Play Bugs Online

Game Overview

Bugs for the Atari 2600 is one of those weird little games that somehow gets under your skin. You land on this abandoned planet—supposedly lifeless—only to find giant bugs erupting from the ground like some kind of alien nightmare. And then there’s the Phylanx, this ominous green thing that turns red and starts hunting you down.

You’ve got to be quick—line up your crosshair under the bugs before they fully emerge, or you’re toast. The Phylanx? That’s the real wildcard. It starts off harmless, but once it turns red, it zips across the screen, and if it touches your cursor, game over. Two-player mode just means taking turns watching each other panic.

There’s a weird satisfaction in nailing a bug just as it pops up, and the Phylanx is worth more points, but good luck hitting it when it’s moving. The difficulty switches actually matter here—beginner mode gives you a fighting chance, while advanced feels like the bugs are out for blood. Every 30 points bumps you up a level, and things only get faster from there.

It’s simple, tense, and strangely addictive for something that’s basically just shooting pixelated bugs.