Outlaw is a Wild West themed shooting game released by Atari in 1978 for the Atari 2600 console. The title brings the classic gunslinger duel to home televisions, letting two players face off in a pixelated showdown reminiscent of old western films. David Crane programmed the home version, adapting the concept from an earlier Atari arcade cabinet of the same name. The core gameplay places two cowboys on opposite sides of the screen, each armed with a six-shooter, tasked with hitting the opponent before getting hit themselves. Players control movement up and down while aiming and firing across the playfield. What makes Outlaw stand out is its simple yet tense pacing, where quick reflexes and careful timing decide each round. The graphics show two cowboy sprites with clear silhouettes, and the sound effects of gunfire and ricochets add to the western mood. For a 2 KB cartridge, the game packs surprising personality and remains a notable early example of competitive multiplayer action on home hardware.
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Screenshots

0 MB · Atari 2600 ROMs
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Specifications
| Platform | Atari 2600 ROMs |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action |
| File Size | 0 MB |
| Release Year | 1978 |
| Developer | Atari, Inc. |
| Updated | Jun 22, 2026 |
Overview
Outlaw is a Wild West themed shooting game released by Atari in 1978 for the Atari 2600 console. The title brings the classic gunslinger duel to home televisions, letting two players face off in a pixelated showdown reminiscent of old western films. David Crane programmed the home version, adapting the concept from an earlier Atari arcade cabinet of the same name. The core gameplay places two cowboys on opposite sides of the screen, each armed with a six-shooter, tasked with hitting the opponent before getting hit themselves. Players control movement up and down while aiming and firing across the playfield. What makes Outlaw stand out is its simple yet tense pacing, where quick reflexes and careful timing decide each round. The graphics show two cowboy sprites with clear silhouettes, and the sound effects of gunfire and ricochets add to the western mood. For a 2 KB cartridge, the game packs surprising personality and remains a notable early example of competitive multiplayer action on home hardware.
The game ships with nine different play modes that change how each duel unfolds. Some variations place a cactus or a stagecoach in the middle of the screen as cover, forcing players to time their shots between the obstacle's movement. Other modes let bullets ricochet off the top and bottom walls, opening up trick shots and bank angles for clever players. A single-player option pits one cowboy against a stationary target for practice, though the heart of the experience is the head-to-head dueling between two friends sharing a couch. Each match runs to a set score, and the first cowboy to land the required number of hits wins the showdown. The controls stay tight and responsive thanks to the joystick layout, with the fire button handling shots and the stick managing movement and aim. Outlaw captures the spirit of frontier showdowns in a compact package, and its quick rounds and varied rule sets make it a memorable cartridge from the early Atari 2600 library.