The Atari VCS is an interesting piece of hardware that will likely appeal to older players who remember the company fondly, but a somewhat obtuse menu system and overall lack of exclusive, exciting content make it more of a niche (and expensive) purchase than other available consoles. The retro video game classics on display are just as enjoyable as they have always been (especially with the traditional Atari Joystick) but, apart from providing a concise way to own a preserved form of those original 2600 and Atari Arcade titles, the Atari VCS doesn't offer much that isn't available elsewhere.
The Atari VCS isn't just a gaming console, it also functions as a mini PC and streaming device. Netflix, Hulu, and other services are all readily available, and players can even utilize the VCS to play games through services like Google Stadia and Amazon Luna. In PC Mode, the Atari VCS allows players to access their existing game libraries, use emulators, and can even run different kinds of PC operating systems like Windows and Ubuntu. The console itself comes with an AMD Ryzen R1606G processor and includes an open M.2 SSD socket for users who want to increase the Atari VCS' internal storage and memory.
Two controllers come with the Atari VCS - a classic joystick which is perfect for retro games like Pong, and a more modern, traditional controller with dual joysticks, a D-pad, four face buttons, and two triggers on each side. The controllers feel slightly lighter than they should but are functionally strong and continue to work well even after being dropped multiple times. USB and Bluetooth devices like keyboards, mice, and other accessories can also be connected to the Atari VCS, which helps make navigating the platform in PC mode much easier. Unfortunately, actually using the system and navigating the menus with the controller - specifically when using the Atari VCS as a games console - feels far slower than it should, and the VCS' internal fan noise can be a bit distracting.
Atari VCS Price
For this review Screen Rant was provided with the Atari VCS Black Walnut All-In model which includes the Atari VCS system itself, controller, Classic Atari Joystick, free access to the Atari VCS Vault (games listed below), and even more retro games via the pre-installed Antstream Arcade. The system retails at $399.99 (the same price as a PS5 Digital Edition or $100 less than an Xbox Series X) and can be purchased online though Atari's website, Best Buy, GameStop, and Amazon. There is also an Onyx variant of the Atari VCS which, unlike the retro-looking Walnut, is completely black, does not include a Classic Joystick or a controller, and costs $299.99 (the price of an Xbox Series S).
Every Game In The Atari VCS Vault
The following games are available to play through the Atari VCS Vault, and contain both Atari 2600 and Atari Arcade titles.
- 3D Tic Tac Toe - 2600
- Adventure - 2600
- Air Sea Battle - 2600
- Asteroids - 2600
- Asteroids - Arcade
- Asteroids Deluxe - Arcade
- Backgammon - 2600
- Basic Math - 2600
- Basketball - 2600
- Black Widow - Arcade
- Blackjack - 2600
- Bowling - 2600
- Brain Games - 2600
- Breakout - 2600
- Canyon Bomber - 2600
- Casino - 2600
- Centipede - 2600
- Centipede - Arcade
- Championship Soccer -2600
- Checkers - 2600
- Chess - 2600
- Circus Atari - 2600
- Code Breaker - 2600
- Combat - 2600
- Combat 2 - 2600
- Concentration - 2600
- Crystal Castles - 2600
- Crystal Castles – Arcade
- Demons to Diamonds -2600
- Desert Falcon - 2600
- Dodge-Em 2600
- Double Dunk - 2600
- Fatal Run - 2600
- Flag capture - 2600
- Football - 2600
- Golf - 2600
- Gravitar - 2600
- Gravitar - Arcade
- Hangman - 2600
- Haunted House - 2600
- Homerun - 2600
- Human Cannonball - 2600
- Liberator - Arcade
- Lunar Lander - Arcade
- Major Havoc - Arcade
- Maze Craze - 2600
- Millipede - 2600
- Millipede - Arcade
- Miniature Golf - 2600
- Missile Command - 2600
- Missile Command -Arcade
- Night Driver - 2600
- Off the Wall - 2600
- Outlaw - 2600
- Pong - Arcade
- Quadrun - 2600
- Race - 2600
- Radar Lock – 2600
- RealSports Baseball -2600
- RealSports Basketball -2600
- RealSports Boxing - 2600
- RealSports Football - 2600
- RealSports Soccer - 2600
- RealSports Tennis - 2600
- RealSports Volleyball -2600
- Red Baron - Arcade
- Save Mary - 2600
- Secret Quest - 2600
- Sentinel - 2600
- Sky Diver - 2600
- Slot Machine - 2600
- Slot Racers - 2600
- Sword Quest Fireworld -2600
- Space Duel - Arcade
- Space War - 2600
- Sprint - Arcade
- Sprint Master - 2600
- Star Raiders - 2600
- Starship - 2600
- Steeplechase - 2600
- Stellar Track - 2600
- Street Racer - 2600
- Stunt Cycle - 2600
- Sub Commander - 2600
- Super Baseball - 2600
- Super Breakout - Arcade
- Super Breakout -2600
- Super Football - 2600
- Surround - 2600
- Sword Quest Earthworld - 2600
- Sword Quest Waterworld - 2600
- Tempest - 2600
- Tempest - Arcade
- Video Cube - 2600
- Video Olympics - 2600
- Video Pinball - 2600
- Warlords - 2600
- Warlords - Arcade
- Yars Revenge - 2600
Should You Buy The Atari VCS?
For players who enjoy returning to old titles time and time again, the Atari VCS is a viable but expensive option that can possibly become an all-in-one device for retro gaming. The PC Mode allows for a large amount of customization and emulation, which provides even more opportunities to revisit classic titles, and the inclusion of a traditional Classic Joystick is a fun (if somewhat novel) way to both remind and let players interact with games in the way they were originally designed.
People who already have a gaming PC, however, will find little worth spending $400 on unless they are specifically enamored with Atari products and don't mind a somewhat clunky menu system. The inclusion of 4K gaming seems extremely unnecessary considering the graphical fidelity of the majority of games on display, and there isn't much that that the Atari VCS does that can't be accomplished more easily elsewhere. Playing Pong with a joystick on a home television in 2022 is extremely enjoyable, but it doesn't feel worth the price of admission.
The Atari VCS is available to buy now. A console was provided by Atari for the purposes of this review.