Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back is a side-scrolling shooter released by Parker Brothers in 1982 for the Atari 2600. The game pulls its setting straight from the famous Battle of Hoth sequence in the second Star Wars film. Players take control of a Rebel snowspeeder and must defend the icy planet from a relentless wave of Imperial AT-AT walkers marching toward the Rebel base. The concept is simple on the surface, yet the execution gave it a strong reputation as one of the more polished action titles on the console. Each AT-AT can absorb 48 hits before falling, which forces players to keep firing under pressure while dodging incoming laser blasts. The walkers also flash a vulnerable spot at random moments, and a single shot to this spot brings them down instantly. This risk and reward design made the game stand out from the many simple shooters of the early 1980s home console market.
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 | 1982 |
| Developer | Parker Brothers |
| Updated | Jun 22, 2026 |
Overview
Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back is a side-scrolling shooter released by Parker Brothers in 1982 for the Atari 2600. The game pulls its setting straight from the famous Battle of Hoth sequence in the second Star Wars film. Players take control of a Rebel snowspeeder and must defend the icy planet from a relentless wave of Imperial AT-AT walkers marching toward the Rebel base. The concept is simple on the surface, yet the execution gave it a strong reputation as one of the more polished action titles on the console. Each AT-AT can absorb 48 hits before falling, which forces players to keep firing under pressure while dodging incoming laser blasts. The walkers also flash a vulnerable spot at random moments, and a single shot to this spot brings them down instantly. This risk and reward design made the game stand out from the many simple shooters of the early 1980s home console market.
The game features a single-player mode with progressive difficulty as more AT-ATs appear and move faster across the snowy landscape. There is no multiplayer option, which was common for Atari 2600 cartridges of this era. Players control the snowspeeder with the joystick, firing the cannon at the marching walkers while watching their shield strength drop with every hit taken. When the shield fails, the speeder explodes, but a fresh craft appears so the fight can continue. The action plays out across a single horizontally scrolling battlefield, with the Rebel generator visible in the distance as the goal the player must protect. Sound effects mimic the film, including the iconic laser blasts and walker footsteps. Bright colors and clear sprite work give the title a sharp look for its time. Overall, Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back stands as a memorable licensed action game that captured the spirit of its source material within the limits of the Atari 2600 hardware.