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WarGames

ColecoVision

ColecoVision

Greetings, Professor Falken. Shall we play a game? This strategic game is based on the popular 1983 movie of the same name, starring Matthew Broderick. It might remind people of Missile Command but the action is slower and spread over six screens which represent different areas of the U.S.A. E...

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Developer
Coleco Industries

Released on
1984

Size
1 Player

Version
ColecoVision

Requirements
ColecoVision

Downloads
Strategy

Publisher
CBS Electronics

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Greetings, Professor Falken. Shall we play a game?

This strategic game is based on the popular 1983 movie of the same name, starring Matthew Broderick. It might remind people of Missile Command but the action is slower and spread over six screens which represent different areas of the U.S.A. Enemy missiles, planes, and subs will attack and you must direct your own forces, which include missiles, planes, subs, and satellites, to intercept them. Each type of defense has strengths and weaknesses (missiles are fast but limited in range, planes are slower but have unlimited range). Satellites are a better all-around defense but are only available every so often. Some weapons aren’t available in certain areas, and some enemies are resistant to certain weapons, so you must alter your strategy accordingly.

WarGames

Overview & History

Released in 1984 by Coleco for the ColecoVision console, WarGames translates the Cold War tension of the iconic MGM film into an interactive strategy simulation. Developed during the height of home console fervor, the game puts players in the shoes of NORAD commander David Lightman or General Berringer, tasked with managing escalating global DEFCON threat levels before the WOPR supercomputer launches an irreversible nuclear strike. Unlike typical arcade shooters of its era, Coleco ingeniously crafted a dual-layered experience combining frantic radar-tracking minigames with high-level geopolitical decision-making.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Gameplay unfolds across distinct phases. First, players must intercept rogue Soviet submarines and bombers by manually steering interceptor jets on a strategic grid map, utilizing precise joystick coordination to neutralize incursions before they breach United States airspace. If defenses fail or DEFCON drops too low, the game transitions into the critical climax where players must rapidly type the override code or convince WOPR through logic subroutines that "the only winning move is not to play." The game uniquely tracks real-time DEFCON escalation, forcing players to balance defensive force deployment with diplomatic stabilization. The graphics faithfully capture the green-tinted, vector-style terminal aesthetics of 1980s military mainframes, immersing the player in a tense, claustrophobic command center atmosphere.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move crosshairs, steer interceptors, and navigate menu options
Action Keys: Select targets, launch defense units, and confirm terminal commands
Enter: Start / Pause