Spacewar!

About

Spacewar! lets two players pilot starships in a battle to destroy each other while navigating a deadly gravitational pull from a central star. Developed in 1962 by Steve Russell, it runs on early PDP-1 and PDP-11 computers. The challenge lies in balancing thrust, rotation, and weapon fire without getting sucked into the sun. Its simplicity and competitive edge made it a hit in academic circles, laying groundwork for future multiplayer games. What sets Spacewar! apart is its historical footprint. In 1971, it became the first game ported to an arcade cabinet as Galaxy Game, installed at Stanford University months before Computer Space hit arcades. Only one initial unit was built, yet it drew lines of players eager to test their reflexes. With a runtime of minutes per match and no frills, its legacy endures as a foundational piece of gaming history. Some still consider it the first true multiplayer showdown, cited in early dev circles as a pivotal influence.