I have now owned a Vectrex for nearly 8 years (at the time of writing). I have been lucky enough to collect all the European released games for the system along with some newly released games too. In tribute to this great early 80s game system, I thought I would share my top 10 best Vectrex Games.
These are the Vectrex Games that I personally enjoy the most from my collection. I was fortunate enough to get my Vectrex with a bundle of 8 boxed games. This meant I already had nearly half of the European released games giving me a good start to my Vectrex games collection. It would take me 4 years to complete the collection where I had to patiently wait for games to appear on eBay and pick the odd title up at retro gaming Expo’s.
80s Gaming Fun:
- 80’s Handheld and Tabletop Electronic Games
- 80s Handheld Arcade Defender Game
- You can find out more about the History of the Vectrex here.
My 10 Best Vectrex Games
So, after playing and collecting games for the Vectrex over the last five year let’s take a look at what I consider personally to be the best Vectrex games.
10. Sean Kelly Multi Cart
I have to list this multi cart in my top 10 because if you are new to owning a Vectrex this is a great option to play a variety of games. I got a copy of this multi cart a few years into owning the system and being able to play all the originally released games along with homebrew titles as well made picking up a copy of this cart a no brainer.
This is a great multi cart to have in your collection whilst adding original and new titles to your Vectrex Games Collection.
9. Clean Sweep
The only Pac-Man style maze chaser on the Vectrex and I have to say I enjoy it although I have seen some articles online panning it. The storyline of the game is that your bank has been blown up by robbers throwing money all over the place. As the bank manager you must vacuum up all the money until your vacuum is full and deposit in the vault located at the centre of the screen.
There are four boxes located in each corner of the screen where you can supercharge your vacuum for a limited time and attack the robbers. You would never guess the storyline of the game without reading the game box and instructions. I really enjoy it and I like that you can only collect so much money before having to head to the centre of the screen.
8. Stramash Zone
A fairly recent release, Stramash Zone came out in 2017. It’s a Battlezone style game for the Vectrex but it is set on Mars during World War 4! I really enjoy this game shooting tanks and UFO’s whilst watching your radar as you try to survive and destroy as many enemies as possible.
Stramash Zone also has one of my favourite boxes. The box art really pops on my shelf. But a box and its art does not make a good game. Fortunately Stramash Zone has the gameplay to bring high quality battle zone style gaming to my mancave.
7. Mine Storm
In case you didn’t know Mine Storm is the built in game that loads up when you turn the Vectrex on with no game cartridge inserted. In my opinion it is a very capable and fun version of an Asteroids Clone. The huge advantage of playing this type of game on the Vectrex is that you have four control pad buttons to play the button effectively. In my opinion the best Asteroids clone of the early 80s era of arcade ports to home systems.
6. Rip Off
This game has a simple premise, defend your precious fuel tanks from invading pirate tanks. The more you destroy the faster the waves of invaders become. It can be played as a two player game like the arcade original and it is a lot of fun.
It is a top down shooter where you are protecting your fuels tanks located in the centre of the screen. The pirates enter the screens from all angles and as I said get faster as you make your way through the waves of attack. A really fun shooter.
5. Spike
Spike is a 3D platform game for the Vectrex. You play as Spike who needs to get to the top of each screen to rescue his love Molly from the evil Spud. Yes, it does sound similar Donkey Kong because basically the aim of the game is the same. Rescue the damsel in distress by making your way to the top of the screen however spike can kick his enemies and position ladders to suit his chosen route to Molly.
Spike is fun game and considering it came out in 1983 it really shows off what the Vectrex was capable of and of course it included some speech too. Long before Sonic Vectrex owners had Spike.
4. Fortress of Narzod
Fortress of Narzod is supposed to be all about wizards but for me it is simply a great a shooter. You play as a good wizard who apparently has a hovercraft type vehicle. Your hovercraft has to destroy three waves of attack before you can make your way up the screen and onto the next level with the aim of getting to fortress to battle Narzod.
What I love about Fortress of Narzod is that when you shoot your projectiles deflect of the sides of the screen which can be both a blessing and a curse. This enables angled shots to destroy the enemies, but you can also fire at a wall for it to come straight back at you and destroy your hovercraft.
3. Berserk
This is another game that I have seen not getting a lot of love on some articles online but like Clean Sweep I personally really enjoy it. It is a straight arcade port of the Stern arcade classic featuring all the enemies and of course Evil Otto. As in the arcade Otto will come after you if you spend too long in the maze. What can I say it is Bezerk and I think it is an enjoyable port for an early 80s home gaming system.
2. Armor Attack
Armor Attack was the first game I added to my Vectrex collection shortly after getting my console bundle from eBay. I picked it up from Play Expo Blackpool 2016 and when I eventually got home I was not disappointed. A great top down combat game where you control a jeep battling tanks and helicopters. Armor Attack also has a two player mode but it is still a great little single player battle game. If you enjoyed Combat back in the day on the Atari, you will enjoy Armor Attack.
1. Scramble
This is the game that I play the most on my Vectrex. Scramble is a fantastic arcade conversion that perfectly suits the Vectrex. Sometimes all you need is simple but addictive gameplay and Scramble provides that. like the original arcade game you have to navigate your ship across various screens shooting and bombing ships whilst trying not to run out of fuel. Just like the arcade you can replenish fuel by destroying fuel tanks on the ground.
A very well produced Vectrex arcade conversion that is very playable and makes many other arcade conversions of the same era look quite poor in comparison. A must own game for any Vectrex collector.
The Best Vectrex Games – My Top 10
So, there you have my top 10 Vectrex games. Although the console has a relatively small catalogue of games it was still difficult making this list. I did have to leave out a few titles that I really do enjoy. The Vectrex is great games system and if you have never played make sure you do if you are ever at a gaming expo. You won’t regret it, I ended buying one!
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Daz
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