List of maze video games

Maze game is a video game genre description first used by journalists during the 1980s to describe any game in which the entire playing field was a maze. Quick player action is required to escape monsters, outrace an opponent, or navigate the maze within a time limit.

Top-down maze games

1973

• Gotcha, Atari, Inc., Arcade

1976

• Blockade, Gremlin, Arcade
• The Amazing Maze Game, Midway, Arcade

1977

• Comotion, Gremlin, Arcade
• Hustle, Gremlin, Arcade
• Maze, Fairchild, Fairchild Channel F

1978

• Slot Racers, Atari, Atari 2600
• Take the Money and Run, Magnavox, Odyssey²

1979

• Head On, Sega, Arcade

1980

• Maze Craze: A Game of Cops and Robbers, Atari, Atari 2600
• Berzerk, Stern, Arcade
• Spectar, Exidy, Arcade
• Tank Battalion, Namco, Arcade
• Tranquilizer Gun,^[1] Sega, Arcade
• Wizard of Wor, Midway, Arcade

1981

• The Hand,^[2] TIC, Arcade
• K-Razy Shoot-Out, CBS Electronics, Atari 8-bit, Atari 5200
• Pulsar, Sega, Arcade
• Route 16, Tekhan/Sun, Arcade

1982

• Ali Baba and 40 Thieves, Sega, Arcade
• Blue Print, Bally Midway, Arcade
• Diggerbonk, APX, Atari 8-bit
• Entombed, U.S. Games, Atari 2600
• Frenzy, Stern, Arcade
• Garden Wars, Commodore, VIC-20
• Maze Death Race, PSS, Sinclair ZX81,^[3] ZX Spectrum^[4]
• Nibbler, Rock-Ola, Arcade
• Night Stalker, Mattel, Intellivision
• Raid on Fort Knox, Commodore, VIC-20
• Robot Killer, Emerson, Arcadia 2001
• Shamus, Synapse, Atari 8-bit
• Star Maze, Sir-Tech, Apple II
• Tax Dodge, Free Fall, Atari 8-bit
• Towering Inferno, US Games, Atari 2600
• TRON Maze-A-Tron, Mattel, Intellivision
• Tutankham, Konami, Arcade
• Zzyzzyxx, Cinematronics, Arcade

1983

• Android 2,^[4] Vortex, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC
• Atic Atac, Ultimate, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro
• Bomberman, Hudson Soft, NEC PC-8001, Sharp X1, others
• Bumpomov's Dogs,^[5] APX, Atari 8-bit
• Cavelon, Jetsoft, Arcade
• Chase the Chuck Wagon, Ralston Purina, Atari 2600
• Creepy Corridors, Sierra On-Line, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, others
• Dandy, APX, Atari 8-bit
• Flappy, DB-SOFT, Sharp X1
• Intrepid, Nova Games, Arcade
• Key-Quest,^[6] Micro-ware, VIC-20
• Lady Tut,^[7] Spinnaker, Apple II, C64
• Mazer Blazer, Stern, Arcade
• Splat!, Incentive, ZX Spectrum
• Styx,^[4] Bug-Byte, ZX Spectrum
• Time Bandit, MichTron, Tandy Color Computer

1984

• 3D Silicon Fish, Thor, VIC-20
• Cybertron Mission, Micro Power, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, C64
• Labyrinth, Acornsoft, BBC Micro
• Maziacs,^[4][8] dk'tronics, ZX Spectrum, C64, MSX
• The Tower of Druaga, Namco, Arcade

1985

• Cops 'n' Robbers, Atlantis, VIC-20, C64, others
• Gauntlet, Atari Games, Arcade
• Maze War, ANALOG Computing, Atari 8-bit
• Project Future,^[9] Micromania, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC
• Raiders5,^[10] UPL, Arcade
• Wriggler, Devonshire, ZX Spectrum,

1986

• A-Maze, K'Soft, ZX Spectrum
• Gauntlet II, Atari Games, Arcade
• Merlin's Money Maze, Zilec, Arcade
• Snail Maze, Sega, Master System

1987

• Rescue, Mastertronic, ZX Spectrum
• Think Quick!, The Learning Company, Apple II, MS-DOS
• Starbase, Taurus Computing, Tatung Einstein

1988

• Dark Chambers, Atari, Atari 7800, Atari 8-bit

2003

• Flamin' Finger, Namco, Arcade
• Online Bomberman, PC

2008

• The Last Guy, Sony, PS3

2009

• Robot Rescue, Teyon, Nintendo DSi

First-person maze games

• Maze War, 1974, Steve Colley, Imlac PDS-1
• Escape!, 1978, Muse Software, Apple II
• Deathmaze 5000,^[11] 1980, Med Systems, TRS-80
• Labyrinth,^[11] 1980, Med Systems, TRS-80
• 3D Maze, 1981, IJK, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron
• 3D Monster Maze,^[4] 1981, Sinclair ZX81, ZX Spectrum
• Space Maze, 1981, Program Power, BBC Micro
• Dungeons of Daggorath, 1982, TRS-80 Color Computer
• Maze, 1982, Acornsoft, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron
• Monster Maze, 1982, Epyx, Atari 8-bit
• Phantom Slayer, 1982, Med Systems, Dragon 32, TRS-80
• Spectre, 1982, Datamost, Apple II
• Wayout, 1982, Sirius Software, Atari 8-bit, Apple II, C64
• Alien Maze, 1983, CRL Group, ZX Spectrum
• 3-Demon, 1983, PC Research Inc, MS-DOS
• Capture the Flag, 1983, Sirius Software, Atari 8-bit, C64
• Caves of Ice, 1983, Compute!, Atari 8-bit, Apple II, C64, VIC-20, PET^[12]
• Corridors of Genon, 1983, New Generation, ZX Spectrum
• London Blitz, 1983, Avalon Hill, Atari 2600^[13]
• Tunnel Runner, 1983, CBS, Atari 2600
• Word Maze, 1983, Sord, Sord M5
• 3-D Bomberman, 1984, Hudson Soft, MSX, FM-7, NEC PC-6001, others
• 3D Glooper, 1984, Supersoft, C64^[14]
• Skull, 1984, Games Machine, ZX Spectrum, C64
• 3D Monster Chase, 1985, Romik, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC
• Gyron, 1985, Firebird, ZX Spectrum
• MIDI Maze, 1987, Hybrid Arts, Atari ST
• Xybots, 1987, Atari Games, arcade
• Faceball 2000, 1991, Bulletproof Software, Game Boy
• Spelunx, 1991, Brøderbund, Macintosh, Windows
• Maze of Agdagon, 1993, shareware, Atari 8-bit

Maze chase games

This genre is exemplified by Namco's Pac-Man (1980),^[8] where the goal is to collect dots while avoiding enemies that are chasing the player. Pac-Man spawned many sequels and clones. In Japan, they are often called "dot eat games".

1979

• Heiankyo Alien, University of Tokyo, PC-8001, Arcade

1980

• Pac-Man, Namco, Arcade
• Rally-X, Namco, Arcade

1981

• Cave Hunter,^[15] Mark Data Products, TRS-80 Color Computer
• Chomper,^[16] MMG Micro Software, Atari 8-bit
• Crazy Chicky, VTech, CreatiVision
• Crazy Pucker / Crazy Moonie / Crazy Chewy, VTech, CreatiVision
• Frisky Tom, Nichibutsu, Arcade
• Ghost Hunter, Arcade Plus, Atari 8-bit
• Gobbler, On-Line Systems, Apple II
• Hangly-Man, Nittoh, Arcade
• Jawbreaker, On-Line Systems, Atari 8-bit, Apple II, others
• Jelly Monsters, HAL Labs, VIC-20
• Jungler, Konami, Arcade
• Lady Bug, Universal, Arcade
• Lock 'n' Chase, Data East, Arcade
• Make Trax / Crush Roller, Alpha Denshi, Arcade
• Mouse Trap, Exidy, Arcade
• Ms. Pac-Man, Bally Midway, Arcade
• Munchkin / KC Munchkin, Magnavox, Magnavox Odyssey²
• Munchyman, Program Power, BBC Micro
• New Rally-X, Namco, Arcade
• Packri Monster, Bandai, Handheld
• Piranha, GL, Arcade
• Radar Rat Race, Commodore, VIC-20
• Round-Up, Centuri, Arcade
• Scarfman,^[17] Cornsoft, TRS-80
• Taxman, HAL Labs, Apple II
• Thief, Pacific Novelty, Arcade
• Turtles, Konami, Arcade

1982

• Alien, 20th Century Fox, Atari 2600
• Dung Beetles, Datasoft, Apple II, TRS-80 Color Computer, Atari 8-bit
• Baby Pac-Man, Bally Midway, Arcade
• Byte-Man, Mindseye, ZX81
• CatChum, Kaypro, CP/M
• Cat Trax, Emerson, Arcadia 2001
• Changes,^[18] Orca, Arcade
• Clean Sweep, GCE, Vectrex
• Cosmic Cruncher, Commodore, VIC-20
• Crazey Mazey,^[19] Datamost, Apple II
• Devil Fish, Arctic, Arcade
• Eyes, Rock-Ola, Arcade
• Gulpman, Campbell Systems, ZX Spectrum
• Hard Hat, Exidy, Arcade
• Hungry Horace, Beam, ZX Spectrum, C64, Dragon 32
• Labyrinth,^[20] Broderbund, Apple II, Atari 8-bit
• Lochjaw aka Shark Attack, Games by Apollo, Atari 2600
• Looper, Orca, Arcade
• Money Munchers, Datamost, Apple II
• Mouskattack, On-Line Systems, Atari 8-bit, Apple II
• Munch Man, Texas Instruments, TI99-4A
• Muncher!, Silversoft, ZX Spectrum
• Pakacuda, Rabbit, C64
• PC-Man, Orion Software, IBM PC
• Pengo, Sega, Arcade
• Pig Pen,^[21] Datamost, Apple II
• Serpentine, Brøderbund, Apple II
• Snack Attack, Datamost, Apple II
• Snack Attack II, Funtastic, PC
• Snapper, Acornsoft, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron
• Streaking,^[22] Shoei, arcade
• Spookyman, Abbex Electronics, ZX Spectrum
• Super Pac-Man, Namco, Arcade
• Super Taxman 2, HAL Labs, Apple II
• Track Attack,^[23] Broderbund, Apple II, Atari 8-bit

1983

• Alien's Return, ITT Family Games, Atari 2600
• Bank Heist, 20th Century Fox, Atari 2600
• Bootleg, APX, Atari 8-bit
• Botanic, Valadon, Arcade
• Caterpiggle, APX, Atari 8-bit
• Chomper Man, Victory, C64
• Crystal Castles, Atari, Arcade
• Dot Gobbler,^[24] Mr. Computer Products, C64
• Drelbs, Synapse Software, Atari 8-bit, C64
• Felix and the Fruit Monsters, Micro Power, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro
• Getaway!,^[25] APX, Atari 8-bit
• Ghost Hunt,^[26] PSS, ZX Spectrum
• Gnasher,^[26] R&R Software, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 16/Plus/4
• Gobble A Ghost, CDS Microsystems, ZX Spectrum
• Guzzler, Tehkan, Arcade
• Hover Bovver, Llamasoft, C64, Atari 8-bit
• Jawbreaker II, On-Line Systems, Atari 8-bit, Apple II, others
• Jr. Pac-Man, Bally Midway, Arcade
• Marvin's Maze, SNK, Arcade
• Maze Chase,^[27][28] Hewson, ZX Spectrum
• Maze Man, Creative Equipment, C64
• Monster Munch, Atlantis, C64
• Mouser,^[29] IBM, IBM PCjr
• Munch Man 64,^[30] Solar Software, C64
• Pacar,^[31] Sega, Arcade
• Pacmania,^[32] Mr. Chip, VIC-20, C64
• Pac Rabbit, International Publishing & Software, ZX81
• Plaque Man,^[33] HCS, Atari 8-bit, C64
• Power Blaster,^[34] Laing Marketing, VIC-20
• Preppie! II,^[35] Adventure International, Atari 8-bit
• Scooby Doo's Maze Chase,^[36] Mattel, Intellivision
• Scrambled Egg, Technos, Arcade
• Trashman,^[37] Creative Software, C64
• Traxx, Quicksilva, VIC-20, ZX Spectrum
• Van-Van Car,^[38] Karateco, Arcade

1984

• Devil World, Nintendo, NES
• Ms. Maze,^[39] Tom Mix Software, TRS-80 Color Computer
• Munch Mania,^[40] Mastertronic, C64
• Pirate Ship Higemaru, Capcom, Arcade
• Spatter,^[41] Sega, Arcade
• Spriteman 64,^[42] Interceptor Software, C64

1985

• Floppy-Eater!,^[43] Floppy Magazine 64, C64
• I'm Sorry, Sega, Arcade
• Oh Shit!, Aackosoft, MSX

1987

• Classic Muncher, Bubble Bus, Amstrad CPC
• Cruncher Factory, Kingsoft, Amiga
• Fantasy Zone: The Maze, Sega, Arcade
• Fast Food, Codemasters, C64, ZX Spectrum, others
• Gobbler's Revenge,^[44] Commodore Magazine, C64
• Pac-Mania, Namco, Arcade

1988

• Knicker-Bockers,^[45] StarSoft, Atari 8-bit
• Mad Mix, Topo Soft, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, others
• Snowplow, ANALOG Computing, Atari 8-bit
• Yuu Maze, Taito, Famicom Disk System

1989

• Maze Mania, Hewson, ZX Spectrum, C64, Amstrad CPC
• Maze of Flott, Taito, Arcade

1990

• Hacman II, freeware, Atari ST
• Perplexity, Superior, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron
• Trog, Midway, Arcade

1991

• Jungle Jim, Energize, Amiga

1992

• GobMan,^[46] Shareware, MS-DOS

1993

• CD-Man,^[47] Creative Dimensions, MS-DOS
• Mean Arenas, Nite Time, Amiga
• Tinkle Pit, Namco, Arcade

1995

• Go! Go! Mile Smile,^[48] Funki, Arcade

1996

• Bubble Trouble, Ambrosia, Mac
• Pac-Man Arrangement, Namco, Arcade

1998

• 3D Maze Man, eGames, Windows

2006

• Pac the Man X,^[49] McSebi, OS X

2010

• Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, Namco, Xbox 360, PS3, Windows

Grid capture games

In grid capture games, also called line coloring games, the maze consists of lines, and the goal is to capture rectangular areas by traversing their perimeters. The gameplay is not fundamentally different than Pac-Man (players still have to navigate the entire maze to complete a level) but enough games have used the grid motif that it is a distinct style. One unique element is that it is possible to capture multiple rectangles simultaneously, usually for extra points. Amidar established the model for this subgenre.

• Amidar, 1981, Stern, Arcade, Atari 2600
• Blade Runner, 1982, Wizardsoft, C64^[50]
• Demolition Herby, 1982, Telesys, Atari 2600
• Jeepers Creepers, 1982, Quality, Atari 8-bit
• Jolly Jogger, 1982, Taito, Arcade
• Macho Mouse, 1982, Techstar, Arcade
• Radar Zone / Out Line, 1982, Century Electronics, Arcade
• Pepper II, 1982, Exidy, Arcade
• Time Runner, 1982, Funsoft, TRS-80
• Triple Punch, 1982, KKI, Arcade
• Cuthbert Goes Walkabout, 1983, Microdeal, Dragon 32/64, TRS-80 Color Computer, C64, Atari 8-bit
• Kid Grid, 1983, Tronix, C64
• Potty Painter in the Jungle, 1983, Rabbit, C64
• Colour Clash, 1983, Romnik, ZX Spectrum
• Spiderdroid, 1983, Froggo, Atari 2600
• Super Gridder, 1983, Terminal, C64
• Crazy Tracer, 1984, Acornsoft, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro
• Oh Mummy, 1984, Gem, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum
• Pesky Painter,^[51] 1984, Supersoft, C64
• Rollo and the Brush Brothers, 1984, Windmill, MS-DOS
• Gapper, 1986, freeware, MS-DOS
• Panel Panic,^[52] 1986, Aackosoft, MSX
• Live Wire!, 1999, SCI, PlayStation

References

1. "Tranqulizer Gun". Hardcore Gaming 101. January 6, 2014.
2. "The Hand arcade video game by TIC". Gaming History.
3. Maze Death Race
4. "MAZE GAMES", CRASH, April 1984
5. "Bumpomov's Dogs". Atari Mania.
6. "Top Ten Commodore Vic-20 Games". Retro Gamer. June 9, 2014.
7. "Lady Tut". Gamebase 64.
8. "ARCADE MIND GAMES", Sinclair User, June 1984
9. "Project Future Review", CRASH, Newsfield (14): 44, March 1985.
10. "Raiders5 - Videogame by UPL". Killer List of Video Games.
11. Reed, Matthew. "Deathmaze 5000". TRS-80.org.
12. http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue40/caves_of_ice.php
13. "Atari 2600 London Blitz 1983 Avalon Hill". YouTube.
14. "3D Glooper". Lemon 64.
15. Boyle, L. Curtis. "Cave Hunter". The Tandy Color Computers Game List.
16. "Chomper". Atari Mania.
17. "Scarfman". TRS-80.org.
18. "Changes - Videogame by Orca". KLOV.
19. Hockman, Daniel (November 1982). "Micro-Reviews: Crazey Mazey" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. 2 (6): 41.
20. "Labyrinth". AtariMania.
21. "Pig Pen". The Personal Computer Museum.
22. "Streaking". Killer List of Video Games.
23. "Track Attack". ROM (1): 23. August 1983.
24. "Dot Gobbler". Lemon 64.
25. http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20195
26. "GHOST GOBBLING", CRASH, April 1984
27. "ZX-81 Software Scene", Sinclair User, ECC (17), August 1983.
28. Passey, Chris; Uffindell, Matthew (July 1984), "Run It Again - Electro Gobble: Pacman Type Games", CRASH, Newsfield (6).
29. "IBM PCjr. Exclusive Games - ScubaVenture & Mouser". Nerdly Pleasures.
30. "Munch Man 64". Lemon 64.
31. "Pacar". Sega Does.
32. "Pacmania". Lemon 64.
33. "Plaque Man". Atari Mania.
34. "Power Blaster". The Personal Computer Museum.
35. "Preppie! II". Atari Mania.
36. "Scooby Doo's Maze Chase". Invellision Lives.
37. "C64 Review - Trashman".
38. "Van-Van Car". Killer List of Video Games.
39. Boyle, L. Curtis. "Ms. Maze". The Tandy Color Computers Game List.
40. "Munch Mania". Lemon 64.
41. Wheatley, Sean (April 2, 2007). "Forgotten Gems of the Maze Chase Genre". The Next Level.
42. "Spriteman 64". Lemon 64.
43. "Floppy-Eater!". Gamebase 64.
44. "Gobbler's Revenge". Gamebase 64.
45. "Knicker-Bockers". Atari 8-bit Forever.
46. "GobMan". RGB Classic Games.
47. Download page for CD-Man, on DOS Games Archive, with screenshots
48. Thorpe, Nick (September 28, 2015). "Go! Go! Mile Smile". Retro Gamer.
49. Cohen, Peter (2006-02-15). "Pac the Man X". Macworld.
50. Blader Runner footage at YouTube
51. "Pesky Painter". Gamebase 64.
52. "Panel Panic". MSX Games World.

External links

• "Maze Games" from CRASH magazine issue 3