Air Raiders is a first-person aerial combat video game developed by M-Network (a division of Mattel) and released for the Atari 2600 in 1982. It is one of the few flight-themed games on the platform to offer a cockpit-style perspective, placing the player in the role of a jet pilot defending airspace against waves of enemy aircraft.
Air Raiders (Atari 2600)
The game aimed to simulate the feel of modern jet combat within the technical constraints of the system.
Gameplay is presented entirely from a first-person viewpoint, with the player aiming a central crosshair to shoot down oncoming enemy planes while flying through a simplistic, pseudo-3D sky. The top of the screen displays a status showing critical information such as remaining fuel, altitude, and available missiles. Players must time their shots carefully and manage limited resources while dodging incoming fire. Occasionally, a runway appears, allowing for landing and refueling — a rare mechanic on the Atari 2600 that adds a light simulation element.
Upon release, Air Raiders received generally positive . Publications like Computer Entertainer noted the game's ambitious presentation, especially its immersive perspective and dynamic enemy behavior. Critics appreciated its tight controls and relatively fast-paced action. While some noted the limited variety and repetitive visuals, these were typical limitations of the hardware.
Today, Air Raiders is ed as an early attempt to bring immersive air combat to home consoles. Although simplistic by modern standards, its use of a cockpit view and basic flight mechanics made it stand out among other shooters of its time. It continues to be recognized for pushing the limits of the Atari 2600 and is considered a cult favorite among collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts.
More details about this game can be found on Wikipedia.org.
This version of Air Raiders was designed for Atari 2600, which was commercially very successful video game console of second generation produced by Atari from 1977 to 1992. It was the first console that used removable memory modules with games. At the time of its greatest fame, more than 30 million units of this console were sold for about $ 200 a piece. To date, the game library for this console contains nearly 1,000 original games. More information about the Atari 2600 can be found here.
World Record:
The current world record for this version of Air Raiders is held by Steve Germershausen from Canada, achieved on 10/20/2009 with a result of 122 points (as recorded on TwinGalaxies.com). However, for a result to be recognized as an official world record, it must be achieved on the original console without the use of emulators, and must be verified either by a video recording or in the presence of an official referee. So even if you break the record while playing here on our website, it unfortunately won’t be officially accepted. Still, we’d love it if you shared your performance with others in the discussion below – it counts too!
Recommended Game Controllers:
You can control this game easily by using the keyboard of your PC (see the table next to the game). However, for maximum gaming enjoyment, we strongly recommend using a USB joystick that you simply plug into the USB port of your computer. If you do not have a joystick, buy a suitable USB controller on Amazon or AliExpress or in some of your favorite online stores.
Available online emulators:
5 different online emulators are available for Air Raiders. These emulators differ not only in the technology they use to emulate old games, but also in of various game controllers, multiplayer mode, mobile phone touchscreen, emulation speed, absence or presence of embedded ads and in many other parameters. For maximum gaming enjoyment, it's important to choose the right emulator, because on each PC and in different Internet browsers, the individual emulators behave differently. The basic features of each emulator available for this game Air Raiders are summarized in the following table:
If you like Air Raiders you'll probably like also some of the similar games in the overview below. The games you see here are selected based on title similarity, game genre, and keywords. However, the list is generated automatically and can therefore be very 'subjective' especially for some specific games. To find a particular game, please use our search form.
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This version of Air Raiders was designed for Atari 2600, which was commercially very successful video game console of second generation produced by Atari from 1977 to 1992. It was the first console that used removable memory modules with games. At the time of its greatest fame, more than 30 million units of this console were sold for about $ 200 a piece. To date, the game library for this console contains nearly 1,000 original games. More information about the Atari 2600 can be found 
