Is Riddle of the Sphinx on Steam?

No. Riddle of the Sphinx 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 Riddle of the Sphinx on?

Riddle of the Sphinx is available on Atari 2600.

When did Riddle of the Sphinx release?

Riddle of the Sphinx was first released on December 31, 1982.

Riddle of the Sphinx

Dec 31, 1982ShooterPuzzleAdventureAtari 2600

Riddle of the Sphinx — frequently asked questions

Is Riddle of the Sphinx on Steam?: No. Riddle of the Sphinx 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 Riddle of the Sphinx on?: Riddle of the Sphinx is available on Atari 2600.
When did Riddle of the Sphinx release?: Riddle of the Sphinx was first released on December 31, 1982.

About Riddle of the Sphinx

The land of Eypt is cursed and it is up to the pharaoh's son to lift the curse. In order to do so he has to wander through the hot desert and collect treasure from ancient pyramids and temples. He will encounter poisonous scorpions, violent thieves who will steal the prince's collected items and the evil and invincible god Anubis himself. To make matters worse, the prince has to fight thirst in finding some of the rare oases scattered throughout the desert. But the prince will also encounter the good goddess Thetis and friendly traders who will give up willingly some of their items in order the help the prince on his quest. Only if he solves the riddle and brings the right items to the Great Sphinx he will eventually lift the curse.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Atari 2600
Developer: Imagic
Publisher: Imagic
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action, Fantasy

Details via IGDB.

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

Complete

$19

Sealed

$50

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America Imagic	Picture	IA3600	Common+

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

Not in Atari 50 — other compilations and plug-and-plays are not tracked hereLow counterfeit risk

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

Bob Smith's Egyptian adventure for Imagic, an unusually thoughtful 2600 game at a low price.

Riddle of the Sphinx is a vertically scrolling action-adventure written by Bob Smith and published by Imagic in August 1982. You play the Prince of Egypt, collecting treasures and items and managing your health and thirst as you try to lift a curse from the land. You must leave the right offerings at pyramids, sphinxes and other landmarks, and riddles in the manual hint at what each one wants. The game even uses the second controller and the console switches to manage your inventory.

It was Smith's second Imagic game after Star Voyager, and he wanted to move away from shooters. He drew inspiration from the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California. Critics liked its complexity and its focus on puzzles over action.

How it was made

Written by Bob Smith, his second game for Imagic after leaving Atari, and inspired by the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose. Released in August 1982, with a PAL release the same year.

What the press said at the time

The Video Game Update Vol. 1 No. 4

July 1982

Graphics ★★★ · Play-Action ★★★

“The trend for more compli- cated games is getting a little ridiculous if you ask me. Some are fun, but others can put you to sleep even faster than the 38% quicker knockout rate claimed by new Sominex 2. Riddle of the Sphinx is one of those.”
— Vidiot, February/March 1983

“In one of the most elabo- rate quest/adventure games ever created, Rid- die of the Sphinx makes you an ancient Egyptian Prince in search of the Temple of Ra.”
— JoyStik, January 1983

“Mystery is the watchword and danger lurks everywhere in this bracing change from the usual dragon-hunt.”
— Electronic Games, January 1983

“is an adventure game where you wander thru the desert, seeking to solve the riddle. This is a good game for strategy enthusiasts.”
— The Video Game Update, July 1982

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 4 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

Worth knowing

A 12-foot answer. After release, Imagic held a contest for the most creative solution to the game's riddles. The winner presented the answer on a 12-foot scroll inscribed with hieroglyphs and received the prize from Bob Smith at the Rosicrucian museum.
1983 Arkie Award. Electronic Games gave Riddle of the Sphinx a Certificate of Merit for Best Adventure Videogame in its 1983 Arkie Awards.

Before you buy

Low risk, with no documented reproductions. Loose carts are inexpensive. Buy a complete copy if you can, because the manual's riddles are part of how the game is played. Boxed copies cost a few times the loose price, so check that the manual is present and legible.