Play Atari's Greatest Hits - Volume 1 Online

Atari's Greatest Hits - Volume 1 came out for the Nintendo DS in 2010, published by Atari, Inc. It was a solid collection of classic arcade games, a nice fit for the handheld's dual screens and touch controls. This was a time when digital re-releases of older titles were becoming more common, and having these games in your pocket felt like a small luxury.

You control various ships, paddles, or characters depending on the game, like maneuvering a triangular ship in Asteroids or defending cities with missile bases in Missile Command. The main objective is almost always to survive as long as possible and rack up a high score. Signature mechanics include breaking apart descending centipedes in Centipede and deflecting a ball past your opponent in Pong. The pacing is fast and unforgiving, with difficulty that ramps up quickly. It feels like a direct, no-frills connection to a simpler era of gaming.