Games Released in October 1981

23 new games debuted in October 1981, with Intellivision being the most active platform. October 1 was the busiest day, with 3 releases. Tempest was the most popular release of the month.

Which days had the most releases?

October 15 saw the most activity with 3 releases.

3 releases

October 15

3 releases

October 9

3 releases

October 1

1 release

October 31

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat

Thu, Oct 1

3 releases

Fri, Oct 2

No releases

Sat, Oct 3

No releases

Sun, Oct 4

No releases

Mon, Oct 5

No releases

Tue, Oct 6

No releases

Wed, Oct 7

No releases

Thu, Oct 8

No releases

Fri, Oct 9

3 releases

Sat, Oct 10

No releases

Sun, Oct 11

No releases

Mon, Oct 12

1 release

Tue, Oct 13

No releases

Wed, Oct 14

No releases

Thu, Oct 15

3 releases

Fri, Oct 16

No releases

Sat, Oct 17

No releases

Sun, Oct 18

No releases

Mon, Oct 19

No releases

Tue, Oct 20

No releases

Wed, Oct 21

1 release

Thu, Oct 22

No releases

Fri, Oct 23

1 release

Sat, Oct 24

No releases

Sun, Oct 25

No releases

Mon, Oct 26

No releases

Tue, Oct 27

No releases

Wed, Oct 28

No releases

Thu, Oct 29

No releases

Fri, Oct 30

No releases

Sat, Oct 31

1 release

How did each week compare?

The third week of October was the busiest with 4 releases.

Week 1 (October 1–7)

3 releases

Most popular release in Week 1

Tempest

Tempest is a 1981 arcade game by Atari Inc., designed and programmed by Dave Theurer. It takes place on a three-dimensional surface, sometimes wrapped into a tube, which is viewed from one end and is divided into a dozen or more segments or lanes. The player controls a claw-shaped spaceship (named Blaster) that crawls along the near edge of the playfield, moving from segment to segment. Tempest was one of the first games to use Atari's Color-QuadraScan vector display technology. It was also the first game to allow the player to choose their starting level (a system Atari dubbed "SkillStep"). This feature increases the maximum starting level depending on the player's performance in the previous game, essentially allowing the player to continue. An official port was released for the Atari ST. An official port that bears the Atari logo was released by Superior Software for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron in 1985, and another by Electric Dreams for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC in 1987. Versions for the Atari 2600 and 5200 were in the works in Atari, Inc. during 1984, and unfinished prototypes exist for both of them.

Week 2 (October 8–14)

4 releases

Week 3 (October 15–21)

4 releases

Most popular release in Week 3

Astrosmash

In Astrosmash you control a laser canon at the bottom of the screen; your goal is to earn as many points as possible by destroying the various incoming meteors, bombs, and other objects. Points are earned for destroying objects, while points are lost for letting them get past you. Meteors are the most common item you need to defend yourself against. They come in various sizes and colors, and some even split into two smaller meteors when shot. Mixed in with the meteors are white spinning bombs. While letting a meteor get past you will only lower your score, you have to shoot the spinners. If one gets past, you will lose a life. On the more difficult levels, ufo's and guided missiles will also appear occasionally and attempt to destroy your canon.