Is Dark Cavern on Steam?

No. Dark Cavern 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 Dark Cavern on?

Dark Cavern is available on Atari 2600, Intellivision, Apple II, Aquarius, IBM PC.

When did Dark Cavern release?

Dark Cavern was first released on November 1, 1982.

Dark Cavern

Nov 1, 1982ShooterAtari 2600 IntellivisionApple IIAquariusIBM PC

Dark Cavern — frequently asked questions

Is Dark Cavern on Steam?: No. Dark Cavern 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 Dark Cavern on?: Dark Cavern is available on Atari 2600, Intellivision, Apple II, Aquarius, IBM PC.
When did Dark Cavern release?: Dark Cavern was first released on November 1, 1982.

About Dark Cavern

Dark Cavern is a maze-based shooting game by M Network for the Atari 2600 console. It is a port of the game Night Stalker for the Intellivision.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Atari 2600, Intellivision, Apple II, Aquarius, IBM PC
Developer: M Network
Publisher: M Network
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action

Details via IGDB.

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Period reviews	Built by
Atari 2600	1982	$6	$17	$34	Graphics ★★★½ · Play-Action ★★★½	APh (designed by Hal Finney)

Also released on: Intellivision · Apple II · Aquarius · IBM PC. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

Complete

$17

Sealed

$34

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America M Network	Black	MT5667	Common+
North America Telegames	Silver	—	Rare

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

Region: NA+EU
Released: 1982
Controller: Atari Joystick
Players: 1
Authenticity: Low

On Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration since Nov 8, 2024 — the cartridge is now a collectibleLow counterfeit risk

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

M Network's 2600 port of the Intellivision maze shooter Night Stalker, cheap and on Atari 50.

Dark Cavern is the Atari 2600 version of Night Stalker, a top-down maze shooter that Steve Montero designed for the Intellivision in 1982. Mattel released the 2600 port under its M Network label in November 1982. APh developed it, with Hal Finney credited as designer.

It is a modest cartridge, but it is easy to find and it is on Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration if you only want to play it.

How it was made

Developed by APh with Hal Finney credited as designer, and published under Mattel's M Network label in November 1982. The original Night Stalker was designed and programmed by Steve Montero for the Intellivision.

What the press said at the time

Computer Entertainer Vol. 1 No. 8

November 1982

Graphics ★★★½ · Play-Action ★★★½

“is a VCS version of Intellivision NIGHT STALKER that out-does the original. … This is a must for maze game fans--Recommended.”
— Computer Entertainer, November 1982

“"Dark Cavern" maintains a high degree of excitement throughout play and is certainly the best arcade-style contest produced by the M-Network so far.”
— Arcade Express, December 3, 1982

“are essentially the same maze-war against mechanoids. Ironically, the Intellivision edition, though all right, is the weakest of the three.”
— Electronic Games, May 1984

Computer Entertainer rated graphics first and play action second, from four symbols (excellent) to one (poor) — stars in most years, diamonds in 1986–87 — comparing each game only with other games for the same system.

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 4 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

Also on other platforms

Intellivision · Apple II · Aquarius · IBM PC

Atari 2600	APh (designed by Hal Finney)
Intellivision	Steve Montero (designer); released as Night Stalker

Before you buy

Low risk, with no documented reproductions. Loose carts are inexpensive. The game is listed under both M Network and Telegames, with a later PAL release in 1989, so check the label for the publisher name so you know which release you are buying. Boxed copies cost a few times the loose price.