Zapper: One Wicked Cricket (2024) [Best games by Atari]

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Food Fight: Culinary Combat (2024)

"Food Fight: Culinary Combat (2024)" re-imagines the iconic Atari title as a vibrant third-person shooter, bringing back Charley Chuck for an expanded adventure. Players dive into the expansive Atariverse, a lively hub world where they can encounter creators of the original game, mingle with classic Atari characters from beloved titles like Centipede and Yars’ Revenge, and even explore a museum of Atari artifacts. Beyond the historical homage, the game offers a rich array of activities, from practicing skills at a shooting range to grabbing a slice at Antonio's, all while preparing for the main event: chaotic culinary combat across multiple game modes like the all-out Buffet Brawl and the dynamic Crumbling mode. This modern take truly excels with its messy multiplayer mayhem, supporting online play and local split-screen for up to four players, ensuring endless food-flinging fun. With 145 customization items, players can personalize their character's look, and engage in four distinct game modes across six maps, wielding a baker’s dozen of unique weapons from the close-range Tomato Shot to the devastating Watermelon Nuke. Unlocking fully playable classic Atari arcades via circuit boards adds a delightful layer of retro discovery. "Culinary Combat" secures its place among Atari's best by brilliantly updating a beloved IP with deep gameplay, expansive content, and a loving tribute to its heritage, offering both nostalgic appeal and fresh, competitive action that pushes the boundaries of its predecessor.

Castles & Catapults earns its place among Atari's greatest hits by brilliantly capturing the spirit of their arcade classics for a modern era. Echoing the castle-defense fun of the legendary *Warlords*, this 2021 title evolves the concept with deep strategic layers, proving that the core tenets of addictive, action-oriented gameplay that put Atari on the map are timeless. It represents a masterful blend of nostalgic design philosophy and contemporary game mechanics, creating an experience that feels both familiar to long-time fans and fresh for newcomers, solidifying its status as a modern Atari essential. The gameplay cleverly merges the thoughtful, turn-based planning of a board game with the thrill of real-time combat. Each 'day' is split into three distinct phases: players first spend resources to fortify their castle or expand their army, then amass their forces, and finally unleash them in an explosive, action-packed battle. From meticulously constructing your fortress and storming enemy walls to demolishing entire armies and even battling fearsome dragons, the game is packed with medieval warfare. While its multiplayer functionality is no longer supported, the robust single-player campaign offers a deep and rewarding strategic challenge.

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Lightspeed (2024)

As the only human aboard a huge, robotic spaceship, your mission is to find a new planet for humanity. *Lightspeed* masterfully blends this compelling premise with a 3D combat flight simulation that was unlike anything seen at the time of its release. While other games focused on terrain, *Lightspeed* devoted its graphical power to rendering colossal starships, like your own 15,000-foot-long vessel, in breathtaking detail. This focus allowed for unprecedented smoothness in its strategic battles, where you not only pilot your main ship but also customize its performance and control remote fightercraft against intelligent enemies, proving that combat in the black void of space could be a deeply tactical experience. The game earns its place among Atari's best through its fascinating role-playing depth, which elevates it far beyond a simple flight simulator. Success requires more than just flying skills; resourcefulness, charm, and political savvy are essential for negotiating with the 25 bizarre alien species who correctly see you as the alien. From the sinister, manipulative Broodsmasters to the self-absorbed Cicisbeo, each interaction within the game's multiple star clusters presents a unique challenge. This ambitious combination of deep strategic combat, vast exploration, and complex diplomatic role-playing created a landmark title whose preservation by Atari ensures a new generation can experience its pioneering spirit.

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