Which Atari system had the most games

[Jim Pez]

Which console released after the 2600 had the most games? I would like to buy one of the consoles that were released after the 2600 but can't decide which one. Any advice?

Edited September 28, 2016 by jim1174

[gozar]

Your choices are the 8-bit computer line, the Lynx, the 7800, and then the Jaguar.

 

The system with the most games would be the 8-bit computer line. In fact, it could be argued that it has the most games of any Atari system, more than the 2600.

 

Go for an 800XL and buy (or build) an SIO2PC-USB adapter and you're then good to go.

 

To get a taste, check out the Altirra emulator.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CatPix]

If you absolutely want the console feel, get an Atari XEGS instead; it's an Atari 8 bits in a console shell, but with inputs for the floppy drive, tape deck, keyboard and all accessories; this way you have the console look and a perfect access to the Atari 8 bits library.

[empsolo]

The NES is a top contender. 700+ licensed, Japan exclusive, and unlicensed games.

 

 

Edit: nvm. Misread the thread title.

Edited September 28, 2016 by empsolo

[DesertJets]

If it must be a console then the 7800 is the next choice. Though TBH the Lynx has a lot of appeal as well. Both are reasonably affordable to acquire and collect for. The Jaguar is a very different beast, while legitimately rare, I feel that the supply of Jags out there on places like eBay should have a lower price than what I keep seeing.

 

After that the 8-bit computer line is very much worth looking at. HUGE library, a wide variety of hardware to pick from, good mutli-cart type solutions out there for not too much money, and cute little carts to collect. Only major downside is that unless you have local shops that have some interest in A8 stuff you'll have little luck finding stuff in the wild for them. The XEGS is the consolized version, with its awesomely 80s pastel buttons -- and a major plus to the XEGS is that it has composite A/V out built in. When I downsized my collection I regret letting go of the XEGS, that should have been the system I kept instead.

[BassGuitari]

To echo the other responses, you probably want the XEGS if you're looking at consoles specifically (it's either a console or computer depending on how you look at it, or both--I prefer to think of it as a console with built-in computer expansion provisions ) since it runs almost the entire 400/800/XL library. Cartridges, disks, cassettes, type-ins...

Otherwise it's nebulous. The Atari 7800 had more games than the Atari 5200, but IMO the 5200 had a better library overall (much higher good:bad game ratio), but the 5200 is expensive to get running properly (console, rebuilt gold-dot controllers = $$), but both are still easier and cheaper to collect for, and have better libraries than the Jaguar. OTOH the XEGS is the 5200's half-brother and solves all of the 5200's hardware/controller-related difficulties, runs most of the 5200's games (cross-platform titles between the two are often similar if not identical--5200 versions often had minor tweaks but most of those have been ported to the 400/800/XL by now) and can run hundreds of 400/800/XL computer titles...

[Noah98]

XEGS all the way! The 5200 is fun, but expensive to get running properly. It also has a relatively small library. The 7800 has a really small library if you already have a 2600, but really great homebrews. The Jaguar is not worth the investment. Expensive and a small library.

 

XEGS:

1. Composite out

2. Computer expansions

3. Flash and multicarts available

4. Ported 5200 games

5. Huge library

6. 2600 peripheral support (paddles, joysticks, trakball, etc.)

[+doctorclu]

I was going to like the above statement since I am at the start an Atari 8 bit guy. But Jaguar not worth the investment? That is my go to console these days. Just like how 5200 games are ported for the Atari 8-bit, so the Atari ST is being ported to the Jaguar, and that opened up a lot of games.

[high voltage]

XEGS has ~600 carts, but finding them nowadays is another story, and 1000s of disk and tape games.

Edited September 30, 2016 by high voltage

[Noah98]

I was going to like the above statement since I am at the start an Atari 8 bit guy. But Jaguar not worth the investment? That is my go to console these days. Just like how 5200 games are ported for the Atari 8-bit, so the Atari ST is being ported to the Jaguar, and that opened up a lot of games.

I'm not hating on the Jag, I own one. It's just so expensive to collect for!

[high voltage]

Which Atari system has the least games....that'll be the Atari Portfolio, one official released game:

 

A Bridge Baron game was announce in the DIP catalogue, but I believe that it was never released.

 

 

Lots of PD gaming softs on Portfolio though

[carlsson]

Does the Atari Transputer Workstation have any games? Can you run any ST games on the Mega ST normally operating as an I/O processor?

[high voltage]

Got me there, Transputer had games, but I'm not sure if they were PD or released games.