Summer Games

Summer Games brought to the Atari 7800 a concept that literally defined the sports-compilation genre in the mid-1980s – a series of Olympic events that the player masters by alternating rapid sequences of button-mashing and joystick timing. Events on offer include the 100-meter dash, pole vault, rings gymnastics, diving, and rowing, with each event testing a different combination of rhythm, reaction, and patience. The game supports multiple players who take turns and compare results, making it an ideal choice for parties and family competitions alike. Between events, the game also shows the running standings, so players have a clear overview throughout the tournament of who's in the lead and where they have room to improve.

On the 7800, Summer Games received solid audiovisual production befitting the console's capabilities – colorful stadium backdrops, smooth athlete animation, and a triumphant fanfare accompanying winners on the podium gave the game the festive atmosphere of a real Olympics. The controls are simple to grasp, but mastering ideal timing in events like the long jump or figure skating takes practice, so the game also offers some depth for repeated play. Transitions between events are accompanied by brief animations of flag bearers and an opening ceremony, giving the whole tournament the feel of a genuine sporting event rather than just a series of separate minigames.

The original Summer Games by Epyx became a commercial and critical hit on home computers in the mid-1980s and kicked off a long line of sequels and imitators. The 7800 version arrived somewhat later but preserved the core gameplay, which makes the game function as an entertaining time capsule of 1980s Olympic spirit – ideal for quick competitions among friends even today. It also remains a reminder of an era when sports games didn't yet need licensed athletes or realistic physics to keep players entertained for an entire afternoon.

Why play it: For quick competitions among friends even today, it functions as an entertaining time capsule of 1980s Olympic spirit, from a time when sports games didn't need licensed athletes or realistic physics.