Is Basic Math on Steam?

No. Basic Math is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.

What platforms is Basic Math on?

Basic Math is available on Atari 2600.

When did Basic Math release?

Basic Math was first released on September 1, 1977.

Basic Math

Sep 1, 1977PuzzleAtari 2600

Basic Math — frequently asked questions

Is Basic Math on Steam?: No. Basic Math is not distributed on Steam, so there is no Steam Charts or SteamDB player count for it. Its live popularity is tracked here via Twitch viewership instead.
What platforms is Basic Math on?: Basic Math is available on Atari 2600.
When did Basic Math release?: Basic Math was first released on September 1, 1977.

About Basic Math

Basic Math (aka Fun With Numbers) is a video game cartridge developed by Atari for its Video Computer System (later known as the Atari 2600). The game was one of the nine launch titles offered when the Atari 2600 went on sale in September 1977. The player's objective is simple: solve basic arithmetic problems. Game variations determine whether the player solves addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division problems, and whether he/she could select the top number (the console randomly selects the lower number). The player uses the joystick to enter a guess, with sound effects signaling whether it is right or wrong.

Summary via IGDB.

Basic Math on Wikipedia

Basic Math is an educational video game programmed by Gary Palmer and published by Atari, Inc. for the Atari Video Computer System. The game features a series of ten arithmetic problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. The player can edit different gameplay modes to alter how the numbers in the problem are chosen, or if their questions are timed. The game was released in September 1977 as one of the earliest releases for the Atari VCS.

Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).

Game details

Platforms: Atari 2600
Developer: Atari
Publisher: Atari
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Educational

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

40/100

from 8 ratings

Collector value & authenticity

Atari 2600 · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-06

Loose

$20

Complete

—

Sealed

—

Label variants

Release	Loose	Complete	Sealed
Text # Side Label	$16	$100	—
Fun With Numbers	$24	$129	—
Fun With Numbers [Picture Label]	$28	$76	—
Math	$18	$38	$25

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America Atari	Text # - "61 basic math"	CX2661	Scarce+
North America Atari	Text	CX2661	Scarce
North America Atari	Picture	CX2661	Scarce
North America Atari	Text	CX2661	Scarce
North America Sears	Text	99808	Scarce+

Source: Catalog numbers, label types, rarity, controllers and player counts: AtariAge 2600 software database

Region: NA
Released: 1977
Controller: Atari Joystick
Players: 1
Authenticity: Low

On Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration since Nov 11, 2022 — the cartridge is now a collectibleLow counterfeit risk

Atari 2600 prices, all games & how to spot a fake

The 2600's first educational cartridge, from launch year 1977. Historically interesting, and nobody's favorite game.

Gary Palmer programmed Basic Math, which Atari released in September 1977 as one of the earliest games for the VCS. It sets a series of ten arithmetic problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, with modes that change how the numbers are chosen or put the questions on a timer. It is the only known VCS game by Palmer, who first worked at Atari building debugging stations for game developers.

It was the VCS's first educational game. Reviewers then and since have been unenthusiastic, mainly about its poor graphics and unappealing gameplay and controls. It is on Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration if you only want to see it.

How it was made

Programmed by Gary Palmer, his only known VCS game. Palmer had built debugging stations for Atari's game developers and later worked on the Atari 400/800 computers.

What the press said at the time

AllGame		1.5/5
The Complete Guide to Electronic Games		1.5/5
Video		5/10

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 2 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

Worth knowing

Renamed on Atari's 1981 list. Atari's own January 1981 retailer price list prints the new name beside the old one: "CX2661 FUN WITH NUMBERS™ (formerly, BASIC MATH™)". Dealers paid $14.00 against a suggested retail price of $22.95.
A 1983 collectible. Electronic Fun's January 1983 collecting column, the earliest 2600 collecting guide in this research, opened with the original version: "If I told you that I'd trade an original Atari Basic Math for a CommaVid Magic Card, would you know what I was talking about? You would if you were a game cartridge collector."

Before you buy

Know which label you have. Atari labels read Basic Math (text label with a side number) or Fun with Numbers (text and picture labels), and Sears sold it as Math. They are the same game, and the label decides the price, but none of them is a counterfeit concern.