The Top 25 Atari 7800 Games of All Time

The Atari 7800 ProSystem or Atari 7800 as it is more commonly known as, is an 8-Bit video game console developed and distributed by Atari Corporation. It was (finally) released in May 1986 in North America at a retail price of $79.95. If it were released today in 2023, it'd cost $222.99. Wouldn't that be kind of a weird retail price for a new console? It was later released in Europe (1987).
The 7800 is considered to be one of the first backwards-compatible game consoles as it could play Atari 2600 games without the use of additional modules. And no, it can't play 5200 games. Atari didn't seem to care much for that system following its failure to even come close to the 2600's success.
The console (7800) was later discontinued on January 1, 1992 due to its failure to compete with the NES and even the Sega Master System for that matter. In this video I've included one of the games that, because of said discontinuation, did not see a commercial release from Atari at the time. But was later released in 2002.
So let's count down 25 of the best Atari 7800 ProSystem games of all time. And, as usual with these video lists, they are based on research from a variety of sources. Sometimes I'll use my personal experiences with a game to make a determination in whether or not it makes the final cut.
So with that said, I hope you enjoy this entry in my "Top 25" series of videos. There's more to come! Also, let me know in the comments if you had this system or any memories with it. Thank you all!!
#atari #atari7800 #retrogaming #top25 #retro #oldschoolgaming #ataricorporation #atari7800prosystem #retrogames #mspacman #donkeykong #mariobros #oldschoolgames #thebestatarigames #retrogamingcapsule #classicgaming #vintagegaming #top10
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[@LITTLE1994]

That system is underrated, though its biggest flaw is that it reused it original 2600's sound chip. It's audio was already outdated the moment it came out.

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching my video! Yes, by the time they finally released it, the system was outdated. The NES controlling the market share didn't help either. But it is an interesting console nonetheless.

[@MattyIcecubes]

Yeah, Atari never really addressed the sound issues with any of their consoles. Jaguar also had crappy sound compared to graphically weaker consoles it was competing with; but it was still much better than this.

[@PG-gs5vb]

@@MattyIcecubes Jaguar had a DSP. You could hardly get anything better in 1993 (for a reasonable price).

[@provisionalhypothesis]

you guys are all wrong. what was supposed to happen was developers were supposed to put pokey chips in the carts. only a few did (commando, ballblazer) because by 1986, when it was released (2 years late) the writing was already on the wall, games like Metroid were already out for the NES, and into 1987 and 1988 Atari already knew they'd lost and didn't care. Only 50 games even came out for this system. They didn't even make carts with color labels on them during that period. At the time Atari CEO was focused on the 400 and 800 computers and didn't care about video games. nintendo went on to dominate arguably for the next 15 years. compare nintendo and super nindtendo alone, thousands of games. It took me until 1988 to convince my parents to get me an NES, and they finally gave in. By that time, everyone except the poorest kids had nintendo and had it for years.

​@@provisionalhypothesisin practical terms... It was a Mistake not to include the pokey chip in the system

[@rileymcphee9429]

This console was in the same generation as the Master System and NES?? No wonder Atari nearly went bankrupt.

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching! Yes, with the NES alone hogging up all the market share (and rightfully so), the Master System was just icing on the cake. There was no real chance for the 7800. But it's a great console nonetheless.

[@madmax2069]

The only thing that kills the 7800 is its sound, if only more games used the Pokey chip.

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching! You're absolutely correct! If more games had it, I think the 7800 might've competed a bit better. Sadly only Ballblazer and Commndo utilized it.

[@RationalistRebel]

There was a better and cheaper cart-based sound chip planned by the original system developers, but Tramiel axed it in favor of Atari's POKEY. Few publishers wanted to pay for the outdated chip.

[@madmax2069]

@@RationalistRebel yes, I'm full aware of that

[@RationalistRebel]

@@madmax2069 OK... Then why would you wish more companies used POKEY? If you're talking about hypotheticals that would have saved the 7800, I'd go with the chip that studios would want to use.

[@madmax2069]

@@RationalistRebel simply because it would have made games more tolerable to play instead of having to deal with 2600 sounds. Yes, it would have been nice to have the sound that GCC was developing, but that's not what we got in the end, the Pokey chip was unfortunately the only option for better sound for the 7800.

[@TheAtariNetwork]

My list would be pretty different but some good stuff there regardless. Always good to see the 7800 get some love

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for checking out my video! The 7800 is a rather interesting console. Feel free to list your top games.

[@thedefonegamer636]

I never had this system but watching this makes me wanna get one.

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

That's awesome!! It's never too late! Thank you for checking out my video!

[@Lauren_Tyler]

Good selections if I say so myself! It's a shame the Atari 7800 never got the recognition it deserved!

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching! The 7800 had alot of potential. But between management issues and of course the NES dominating the market, not to mention releasing later than expected, it was all but doomed.

[@andremarc1275]

i would put space invaders but good list anyway.... ty

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching my video! I appreciate the feedback as well.

[@provisionalhypothesis]

arcade space invaders yes. 2600 space invaders ? not so much. there wasn't a 7800 version.

[@hhh123837]

Pole position II sounds just like Enduro......Upgraded the graphics, but not the audio....😁😁 I did love the old music on Dig Dug though...It sounded like I was at a circus.

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching my video! The 7800 sound has always been a bit of a hot topic. It's a neat and interesting console despite its flaws though.

[@hhh123837]

@@RetroGamingCapsuleIt interesting how the 2600 is now being reintroduced as the Atari 2600+, yet the 7800 has fallen by the wayside

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

The 2600 has always been reintroduced in one form or another. Keep in mind that it was Atari's only successful console. And before the crash and Nintendo, Atari was king (with the 2600). They figured the 5200 would build upon that legacy, which it didn't. Then they tried it again with the 7800. But it really was a case of too little too late with the NES dominating the gaming landscape at the time of (late) release.

[@hhh123837]

@@RetroGamingCapsule I will always blame the Pac-man and ET games on the 2600 for the downslide of Atari company. I can remember getting those two games for Christmas when I was a kid and saw how low quality they were. I chuckled a little later when I found out I wasn't the only one who felt that way and a little saddened when I found out that millions of copies of both were returned and ended up at the bottom of landfills.

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

@@hhh123837 those games definitely played their respective parts in the eventual demise of the 2600. But really, there were many factors.

[@paleo704]

Loved the 7800

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching! The 7800 definitely has a place in gaming history. Loved by many.

[@aronkaspar6369]

Once the original nes came out the atari was put out in yard sales

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Pretty much...😕 Thank you for watching!

[@rogue9ine]

#26 Desert Falcon

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thanks for watching! #26 Desert Falcon is official now!

[@tkskwsm]

NES Killed The Atari Star...

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

It sure did. Thanks for watching!

[@japangamejunk]

should have been ninja golf 25 times for each ranking

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching! I take it you're a Ninja Golf fan. That's a very creative game! 😊

[@dogeymon83]

Top 25 lol….there’s practically only 25 available

[@billranford5216]

59 games to be exact. A small selection for sure.

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching the video! Yes there's not much to work with.

[@generalshakewell]

Double Dragon should not be on this list.

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching and the feedback!

[@dfloper]

I had a 2600 and a NES as kid. This 7800 is super shit. The sound is awful seems it cannot do more than 1 channel. Graphics seem inferior than the NES as well. But it is all about the sound.

[@RetroGamingCapsule]

Thank you for watching the video! Yea most systems at that time didn't match up to the NES. It had potential though.