITFALL	AF	A	A
SKIING	SP	B	A-
STAMPEDE	SP	B	A
STAR MASTER	S	A	A
TENNIS	SP	A	A
APOLLO
LOST LUGGAGE	A	A	B
RAQUETBALL	SP	B	B
SHARK ATTACK	M	B	B
SKEET SHOOT	SP	C	C
SPACE CAVERN	S	B	B+
SPACECHASE	S	B-	C
ASTROCADE
AMAZING MAZE	M	B	B+
ASTRO BATTLE	S	A	A
ARTILLERY DUEL	A	B	B
ASTROCADE PINBALL	A	A	A
BASEBALL/HOCKEY/TENNIS	SP	B	B
BIORHYTHM	E	B	B+
BLACKJACK/POKER	G	C	C
BRICKYARD/CLOWNS	A	B	B
CONAN THE BARBARIAN	AF	B	C
COSMIC RAIDERS	S	A	B
CREATIVE CRAYON	E	A	A
DOGPATCH	A	B	B+
FOOTBALL	SP	B	A-
GALACTIC INVASION	S	A	A
GRAND PRIX	D	B	B+
THE INCREDIBLE WIZARD	AF	A	A
LETTER MATCH	E	B	B+
MUSIC MAKER	E	B	A
PIRATE’S CHASE	A	B	B-
RED BARON	A	B	B+
SEA WOLF	A	B	B
SOCCER	SP	B	B
SPACE FORTRESS	S	A	B+
SOLAR CONQUEROR	S	B	B+
SPEED MATH	E	B	B
STAR BATTLE	S	B	C
ZZZAP/DODGEM	D	B	B-
BOWLING	SP	B	C
BASIC	E	A	A
ATARI
BRAIN GAMES	E	B	A
BREAKOUT	A	A	A
ADVENTURE	AF	A	A-
AIR-SEA BATTLE	A	B	B
ASTEROIDS	S	B	A
BACKGAMMON	SP	B	A-
BASIC PROGRAMMING	E	B	B
BASKETBALL	SP	B	A
BERZERK	A	B	A
BOWLING	SP	B	C
CANYON BOMBER	A	B	B
CASINO	G	B	A-
CIRCUS ATARI	A	A	B-
CODEBREAKER	E	B	B+
CONCENTRATION	E	C	B
DEFENDER	S	A	A
DODGE ‘EM	M	B	B-
FOOTBALL	SP	C	D
GOLF	SP	C	D
HANGMAN	E	B	B+
HAUNTED HOUSE	AF	B	A-
HOME RUN	SP	C	D
HUMAN CANNONBALL	A	C	C
INDY 500	D	B	C+
MATH GRAN PRIX	E	C	B
MAZE CRAZE	M	B	A-
MISSILE COMMAND	S	A	A+
NIGHT DRIVER	D	B	A-
OTHELLO	A	B	B+
OUTLAW	A	C	C
PAC-MAN	M	C	B-
PELE’S SOCCER	SP	B	B-
SKY DIVER	A	B	C
SLOT RACERS	A	B	C-
SPACE INVADERS	S	A	A
SPACE WAR	S	B	C
STREET RACER	D	B	B
SUPER BREAKOUT	A	A	B+
SUPERMAN	AF	A	A-
SURROUND	A	B	B+
3-D TIC TAC TOE	A	B	B
VIDEO CHECKERS	SP	B	B
VIDEO CHESS	SP	B	A
VIDEO OLYMPICS	A	B	B+
VIDEO PINDALL	A	B	A-
WARLORDS	A	A	A
YAR’S REVENGE	S	A	A
FLAG CAPTURE	E	B	C
FUN W /NUMBERS	E	C	C
EARTHWORLD	AF	A	A
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK	AF	C	C
BASEBALL	SP	B-	B-
VOLLEYBALL	SP	B-	B-
FROG POND	A	B-	C-
DEMONS TO DIAMONDS	A	B	C
GALAXIANS (5200)	S	A	A
STAR RAIDERS (5200)	S	A	A
CENTIPEDE (5200)	A	A	A
CBS
WIZARD OF WOR	A	B	B
GORF	S	B	B+
COLECO
CARNIVAL	A	A	A
COSMIC AVENGER	S	A	A
DONKEY KONG	A	A+	A
FIDELITY'S CHESS	SP	A	B+
FIDELITY'S HORSE RACING	SP	A	B
HEAD TO HEAD BASEBALL	SP	B	B+
HEAD TO HEAD FOOTBALL	SP	B	B+
KEN USTON'S BLACKJACK/POKER	G	A	A-
LADY BUG	M	A	B+
MOUSETRAP	M	A	A
MR. TURTLE	A	A	B
RIP CORD	S	A	A
SIDE TRAK	M	A	B
SKIING	SP	B	B
SMURF EDUCATIONAL GAME	E	B	B
SMURF RESCUE GAME	E	A	B
SPACE FURY	S	B	A
SPECTAR	M	A	B
TUNNELS AND TROLLS	AF	B	B
TURBO	D	A	A
VENTURE	AF	A	A
ZAXXON	S	A	A
COMMAVID
COSMIC SWARM	S	C	B
ROOM OF DOOM	A	C	B
DATA AGE
ENCOUNTER AT L-5	S	B-	B+
WARPLOCK	S	C	C+
SSSNAKE	A	C	B-
AIRLOCK	S	C	B-
BUGS	A	C	B-
FOX
WORM WAR I	A	B	B
BEANY BOPPER	A	B	B
FAST EDDIE	A	A	B-
DEADLY DUCK	A	A	B
TURMOIL	A	A	A
IMAGIC
ATLANTIS	S	B	B
COSMIC ARK	S	B	A
DEMON ATTACK	S	A	A
FIRE FIGHTER	A	B	C
MICRO SURGEON	AF	A	A
RIDDLE OF THE SPHINX	AF	B	C
STAR VOYAGER	S	B	A
SWORDS AND SERPENTS	AF	B	A
TRICK SHOT	SP	A	B
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST	A	A	B
MATTEL
ABPA BACKGAMMON	SP	A	B+
ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS	AF	A	A
ARMOR BATTLE	A	A	A-
ASTROSMASH	S	A	B
AUTO RACING	D	B	A-
BOXING	SP	A	B
CHECKERS	SP	B	B
FROG BOG	A	B	C
HORSE RACING	SP	A	C
ROULETTE	G	A	B+
LOCK ‘N CHASE	A	B	B-
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL	SP	A	A+
MATH FUN	E	A	B+
NASL SOCCER	SP	A	A-
NBA BASKETBALL	SP	A	A-
NFL FOOTBALL	SP	A	A
NHL HOCKEY	SP	A	A
NIGHT STALKER	A	A	B
PBA BOWLING	SP	A	C
PBA GOLF	SP	A	A+
REVERSI	A	B	B
ROYAL DEALER	G	A	B+
SEA BATTLE	A	A	A
SNAFU	M	A	B
SPACE ARMADA	S	B	C
SPACE BATTLE	S	A	B
STAR STRIKE	S	A	B-
SUB HUNT	A	A	B+
TENNIS	SP	A	B
TRIPLE ACTION	A	B	B
TRON DEADLY DISCS	A	B	B
TRON MAZE-A-TRON	A	B	B
SKIING	SP	A	B
UTOPIA	AF	B	A
WORD FUN	E	A	A
SPACE HAWK	S	B+	B-
USCF CHESS	SP	A-	B-
SPACE SPARTANS	S	A-	B+
B-17 BOMBER	A	A	B+
BOMB SQUAD	A	A	B+
TRON SOLAR SAILOR	A	A	B-
ASTROBLAST (M)	S	B	B
SPACE ATTACK (M)	S	A	A
ODYSSEY
ALPINE SKIING	SP	B	C
ARMORED ENCOUNTER	A	C	B
BASEBALL	SP	B	B
BASKETBALL	SP	B	B
BLOCKOUT	A	B	A-
BOWLING	SP	C	D
CASINO SLOT MACHINE	G	B	B
COMPUTER GOLF	SP	C	D
COMPUTER INTRO	E	B	B
CONQUEST OF THE WORLD	A	B	A-
COSMIC CONFLICT	S	A	A
ELECTRONIC TABLE SOCCER	SP	B	A
FOOTBALL	SP	B	B
HELICOPTER RESCUE	AF	B	C
HOCKEY/SOCCER	SP	C	C
INVADERS FROM HYPERSPACE	S	A	B
ALIEN INVADERS PLUS	S	A	B
K.C.'S KRAZY CHASE	M	A	A
LAS VEGAS BLACKJACK	G	B	B
MATCHMAKER	E	B	B
MATH-A-MAGIC	E	C	A
MONKEYSHINES	M	B	A
PACHINKO	A	B	B+
PICK AXE PETE	A	B	B
POCKET BILLIARDS	SP	C	C
THE QUEST FOR THE RINGS	AF	B	A
SHOWDOWN IN 2100	A	C	B-
TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN	A	B	B+
THUNDERDALL	A	B	C
UFO	S	B	C
VOLLEYBALL	SP	C	D
WAR OF NERVES	A	B	A-
WALL ST. FORTUNE HUNT	AF	B	A
DYNASTY	SP	B	A
KEYBOARD CREATIONS	E	A	A
SPEEDWAY	A
FREEDOM FIGHTERS	A	A-	A-
TYPE N TELL	E	B	B-
K.C. MUNCHKIN	A	A	A-
NIMBLE NUMBERS NED	E	A	A
I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER	G	B	B
PARKER
EMPIRE STRIKES BACK	S	A	A
FROGGER	A	A	A
SPECTRAVISION
PLANET PATROL	S	A	A
GANGSTER ALLEY	A	B	C
TAPEWORM	A	C	B-
NEXAR	S	A	A+
STAR PATH (Formerly Arcadia)
COMMIE MUTANTS FROM SPACE	S	A	B+
PHASER PATROL	S	A	A
FIREBALL	A	B	B
SUICIDE MISSION	AF	B	C
LABYRINTH	M	A	A
TELESYS
FAST FOOD	A	A	B
COCO NUTS	A	B	C+
COSMIC CREEPS	S	A	B
TIGERVISION
JAWBREAKER	A	C	C
KING KONG	A	B	B
THRESHOLD	A	B	B
ULTRAVISION
KARATE	SP	C	C-
CONDOR ATTACK	SP	C	B
U.S. GAMES
SPACE JOCKEY	S	B+	B+
SNEAK N PEEK	E	B	B
WORD ZAPPER	E	A	A
COMMANDO RAID	A	A	A
TOWERING INFERNO	A	B+	B+
VECTREX
ARMOR ATTACK	A	A	B-
SPACE WARS	S	A	A
STAR HAWK	S	A	A
RIP-OFF	S	A	B
SOLAR QUEST	S	A	A
SCRAMBLE	S	B	A
BERZERK	A	B	A
STAR TREK	S	A	A
BLITZ	A	A	B
CLEAN SWEEP	S	A	B
HYPERCHASE	S	A	A
COSMIC CHASM	S	A	A
MINE STORM	S	B	A
ZIRCON
TIC-TAC-TOE	E	B	A
HOCKEY	SP	C-	C+
DESERT FOX	A	B-	C+
VIDEO BLACKJACK	G	B-	C+
SPITFIRE	A	B-	C+
SPACE WAR	S	C+	C+
MATH QUIZ #1 & #2	E	C	C
MIND READER/NIM	E	C-	A-
DRAG STRIP	D	B-	B+
MAZE	M	B-	B+
BACKGAMMON	SP	C+	C+
BASEBALL	SP	C+	B
TORPEDO ALLEY	A	C	B+
SONAR SEARCH	A	C+	A-
MEMORY MATCH	E	C	C
DODGE ‘IT	A	C+	B+
PINBALL CHALLENGE	A	C+	A-
HANGMAN	E	C+	A-
VIDEO WHIZBALL	A	C-	A-
BOWLING	SP	C	C+
SLOT MACHINE	G	A	B-
GALACTIC SPACE WARS	S	C+	B-
PRO-FOOTBALL	SP	C-	B-
CASINO ROYALE	G	B-	C
ALIEN INVASION	S	C	C
TENNIS	SP	C-	C