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

• Take the Money and Run, Magnavox, Odyssey²

1979

• Head On, Sega, Arcade

1980

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

1981

• Jungler, Konami, Arcade
• K-Razy Shootout, CBS Electronics, Atari 8-bit, Atari 5200
• Maze Invaders, Atari, Arcade
• Pulsar, Sega, Arcade
• Radar Rat Race, Commodore, VIC-20
• Route 16, Tekhan/Sun, Arcade
• Turtles, Konami/Stern, 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,^[2] ZX Spectrum^[3]
• 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
• TRON Maze-A-Tron, Mattel, Intellivision
• Tutankham, Konami/Stern, Arcade
• Zzyzzyxx, Cinematronics, Arcade

1983

• Android 2,^[3] Vortex Software, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC
• Bomberman series–present, Hudson Soft, NEC PC-8001, NEC PC-6000, FM-7, Sharp X1, Sharp MZ-700, Sharp MZ-2000, MSX, ZX Spectrum, Famicom/NES
• Bumpomov's Dogs,^[4] 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
• Intrepid, Nova Games, Arcade
• Lady Tut,^[5] Spinnaker, Apple II, Commodore 64
• Mazer Blazer, Stern, Arcade
• Splat!, Incentive, ZX Spectrum
• Styx,^[3] Bug-Byte, ZX Spectrum

1984

• Cybertron Mission, Micro Power, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Commodore 64
• Labyrinth, Acornsoft, BBC Micro
• Maziacs,^[3][6] dk'tronics, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, MSX
• The Tower of Druaga, Namco, Arcade

1985

• Gauntlet, Atari Games, Arcade
• Maze War, ANALOG Computing, Atari 8-bit
• Project Future,^[7] Micromania, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC
• Raiders 5,^[8] UPL, Arcade
• Time Bandit, MichTron, Atari ST
• 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, 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

1990

• Bomberman, Hudson Soft, PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, Amiga, Amiga ST, MS-DOS, X68000

1991

• Bomberman II, Hudson Soft, Famicom/NES

1993

• Bomberman '93, Hudson Soft, PC Engine/Turbo Grafx-16, Wii Virtual Console
• Super Bomberman, Hudson Soft, Super Famicom/SNES

1994

• Bomberman '94, Hudson Soft, PC Engine, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Wii and Wii U Virtual Console, PlayStation Network, Mobile phone
• Super Bomberman 2, Hudson Soft, Super Famicom/SNES

1995

• Super Bomberman 3, Hudson Soft, Super Famicom/SNES

1996

• Saturn Bomberman, Hudson Soft, Sega Saturn
• Super Bomberman 4, Hudson Soft, Super Famicom

1997

• Atomic Bomberman, Interplay Entertainment, Windows
• Neo Bomberman, Hudson Soft, Neo Geo
• Saturn Bomberman Fight!!, Hudson Soft, Sega Saturn
• Super Bomberman 5, Hudson Soft, Super Famicom

1998

• Bomberman Party Edition, Hudson Soft, PlayStation
• Bomberman World, Hudson Soft, PlayStation

2001

• Bomberman 64, Hudson Soft, Nintendo 64
• Bomberman Online, Sega, Dreamcast

2003

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

2008

• The Last Guy, Sony Computer Entertainment, PlayStation 3

2009

• Robot Rescue, Teyon, Nintendo DSi (DSiWare)

First-person maze games

• Maze War, 1974, Steve Colley, Imlac PDS-1
• Escape!, 1978, Muse Software, Apple II
• 3D Maze, 1981, IJK, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron
• 3D Monster Maze,^[3] 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
• Spectre, 1982, Datamost, Apple II
• Wayout, 1982, Sirius Software, Atari 8-bit, Apple II, Commodore 64
• Alien Maze, 1983, CRL Group, ZX Spectrum
• 3-Demon, 1983, PC Research Inc, MS-DOS
• Atic Atac, 1983, Ultimate Play The Game, 1983, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro
• Capture The Flag, 1983, Sirius Software, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64
• Caves of Ice, 1983, Compute!, Atari 8-bit, Apple II, Commodore 64, VIC-20, PET^[9]
• Corridors of Genon, 1983, New Generation, ZX Spectrum
• London Blitz, 1983, Avalon Hill, Atari 2600^[10]
• Tunnel Runner, 1983, CBS, Atari 2600
• Word Maze, 1983, Sord, Sord M5
• 3-D Bomberman, 1984, Hudson Soft, MSX, FM-7, NEC PC-6001, NEC PC-8001 mkll, Sharp X1
• 3D Glooper, 1984, Supersoft, C64^[11]
• Skull, 1984, Games Machine, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
• 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),^[6] 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

• Chomper,^[12] 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
• 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 aka KC Munchkin, Magnavox, Magnavox Odyssey²
• Munchyman, Program Power, BBC Micro
• New Rally-X, Namco, Arcade
• Packri Monster, Bandai, Handheld
• Piranha, GL, Arcade
• Round-Up, Centuri, Arcade
• Scarfman,^[13] Cornsoft, TRS-80
• Taxman, HAL Labs, Apple II
• Thief, Pacific Novelty, 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
• Cat Trax, Emerson, Arcadia 2001
• Clean Sweep, GCE, Vectrex
• Cosmic Cruncher, Commodore, VIC-20
• Eyes, Rock-Ola, Arcade
• Gulpman, Campbell Systems, ZX Spectrum
• Hard Hat, Exidy, Arcade
• Hungry Horace, Beam, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Dragon 32
• 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, Texas Instruments TI99-4A
• Muncher!, Silversoft, ZX Spectrum
• Pakacuda, Rabbit, Commodore 64
• PC-Man, Orion Software, IBM PC boot loader
• Pengo, Sega, Arcade
• Serpentine, Brøderbund, Apple II
• Snack Attack, Datamost, Apple II
• Snack Attack II, Funtastic, Apple II
• Snapper, Acornsoft, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron
• Spookyman, Abbex Electronics, ZX Spectrum
• Super Pac-Man, Namco, Arcade
• Super Taxman 2, HAL Labs, Apple II

1983

• Bank Heist, 20th Century Fox, Atari 2600
• Bootleg, APX, Atari 8-bit
• Caterpiggle, APX, Atari 8-bit
• Chomper Man, Victory, Commodore 64
• Crystal Castles, Atari, Arcade
• Dot Gobbler,^[14] Mr. Computer Products, Commodore 64
• Drelbs, Synapse Software, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64
• Felix and the Fruit Monsters, Micro Power, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro
• Getaway!, APX, Atari 8-bit^[15]
• Ghost Hunt,^[16] PSS, ZX Spectrum
• Gnasher,^[16] R&R Software, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 16/Plus/4
• Gobble A Ghost, CDS Microsystems, ZX Spectrum
• Guzzler, Tehkan, Arcade
• Hover Bovver, Llamasoft, Commodore 64, 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,^[17][18] Hewson, ZX Spectrum
• Maze Man, Creative Equipment, Commodore 64
• Munch Man 64,^[19] Solar Software, Commodore 64
• Pacar,^[20] Sega, Arcade
• Pacmania,^[21] Mr. Chip, VIC-20, Commodore 64
• Pac Rabbit, International Publishing & Software, ZX81
• Plaque Man,^[22] HCS, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64
• Preppie! II, Adventure International, Atari 8-bit^[23]
• Scooby Doo's Maze Chase,^[24] Mattel, Intellivision
• Scrambled Egg, Technos, Arcade
• Trashman,^[25] Creative Software, Commodore 64
• Traxx, Quicksilva, VIC-20, ZX Spectrum

1984

• Devil World, Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment System
• Munch Mania,^[26] Mastertronic, C64
• Spatter, Sega, Arcade
• Spriteman 64,^[27] Interceptor Software, Commodore 64

1985

• Floppy-Eater!, Floppy Magazine 64, Commodore 64^[28]
• 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, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, others
• Gobbler's Revenge,^[29] Commodore Magazine, Commodore 64
• Pac-Mania, Namco, Arcade

1988

• 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, Commodore 64, 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,^[30] Shareware, MS-DOS

1993

• CD-Man,^[31] Creative Dimensions, MS-DOS
• Mean Arenas, Nite Time, Amiga
• Tinkle Pit, Namco, Arcade

1996

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

1998

• 3D Maze Man, eGames, Windows

2006

• Pac the Man X,^[32] 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
• Amigo, unknown, 1981, Arcade^[33]
• Blade Runner, 1982, Wizardsoft, Commodore 64^[34]
• 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, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit
• Kid Grid, 1983, Tronix, Commodore 64
• Potty Painter in the Jungle, 1983, Rabbit, Commodore 64
• Colour Clash, 1983, Romnik, ZX Spectrum
• Spiderdroid, 1983, Froggo, Atari 2600
• Super Gridder, 1983, Terminal, Commodore 64
• Crazy Tracer, 1984, Acornsoft, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro
• Oh Mummy, 1984, Gem, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum
• Pesky Painter,^[35] 1984, Supersoft, Commodore 64
• Rollo and the Brush Brothers, 1984, Windmill, MS-DOS
• Gapper, 1986, freeware, MS-DOS
• Zoom!, 1988, Discovery, Genesis, Amiga, Commodore 64, MS-DOS
• Live Wire!, 1999, SCI, PlayStation

References

1. "Tranqulizer Gun". Hardcore Gaming 101. January 6, 2014.
2. Maze Death Race
3. "MAZE GAMES", CRASH, April 1984
4. "Bumpomov's Dogs". Atari Mania.
5. "Lady Tut". Gamebase 64.
6. "ARCADE MIND GAMES", Sinclair User, June 1984
7. "Project Future Review", CRASH (Newsfield) (14), March 1985: 44.
8. "Raiders 5 - Videogame by UPL". Killer List of Video Games.
9. http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue40/caves_of_ice.php
10. "Atari 2600 London Blitz 1983 Avalon Hill". YouTube.
11. "3D Glooper". Lemon 64.
12. "Chomper". Atari Mania.
13. "Scarfman". TRS-80.org.
14. "Dot Gobbler". Lemon 64.
15. http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20195
16. "GHOST GOBBLING", CRASH, April 1984
17. "ZX-81 Software Scene", Sinclair User (ECC) (17), August 1983.
18. Passey, Chris; Uffindell, Matthew (July 1984), "Run It Again - Electro Gobble: Pacman Type Games", CRASH (Newsfield) (6).
19. "Munch Man 64". Lemon 64.
20. "Pacar". Sega Does.
21. "Pacmania". Lemon 64.
22. "Plaque Man". Atari Mania.
23. "Preppie! II". Atari Mania.
24. "Scooby Doo's Maze Chase". Invellision Lives.
25. "C64 Review - Trashman".
26. "Munch Mania". Lemon 64.
27. "Spriteman 64". Lemon 64.
28. "Floppy-Eater!". Gamebase 64.
29. "Gobbler's Revenge". Gamebase 64.
30. "GobMan". RGB Classic Games.
31. Download page for CD-Man, on DOS Games Archive, with screenshots
32. Cohen, Peter (2006-02-15). "Pac the Man X". Macworld.
33. KLOV entry for Amigo
34. Blader Runner footage at YouTube
35. "Pesky Painter". Gamebase 64.

External links

• "Maze Games" from CRASH magazine issue 3