Akka Arrh (2023)

Akka Arrh throws players into a vibrant, chaotic cascade of words, color, shapes, and sound, challenging them to fight off swarms of attackers from their turret. The gameplay demands quick reflexes, requiring players to zoom into close-range combat and shift perspectives in the blink of an eye if enemies breach the perimeter. This modern wave shooter is pure arcade bliss, focusing on creating massive chains of enemy explosions, racking up ammo for precision shots, and protecting your rings – or life force – across 50 unique levels, all while chasing high scores and survival. The experience unmistakably drips with Jeff Minter’s signature sense of humor, love of psychedelic color, and unparalleled ability to create insanely addictive games that are a joy to play. This title rightfully earns its place among the best games by Atari due to its unique origin and brilliant modern execution. It resurrects an incredibly rare Atari arcade prototype, a game so obscure it was largely lost to time, and breathes new life into it through the distinctive creative vision of Llamasoft. By taking an innovative but unreleased Atari concept and developing it into a full-fledged, engaging experience, Akka Arrh celebrates and expands upon Atari's pioneering spirit. It exemplifies how classic arcade intrigue, when combined with contemporary design flair and accessibility options, can create a fresh, compelling, and ultimately essential entry in Atari’s revered catalog, honoring the past while pushing the boundaries of what an arcade revival can be.