Is Sky Skipper on Steam?

No. Sky Skipper 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 Sky Skipper on?

Sky Skipper is available on Arcade, Atari 2600.

When did Sky Skipper release?

Sky Skipper was first released on July 1, 1981.

Sky Skipper

Jul 1, 1981ArcadeArcadeAtari 2600

Sky Skipper — frequently asked questions

Is Sky Skipper on Steam?: No. Sky Skipper 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 Sky Skipper on?: Sky Skipper is available on Arcade, Atari 2600.
When did Sky Skipper release?: Sky Skipper was first released on July 1, 1981.

About Sky Skipper

You are in control of a small plane and are on a rescue mission to free animals that are held captive by a bunch of gorillas. In order to open the cages you have to drop a bomb on the head of the captor to knock him unconscious. After that the player has only a few seconds to collect the animals with his plane until the gorilla regains his consciousness again. After having saved all animals the plane flies on to the next, more difficult level.

Summary via IGDB.

Sky Skipper on Wikipedia

Sky Skipper is a 1981 action video game developed and published by Nintendo for arcades. The player pilots a biplane and must save animals and a royal family from gorillas holding them captured. This is done by dropping bombs on the gorillas to knock them out and unlock the cages, then diving down towards the cages to pick up the freed characters before the gorillas lock the cages again.

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

Game details

Platforms: Arcade, Atari 2600
Developer: Nintendo R&D1
Publisher: Nintendo
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	1983	$10	$38	$100	3 reviews	Parker Bros.

Also released on: Arcade. We haven’t priced or authenticated that version yet.

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

$10

Complete

$38

Sealed

$100

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America Parker Brothers	Standard	PB5350	Scarce

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

Region: NA+EU
Released: 1983
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

A home port of a Nintendo arcade game that barely reached arcades, a cheap curiosity worth owning.

Sky Skipper was a 1981 Nintendo arcade game in which you pilot a biplane, bombing gorillas to free captive animals and a royal family, then swooping down to pick them up before the cages lock again. It tested poorly and was never widely released, and the cabinets were converted into Popeye machines the following year.

Despite that, Parker Brothers released an Atari 2600 port in North America in 1983. Hamster later released the arcade version on the Nintendo Switch eShop in 2018 as part of its Arcade Archives series.

What the press said at the time

Computer Entertainer Vol. 2 No. 2	May 1983	Graphics ★★ · Play-Action ★★½
Electronic Fun with Computers & Games Vol. 1 No. 10	August 1983	3 joysticks
Video Games Player Vol. 2 No. 2	November 1983	C+

“this game is simple, but original. However, the graphics are … This is one that should be tried out before making … decision to buy. Not recommended.”
— Computer Entertainer, May 1983

“There are very few twists or variations in this game, and the controls require a minimum of skill or experience—which means this game would probably go over better with little brother or sister than with real flying aces.”
— Electronic Fun with Computers & Games, August 1983

“If you're into games that require a great deal of precision, you may enjoy the challenge. Others, how- ever, will quickly become frustrated, and may find the game repetitive.”
— Video Games Player, November 1983

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. Electronic Fun rated games out of four joysticks. Video Games Player graded games like a report card, A+ down to C-.

Cartridge & preservation record

Program size 4 KB, measured from the preserved dump.

Catalogue number as recorded for the physical release.

How the Atari 2600 version differs

The arcade game failed location tests and was never widely released, but Parker Brothers licensed a 2600 version as part of its Popeye deal. The port had lower production values than the arcade original.

A retrospective review by Atari HQ rated the 2600 port as average, with simple gameplay and unremarkable graphics and sound.

Also on other platforms

Arcade

Atari 2600	Parker Bros.
Arcade	Nintendo (designed by Genyo Takeda and Shigeru Miyamoto)

Nintendo Switch. Hamster's 2018 Arcade Archives release used the ROM copied from the cabinet Nintendo of America kept in storage, the only known unmodified board set.

Worth knowing

A cabinet in the archive. Nintendo of America kept one Sky Skipper arcade cabinet in its archives. Enthusiasts scanned and photographed it in 2016 and used one of four known remaining boards to restore a cabinet.

Before you buy

Low risk, with no documented reproductions. Loose carts are inexpensive. Boxed copies cost several times as much and sealed copies far more, so the box and manual carry much of a complete copy's value. Check box condition before paying for one.