Play Fathom Online

You swim as a slippery dolphin dodging sharks, then switch to a bird dodging jerk birds in clouds—all to find trident pieces before your energy runs out. That seaweed maze will wreck you.

Released: 1983

File size: 5.74 KB

Game Overview

Fathom on the Atari 2600 is one of those weird, charming games that sticks with you. You play as Neptune’s daughter, Neptina, who’s trapped at the bottom of the sea—so naturally, you turn into a dolphin and a bird to find pieces of a magic trident and free her. Sounds wild, right?

Swimming as the dolphin feels slippery in that classic Atari way, dodging sharks and octopuses while hunting for seahorses that reveal trident fragments. Then you switch to the bird, weaving through clouds (some hiding pieces, others just hiding jerk birds that drain your energy). The seaweed maze is brutal—one wrong turn and you’re toast.

It’s short but surprisingly tense, especially when you’re down to your last bit of energy and still missing one piece. The whole thing has this dreamlike, slightly janky vibe that makes it weirdly memorable. Just don’t blame me if you get stuck in the seaweed for the tenth time.