Atari Homebrew Awards Nominees and Winners
This report catalogues Atari 2600 homebrews that were awarded national recognition between 2004 and 2024.
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Introduction
This report catalogues the winners of the annual Atari Homebrew Awards, sponsored by Atari SA, AtariAge, and ZeroPage Homebrews. It’s part of the Top 500 Atari 2600 Homebrews series at Retro, the first edition of which can be found here.
This data has been streamlined to acknowledge the fact that the categories used for the Atari Homebrew Awards have changed over time. Some categories that appeared only in 2018, for instance, have been excised, even as the benefit of hindsight has been used to treat certain other categories that evolved over time—for instance, categories for original and non-original homebrews 4K and under—as what they in time revealed themselves to be: another way to acknowledge the best homebrews of any variety.
To this end, there has been some conjoining of categories, which may cause readers in a few (not many) instances to observe more nominees in a categories than might be expected, or even one or two additional top-three finishers than seems to make sense.
In no instance, however, was a homebrew that won in a given category in a given year removed from that status; at most, the category title may have been shifted slightly to acknowledge, if anachronistically, realizations the Awards came to on best practices.
Retro does not want to here reinstantiate any biases or implicit confusion(s) that may have, quite understandably, crept into the earliest Atari Homebrew Awards—which were held during a time when discussions over use of Batari Basic were still heated—so any categories that distinguished between “bB” and other games have been elided.
{Note: The Atari Homebrew Awards are sponsored by ZeroPage Homebrews and AtariAge, and now—indirectly—by Atari SA, ever since its purchase of the latter publisher and forum.}
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Overall (Original)
2023
🥇 | Penult, Garrison (^)
🥈 | Game of the Bear: 2 Much to Bear, Zúñiga (^)
🥉 | Tober’s Nightmare, Crocker (^)
🔰 | Berry Fun!, Littau (^)
🔰 | Dark Keep, Smith (^)
🔰 | Kovi Kovi, Johannes (^)
🔰 | Strike Zone Bowling, Smith (^)
2022
🥇 | Oozy the Goo: Slime Quest, Zúñiga (^)
🥈 | Orbital War, Camara (^)
🥉 | Razor’s Edge, Santiago (^)
🔰 | Fallpit: The Maya Cave, Cisano (^)
🔰 | Grizzards, Pocock (^)
🔰 | Space Chaos, Engelhardt (^)
2021
🥇 | Game of the Bear, Zúñiga (^)
🥈 | Zarkstars, Camara (^)
🥉 | Slide Boy in Maze Land, Zúñiga (^)
🔰 | Electro Ball, Littau (^)
🔰 | Escape From the Castle, Vilarinho (^)
🔰 | Mr. Yo-Yo, Marli (^)
2019*
🔰 | A Roach in Space, Zúñiga (^)
🔰 | Bass Fishing Tournament, Quinlan (^)
🔰 | Bitquest II, Shea (^)
🔰 | Caverns, Thijssen (^)
🔰 | Dare Devil, Hill (^)
🔰 | Dog Walk, Vojta (^)
🔰 | Dragon’s Descent, Furmanski (^)
🔰 | Evil Magician Returns II, Holcomb (^)
🔰 | Heist, Marsh (^)
🔰 | Hugohunt, Angelsoft (^)
🔰 | Space Game 2K, Garrison (^)
🔰 | Spies in the Night 2, West (^)
🔰 | The End, Carlos (^)
*None of the original Atari 2600 homebrews earned a top-three finish in the 2019 Atari Homebrew Awards, a regrettable outcome that appears to have led to major changes in the structure of the award categories going forward.
2018
🥇 | Space Game, Garrison (^)
🥈 | Sword of Surtr, Stermer (^)
🥉 | Dungeon II: Solstice, Weavil (^)
🥉 | Tyre Trax, Hill (^)
🔰 | Apollyon, Zoltan (^)
🔰 | Birds & Beans, Bluswimmer (^)
🔰 | The Gizzle Wap and the Terrible Blizzard of Firn, Smith (^)
🔰 | Monkey King, Pietrow (^)
🔰 | Plague, Zoltan (^)
🔰 | Refraction, Landsteiner (^)
🔰 | Sheep It Up, Ludos (^)
🔰 | Stardust, Shea (^)
🔰 | Stripes of Terror, Paski Grozy (^)
🔰 | Sword of Surtr, Stermer (^)
🔰 | Tyre Trax, Hill (^)
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Overall (Conversions, Demakes, Ports, and Remakes)
2023
🥇 | Elevator Agent, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Turbo Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Lucky Chase, Centeno (^)
🥉 | Xanthiom, Mathan Games (^)
🔰 | Happybird, Steux (^)
🔰 | Myst, Weaver (^)
2022
🥇 | Lode Runner, Olsthoorn (^)
🥈 | Gorf Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Ruby*Q, Mogno (^)
🔰 | Qyx, Champ Games (^)
🔰 | Stratovox, Centeno (^)
🔰 | Word Guess, Blackman (^)
2021
🥇 | RobotWar 2684, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Lady Bug Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Squareraid, Larson (^)
🔰 | Awakening, Siddall (^)
2019
🥇 | Galagon, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Aardvark, Gutierrez (^)
🥉 | Wizard of Wor Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🔰 | Amoeba Jump, Olsthoorn (^)
2018
🥇 | Mappy, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Balloon Trip, Blueswimmer (^)
🥉 | Horizon Shift, Marable (^)
2004
🥇 | Seawolf, Xype (^)
🥈 | Climber 5, Xype (^)
🥈 | FlapPing, Israel (^)
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew 4K and Under (Original)
2023
🥇 | Laserface Island, Your Face (^)
🥈 | Bob and the Alien Fireflies, 8 Bits in the Basement (^)
🥈 | Book of Five Rings, Manning (^)
🔰 | Duelo, Leitão (^)
2022
🥇 | Raptor, Pauley (^)
🥈 | Spiders & Flies, Game Select (^) (2)
🥉 | Vroom!, Jentzsch (^)
🔰 | Legendary Spear, Christianson (^)
🔰 | Pinfinger, Kelley (^)
🔰 | ZeroPage Homebrew: The Game, Camara (^)
2021
🥇 | K-Jo Chases the Cheese, Santiago (^)
🥈 | Hellway, Bokel (^)
🥉 | Alien Exterminator, Nintenjo (^)
🔰 | Chaser, Garrison (^)
🔰 | Legendary Spear, Christianson (^)
🔰 | Star A.D., Xan (^)
2019*
🥇 | Space Game 2K, Garrison (^)
🥈 | Caverns, Thijssen (^)
🥉 | Dog Walk, Vojta (^)
🥉 | Hugohunt, Angelsoft (^)
🔰 | Do Re Mi, Zuniga (^)
🔰 | Ms. Galactopus, Pryor (^)
🔰 | Water Diver, Zdan (^)
*A homebrew port won the other top-three finish in this year’s edition of Best Atari 2600 Homebrew 4K and Under. Hugohunt and Dog Walk are presumed to occupy the third-place position in this category because they alone of the remaining nominees—the five that did not come in first or second—were nominated for Best Homebrew in 2019.
2018
{No award given.}
2004
{No award given.}
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew 4K and Under (Conversions, Demakes, Ports, and Remakes)
2023*
🥇 | Bot & Tom, Jentzsch (^)
🥈 | Armor Ambush Reloaded, Steux (^)
*Original homebrews won the other top-three finishes in this year’s edition of Best Atari 2600 Homebrew 4K and Under.
2022
🥇 | Invaders From Andromeda, Cisano (^)
🥈 | Einväder, Cooper (^) (1)
🥉 | Apple Slayer, Atariando Class (^)
🔰 | It’s Conner Time, Ecernosoft (^)
2021
🥇 | Soul of the Beast, Christophersson (^)
🥈 | Dodge It, Xan (^)
🥉 | Pong, Xan (^)
2019
🥇 | Amoeba Jump, Olsthoorn (^)
🥈 | Arcade Pong, Galloway (^)
🥉 | Death Race, Salzman (^)
2018
{No award given.}
2004
{No award given.}
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Work-in-Progress (Original)
2023
🥇 | Button, Carlsson (^)
🥈 | Oh No! More Peril, Zúñiga (^)
🥉 | Frazzled, Marli (^)
🔰 | Laserface Planet, Your Face (^)
🔰 | Minigun Miner, Ludos (^)
🔰 | Steps, Christianson (^)
2022
🥇 | Game of the Bear: 2 Much to Bear, Zúñiga (^)
🥈 | Dark Keep, Smith (^)
🥉 | Lord of Biscay, Johannes (^)
🔰 | Lineman!, Kelley (^)
🔰 | Refhraktor, Christianson (^)
🔰 | Pantheon II, Indovina (^)
2021
🥇 | Tober’s Nightmare, Crocker (^)
🥈 | Robot Zed, Spry (^)
🥉 | Cannonica, Zúñiga (^)
🥉 | Vroom!, Jentzsch (^)
🔰 | Cone Ball, Kelley (^)
🔰 | Dragon Defense 2021, Frisbee (^)
🔰 | Immunity, Losh (^)
🔰 | Runes of Moria, Rossum (^)
2019*
🥇 | Ninjish Guy in Low-Res World, Zuñiga (^)
🥈 | Penult, Garrison (^)
🔰 | Bag Boy, Kelley (^)
🔰 | Cannonhead Clash, Bluswimmer (^)
🔰 | Penult, Garrison (^)
🔰 | Robot City, Jentzsch (^)
🔰 | Tower of Rubble, Olsthoorn (^)
*A homebrew port won the other top-three finish in this year’s edition of Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Work-in-Progress.
2018*
🔰 | Blackjack Theta VIII, Gilmour (^)
🔰 | Dragon’s Descent, Furmanski (^)
🔰 | Railslider, Lillapojkenpåön (^)
🔰 | Robo-Ninja Climb, Tolbert
🔰 | RoboMechanik, Kluczek (^)
🔰 | Spies in the Night 2, West (^)
*None of the original works-in-progress were selected for an award in 2018.
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Work-in-Progress (Conversions, Demakes, Ports, and Remakes)
2023
🥇 | ZKeep, Kluczek (^)
🥈 | The Legend of Zelda, MZX (^)
🥉 | Pas de Deux, Jentzsch (^)
🔰 | Beyond Parsec, Grocer Games (^)
🔰 | Minotaur, Montgomery (^)
🔰 | Space Instigators: 20th Anniversary Edition, Tumber (^)
2022
🥇 | Elevator Agent, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Boom!, Walton (^)
🥉 | Bot & Tom 2, Jentzsch (^)
🥉 | Space Taxi, Haber (^)
🔰 | 2600 Words, Garrison (^)
🔰 | Bomb Jack, Sherman (^)
2021
🥇 | Turbo Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Qyx, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Ruby*Q, Mogno (^)
🔰 | 1942, Homer & Stubig (^)
🔰 | Paint the City, Blackman (^)
🔰 | Tomahawk 777, Centeno (^)
2019
🥇 | Zoo Keeper, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Avalanche, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Donkey Kong Arcade, Haas (^)
2018
🥇 | Aardvark, Gutierrez (^)
🥈 | Wizard of Wor Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Pac-Man 8K, Shay (^)
🔰 | Amoeba Jump, Olsthoorn (^)
🔰 | Chaotic Grill, Splendidnut (^)
🔰 | Dare Devil, Hill (^)
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Music and Sound (Original)
2023
🥇 | Kovi Kovi, Johannes (^)
🥈 | Escape From Mars, Camara (^)
🥉 | Robot Zed, Spry (^)
🔰 | Berry Fun!, Littau (^)
🔰 | Dark Keep, Smith (^)
🔰 | Game of the Bear: 2 Much to Bear, Zúñiga (^)
🔰 | Penult, Garrison (^)
2022
🥇 | Orbital War, Camara (^)
🥈 | Razor’s Edge, Santiago (^)
🥈 | Space Pac-Man, Game Select (^)
🥈 | Raptor, Pauley (^)
🔰 | Grizzards, Pocock (^)
🔰 | Oozy the Goo: Slime Quest, Zúñiga (^)
2021
🥇 | Zarkstars, Camara (^)
🥈 | Electro Ball, Littau (^)
🥉 | Mr. Yo-Yo, Marli (^)
🔰 | Ethereum, Saarna (^)
🔰 | Game of the Bear, Zúñiga (^)
🔰 | Slide Boy in Maze Land, Zúñiga (^)
2019*
🔰 | A Roach in Space, Zúñiga (^)
🔰 | Evil Magician Returns II, Holcomb (^)
🔰 | Ms. Galactopus, Pryor (^)
🔰 | Spaceman Splorf, Gustafsson & Utne (^)
🔰 | Spies in the Night 2, West (^)
🔰 | The End, Carlos (^)
🔰 | Water Diver, Zdan (^)
*None of the original homebrews were selected for a Music and Sound award in 2019.
2018*
🥇 | Space Game, Garrison (^)
🥇 | Stripes of Terror, Paski Grozy (^)
🔰 | Apollyon, Zoltan (^)
🔰 | Asteroid Rescue, Adkin (^)
🔰 | Fear of the Dark, Zoltan (^)
🔰 | The Gizzle Wap and the Terrible Blizzard of Firn, Smith (^)
🔰 | Plague, Zoltan (^)
🔰 | Sword of Surtr, Stermer (^)
*A homebrew port won the other top-three finish in this year’s edition of Best Music & Sound.
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Music and Sound (Conversions, Demakes, Ports, and Remakes)
2023
🥇 | Elevator Agent, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Turbo Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Food Ninja, Pim (^)
🥉 | Lucky Chase, Centeno (^)
🔰 | Myst, Weaver (^)
🔰 | Paul’s Happybird, Steux (^)
2022
🥇 | Gorf Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Ruby*Q, Mogno (^)
🥉 | Qyx, Champ Games (^)
🔰 | Invaders From Andromeda, Cisano (^)
🔰 | Lode Runner, Olsthoorn (^)
🔰 | Word Guess, Blackman (^)
2021
🥇 | RobotWar 2684, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Lady Bug Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Soul of the Beast, Christophersson (^)
🔰 | Awakening, Siddall (^)
🔰 | Dodge It, Xan (^)
🔰 | Squareraid, Larson (^)
2019
🥇 | Wizard of Wor Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Galagon, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Aardvark, Gutierrez (^)
🔰 | Amoeba Jump, Olsthoorn (^)
🔰 | Dare Devil, Hill (^)
2018*
🥇 | Mappy, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | BeeWare, Zoltan (^)
*An original homebrew won the other top-three finish in this year’s edition of Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Music and Sound.
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Graphics (Original)
2023
🥇 | Strike Zone Bowling, Smith (^)
🥈 | Dark Keep, Smith (^)
🥉 | Caramojo, Sarjlic & Hjou (^)
🔰 | Game of the Bear: 2 Much to Bear, Zúñiga (^)
🔰 | Kovi Kovi, Johannes (^)
🔰 | Penult, Garrison (^)
🔰 | Tober’s Nightmare, Crocker (^)
2022
🥇 | Razor’s Edge, Santiago (^)
🥈 | Zarkstars II: Ground Force, Camara (^)
🥉 | Raptor, Pauley (^)
🔰 | Grizzards, Pocock (^)
🔰 | Legendary Spear, Christianson (^)
🔰 | Oozy the Goo: Slime Quest, Zúñiga (^)
2021
🥇 | Kung Fu Combat 2, Smith & Mosley (^)
🥈 | Zarkstars, Camara (^)
🥉 | Game of the Bear, Zúñiga (^)
🔰 | Legendary Spear, Christianson (^)
🔰 | Slide Boy in Maze Land, Zúñiga (^)
🔰 | Solo Mah Jong, Domeshtan Games (^)
2019*
🔰 | Bass Fishing Tournament, Quinlan (^)
🔰 | Bitquest II, Shea (^)
🔰 | Dare Devil, Hill (^)
🔰 | Dragon’s Descent, Furmanski (^)
🔰 | Evil Magician Returns II, Holcomb (^)
🔰 | Spaceman Splorf, Gustafsson & Utne (^)
🔰 | Spies in the Night 2, West (^)
🔰 | The End, Carlos (^)
*None of the original homebrews were selected for a Graphics award in 2019.
2018*
🥇 | Tyre Trax, Hill (^)
🥈 | Dungeon II: Solstice, Weavil (^)
🔰 | Apollyon, Zoltan (^)
🔰 | Balloon Trip, Blueswimmer (^)
🔰 | Fear of the Dark, Zoltan (^)
🔰 | The Gizzle Wap and the Terrible Blizzard of Firn, Smith (^)
🔰 | Plague, Zoltan (^)
🔰 | Sheep It Up, Ludos (^)
🔰 | Space Game, Garrison (^)
🔰 | Stripes of Terror, Paski Grozy (^)
🔰 | Sword of Surtr, Stermer (^)
*A homebrew port won the other top-three finish in this year’s Best Graphics award.
Best Atari 2600 Homebrew Graphics (Conversions, Demakes, Ports, and Remakes)
2023
🥇 | Turbo Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Elevator Agent, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Myst, Weaver (^)
🔰 | C.H.E.A.T., Weaver (^)
🔰 | Lucky Chase, Centeno (^)
🔰 | Paul’s Happybird, Steux (^)
2022
🥇 | Lode Runner, Olsthoorn (^)
🥈 | Gorf Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Ruby*Q, Mogno (^)
🔰 | Invaders From Andromeda, Cisano (^)
🔰 | Qyx, Champ Games (^)
🔰 | Stratovox, Centeno (^)
2021
🥇 | RobotWar 2684, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Lady Bug Arcade, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Soul of the Beast, Christophersson (^)
🔰 | Awakening, Siddall (^)
🔰 | Dodge It, Xan (^)
🔰 | Squareraid, Larson (^)
2019
🥇 | Aardvark, Gutierrez (^)
🥈 | Galagon, Champ Games (^)
🥉 | Wizard of Wor Arcade, Champ Games (^)
2018*
🥇 | Mappy, Champ Games (^)
🥈 | Tron, Orange 808 (^)
*An original homebrew won the other top-three finish in this year’s edition of Best Atari 2600 Graphics.
