Play Gangster Alley Online

You’re a lone sniper picking off gangsters popping in and out of windows—shoot too slow and they blast you first, miss the grenade guy and he laughs as you explode. Every bullet counts, and hitting a hostage stings worse than taking a bullet.

Released: 1982

File size: 3.02 KB

Game Overview

Gangster Alley is one of those Atari 2600 games that makes you feel like a noir detective with terrible odds. You’re sniping Chicago Joe’s gang from across the street while they pop in and out of apartment windows—but if you hesitate too long, they’ll shoot first. And then there’s Nitro Ed, the guy casually tossing grenades from the roof like it’s a hobby. Miss him, and it’s game over with his smug laugh mocking you.

The tension comes from balancing speed and precision. Each gangster’s worth different cash (Shifty’s the big prize at $50), but waste bullets and you’ll run dry. The nighttime level’s especially brutal—you fire just to briefly light up windows, like flicking a lighter in the dark. Accidentally hit a hostage? That’s a $1000 fine, which hurts worse than Lefty’s bullet.

It’s simple but punishing, the kind of game where you’ll mutter “just one more try” as Nitro Ed’s laughter haunts you. Four bulletproof vests don’t last long when Scar Face has perfect aim.