The second Activision collection for Evercade is packed with Atari 2600 classics, and if you grew up pumping coins into arcade machines or glued to a CRT in the early 80s, there’s a very good chance something on this cart will hit you right in the nostalgia.
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s on the cartridge.
THE FULL GAME LIST
Activision Collection 2 brings together 12 games from Activision’s golden era of Atari 2600 publishing. Here’s the complete lineup:
- Barnstorming
- Boxing
- Chopper Command
- Dragster
- Enduro
- Fishing Derby
- Freeway
- Kaboom!
- Pitfall!
- River Raid
- Seaquest
- Sky Jinks
A solid collection of some of the most recognisable titles from Activision’s early catalogue — and a few gems that don’t always get the attention they deserve.
THE STANDOUT GAMES
River Raid is arguably the crown jewel here. Carol Shaw’s vertically scrolling shooter is still genuinely compelling — managing fuel while weaving through increasingly tight river sections holds up remarkably well. It’s one of the finest games ever made for the Atari 2600, full stop.
Pitfall! needs little introduction. David Crane’s side-scrolling adventure was a landmark title in 1982, and swinging across those crocodile pits still feels satisfying. If you’ve never played it, this is a great excuse.
Kaboom! is the kind of game that starts gentle and becomes utterly frantic within minutes. Catching bombs dropped by the Mad Bomber using your paddles — or in this case the analogue stick — is addictive in that one-more-go way that only the best arcade-style games manage.
Enduro is a surprisingly deep racing game for the hardware. Surviving each day by overtaking the required number of cars while visibility shifts through dawn, dusk, and snow is quietly brilliant. It’s one that rewards repeated play.
Chopper Command draws obvious comparisons to Defender, and that’s no bad thing. Protecting your convoy from waves of enemy aircraft while managing limited lives is tense and fun in equal measure.
THE HIDDEN GEMS
Not every game on the cart is a household name, but that doesn’t mean they’re worth skipping.
Seaquest is an underwater shooter with a clever twist — you need to surface periodically to refuel your oxygen, while also rescuing divers before they drift off screen. It’s more strategic than it first appears.
Barnstorming is a simple but breezy stunt-flying game where you guide a biplane through a series of barns as quickly as possible. It’s not deep, but it’s fun in short bursts and works well for chasing your own best times.
Sky Jinks follows a similar time-trial formula — slalom flying around pylons — and is another one that’s light on complexity but satisfying when you’re going for a clean run.
Dragster is pure reflex gaming. Get your gear changes right, beat the clock. Simple, fast, and surprisingly replayable once you’re chasing a perfect run.
IS IT WORTH PICKING UP?
If you already own Activision Collection 1, you’ll know the format well — faithful ports of Atari 2600 classics presented cleanly on Evercade hardware. Collection 2 continues that trend with a strong lineup that’s heavy on quality.
Even if some of the titles feel short by modern standards, that’s rather the point. These are score-chasing, reflex-testing games built for repeat play. On a handheld like the Evercade EXP or VS, they’re perfect for quick sessions or competitive play with friends.
With River Raid, Pitfall!, Kaboom!, and Enduro alone, this cart more than justifies its place in any Evercade collection.
You can find full details, including where to buy, over on the Activision Collection 2 cartridge page here on evercade.info.
