Atari Missile Command is a classic 1980 arcade game that defined the horde survival genre. In this browser-based HTML5 version, you control three anti-missile batteries to defend your six cities from a relentless aerial assault. Using your mouse to aim and fire, your objective is to survive as long as possible against increasingly intense waves of enemy fire.
In Atari Missile Command, your score is based on both your offensive and defensive performance. You earn points for every enemy projectile you successfully destroy. The point values vary depending on the type of enemy-ballistic missiles, smart bombs, and bombers are all worth different amounts.
At the end of each wave, you receive a significant bonus. You'll get 100 points for each of your six cities that remain standing. You also receive 5 points for every unused anti-missile shot left in your batteries, rewarding efficient and precise play.
The primary threat comes from ballistic missiles, which fall from the sky in straight lines at varying speeds. You'll also face smart bombs, which are trickier enemies that can change direction to evade your interceptor shots. Be on the lookout for bomber planes that fly horizontally across the screen, dropping multiple missiles as they pass.
Later waves introduce MIRVs (Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicles). These look like a single missile at first but will split into multiple warheads, creating a shower of projectiles that can quickly overwhelm your defenses if you're not prepared.
As you progress in Atari Missile Command, the game's difficulty ramps up considerably. The speed and number of incoming missiles increase with each wave, demanding faster reflexes and better strategy. It becomes crucial to prioritize which threats to engage first-always target the ones that are a direct danger to your cities.
A key to survival is conserving your limited ammunition. Don't waste shots on missiles that are going to miss your cities anyway. Instead, try to use the blast radius of a single one of your explosions to take out multiple enemy projectiles clustered together.
You can play this classic version of Atari Missile Command for free directly in your web browser. There's no download or installation required, making it easy to start playing instantly. Because it's an HTML5 game, it runs on most modern devices and isn't blocked by school or work networks that restrict access to downloadable files.
The goal in Atari Missile Command is to protect your six cities, located at the bottom of the screen, from an endless barrage of enemy missiles. Your game ends when all six cities have been destroyed. The objective is to survive as long as possible and achieve the highest score. Use your mouse to move the targeting crosshair around the screen. Left click to launch an anti-missile rocket from whichever of your three batteries is closest to the cursor. Your rocket will travel to the crosshair's location and detonate. Each wave presents a new attack. The waves become progressively faster and more crowded with enemy fire. Your three missile batteries have a limited amount of ammunition for each wave, so you must use your shots wisely. The explosions from your rockets have a blast radius that lingers for a moment. You can use this to your advantage by timing a single shot to destroy multiple incoming missiles that are close together, which is essential for conserving ammo in later stages.
Lead Your Targets - Aim ahead of the incoming missiles, not directly at them. Your shots take time to travel, so you need to predict where the enemy will be. Use the Blast Radius - A single, well-placed explosion can destroy a whole cluster of enemy missiles. This is the most efficient way to use your limited ammo. Prioritize Threats - Focus on destroying missiles that are on a direct collision course with your cities. Ignore any that will land harmlessly in the empty spaces. Don't Defend Your Batteries - Your missile batteries are expendable, but your cities are not. It's better to lose a battery than to let a missile slip past and destroy a city. Anticipate Smart Bombs - Smart bombs will try to evade your shots. Aim where you think they will move to, not where they currently are. Score for Bonuses - You earn a bonus city every 10,000 points. Playing for score is just as important as playing for survival.
