Play Atari 2600 Video Games Online

Back to main list of All our 2600 Games

The Atari 2600 was first released in North America in September 1977 and featured 9 launch titles: Air-Sea BattleBasic MathBlackjackCombatIndy 500Star ShipStreet RacerSurround and Video Olympics. The final licensed Atari 2600 game released in North America was Secret Quest in 1989, and the final licensed game released in Europe was Klax and Acid Drop in 1990 and 1992. Even with their 1980s limited colors and block graphics these games are still entertaining to play today! We have over 500 Atari 2600 games for you to play online for free using our Atari 2600 Javascript Emulator.

This game is mobile device friendly and Iphone compatible. Enjoy!

Instructions and Keyboard Controls towards bottom of page.
Click “Game Reset” or F12 to Start Game

River Patrol

INSTRUCTIONS:
If you grew up in the 80’s you shouldn’t need instructions!! You might find some help at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atari_2600_games and look up the game you need assistance playing.

CONTROLS:
Click “Game Reset” or F12 to Begin/Restart Game
Arrow Keys – Move
Space bar to fire/action button


TRANSCRIBED ORIGINAL ATARI GAME MANUAL AND INSTRUCTIONS
TigerVision
Instructions
Atari 2600 VCS

RIVER PATROL


INTRODUCTION:
You are captain of the boat trying to make it upriver while saving
the drowning people lost in one of the nine rivers. The more
people you save the more points you score, but your boat leaks
so watch your water gauge. 

GAME SELECTION:
First insert the cartridge into the game console. Turn the game
console to the "On" position. Push the reset switch to start a new
game. After each game is over, the high score will be displayed
until a new game is started.

GAME PLAY:
Control the movement of the River Patrol Boat up the river. Press
the "fire" button to accelerate. Carefully maneuver the boat to
save the people. Steer away from the obstacles that can sink your boat. 


GAME FEATURES:

Rivers
There are 9 different rivers to navigate. After completion of the ninth
river, the next cycle will start at 7th river and finish at 9th river
until the end of the game.

Goal Gauge (the Green Bar)
This gauge indicates how close you are to the dam (end of course).

Water Gauge (the Violet Bar)
This gauge indicates how much more water your boat can take on
before it sinks. It will move according to how much water you have
taken on. Its speed depends on how many rivers you have completed.
If this gauge goes to zero, your boat sinks.

Whirlpool and Alligator
Water will flood into your boat faster when it hits an alligator
or caught in a whirlpool. When your boat is caught in a whirlpool,
escape by pushing the engine button when the boat points up river.

Drift Wood, Rocks, Shore, Another Boat and TNT
When your boat hits these objects, it will sink.

Drowning People 
When a drowning person is saved, bonus points will be scored.

Chances 
You get 4 leaky river patrol boats. After all of the four boats
have sunk, your game will be over.

SCORING:

There are 3 ways to score.
1. When your boat passes a certain mileage in the course,
   10 points will be awarded.
2. A bonus is awarded when you reach the dam. The final state of
   the water gauge determines the size of this bonus.
3. For each drowning person your boat successfully saves. You are
   awarded an increasing bonus. The bonus Starts at 50 points and
   increases by 50 points for the next person, i.e. 50, 100, 150,
   200 etc. If you fail to save a person, the bonus is reset to 50 points. 


TIGERVISION
909 Orchard, Mundelein, IL 60060
(C) 1984 Tiger Electronics, Inc.
Atari and VCS are trademarks of Atari, Inc.
River Patrol is a trademark of Orca, Inc.

 

REQUIRMENTS:
Our Atari 2600 emulator utilizes Javascript to run in your browser. No plugin is required, but a fast modern web browser will enhance the game play.

image 4
SAMPLE IPHONE GAMEPLAY SCREENSHOT

Emulation on mobile devices will drain your battery quite fast. I recommend playing while device is plugged into charger.


KEYBOARD CONTROLS

controls
help

RiverPatrol Arcade Game Emulated on the Atari 2600. Play RiverPatrol in your web browser or mobile phone. This Atari 2600 console emulator provides very accurate RiverPatrol gameplay. RiverPatrol is a classic 1980s Atari 2600 video game.