Released in 1982, the Vectrex stood out from all other consoles of its time: built-in vector display, innovative accessories, and above all, a library partially made up of original games designed exclusively for it.
In total, 28 games were officially released by GCE for the Vectrex, including 19 original creations. In this article, we’ll categorize them into original creations, games inspired by other classics, and arcade ports, to better understand what makes some of these titles so unique.
100% Original Vectrex Games
These games were developed specifically for the Vectrex and did not exist on any other platform at the time of their release:
- Blitz!: American football game with minimalist visuals.
- Cosmic Chasm: A cult space action/exploration game—interestingly, the only Vectrex game later ported to arcades!
- Fortress of Narzod: A shoot ’em up with a mystical atmosphere.
- Heads Up: A simple and fun multiplayer soccer game.
- Hyperchase: Futuristic 3D racing.
- Polar Rescue: Underwater rescue mission in an arctic setting.
- Spike: A charming platformer, the first console game to feature digitized speech!
- Spinball: A cross between pinball and brick-breaker.
- Web Wars: Space combat game where you capture enemies in a vector tunnel.
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture: Licensed space game from Paramount, a unique adaptation of the film universe.
Original Games Using Unique Accessories
The Vectrex offered innovative peripherals for its time, used in certain exclusive games.
Games for the 3D Imager headset:
- 3D Crazy Coaster: A thrilling rollercoaster simulation.
- 3D Minestorm: A 3D version of the console’s built-in space shooter.
- 3D Narrow Escape: A spatial dodging game.
Games for the Light Pen:
- Art Master: Interactive vector drawing.
- AnimAction: Frame-by-frame animation creation.
- Melody Master: Music composition.
Original Games “Inspired By” Arcade Classics
Some Vectrex titles are original interpretations of major arcade hits. These aren’t direct ports, but rather creative variations:
- Minestorm: The flagship Vectrex game pre-installed on the console, inspired by Asteroids.
- Bedlam: A fast-paced circular shooter, inspired by Tempest.
- Clean Sweep (Mr. Boston): A unique maze game variant inspired by Pac-Man.
Arcade Ports: A Bridge Between Two Worlds
The Vectrex also featured several faithful adaptations of popular arcade games. Thanks to its native vector display, the console delivered an experience close to the original arcade cabinets, especially those by Cinematronics, which also used vector graphics. These are not Vectrex-exclusive titles.
- Armor Attack (Cinematronics, 1980): Jeep combat in a war zone.
- Berzerk (Stern Electronics, 1980): Maze combat against killer robots.
- Pole Position (Namco, 1982): Iconic Formula 1 racing game.
- Rip Off (Cinematronics, 1979): Defense game where you protect your resources.
- Scramble (Konami, 1981): A distinctive horizontal shooter.
- Solar Quest (Cinematronics, 1981): Space combat around planets.
- Space Wars (Cinematronics, 1977): Physics-based spaceship duels.
- Star Castle (Cinematronics, 1980): Intense battle against a rotating fortress.
- Star Hawk (Cinematronics, 1979): Third-person perspective space combat.
The Legacy Continued Through Homebrews
And the story doesn’t end in the 1980s. A dedicated community of enthusiasts continues to keep the Vectrex alive with a wide range of homebrew titles. Since the 2000s, over 120 cartridge-based homebrew games have been created. Some are brand new original creations, others are long-lost GCE-era projects finally completed. In short, there’s still plenty to enrich the Vectrex’s library of unique games.
