Is Subterranea on Steam?

No. Subterranea 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 Subterranea on?

Subterranea is available on Atari 2600.

When did Subterranea release?

Subterranea was first released on December 31, 1983.

Subterranea

Dec 31, 1983ShooterArcadeAtari 2600

Subterranea — frequently asked questions

Is Subterranea on Steam?: No. Subterranea 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 Subterranea on?: Subterranea is available on Atari 2600.
When did Subterranea release?: Subterranea was first released on December 31, 1983.

About Subterranea

Subterranea is Imagic's entry into the Defender category. Subterranea's gameplay is broken into two types of screens. The first is a side view dogfight between your ship and some hapless enemies that are trying to home in on it. Things heat up in the second (and far more common) type of screen, which consists of Defender-style action minus the humanoids. You're required to shoot a specific number of aliens, then pass through a gate to the next stage. Like Defender, aliens come in all shapes and sizes, and have varying attack patterns. Some of them shoot at you, some bounce, but all the action is a far cry faster than Defender. Once all the aliens are destroyed, you must pass through an electro gate that zaps in certain patterns--failing this forces you to repeat the current level without scoring any points. After at least three Defender style screens, it's back to the dogfight. Subterranea awards extra lives not by scoring, but by completing stages without being hit. while Subterranea borrows concepts from other games and doesn't appear to be very original, there's just something about it that keeps you coming back for yet another game.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Atari 2600
Developer: Imagic
Publisher: Imagic
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Themes: Action, Science fiction

Details via IGDB.

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

$156

Complete

$688

Sealed

$740

Release record

Territory	Label	Catalog #	Rarity
North America Imagic	Text	03213	Rare+

Also released in South America by Polygram, JVP.

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

Region: NA
Released: 1983
Controller: Atari Joystick
Players: 1 - 2
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 late Imagic release with a moderate rarity premium.

Mark Klein designed Subterranea, released by Imagic in December 1983. AtariAge rates it 6, so it is uncommon rather than rare. Little is documented about the game beyond its designer, publisher and release date.

What the press said at the time

Computer Entertainer Vol. 2 No. 10

January 1984

Graphics ★★★ · Play-Action ★★

“The graphics in SUBTERRANEA are pretty, and the flying creatures of the tunnels are nicely varied. However, there is little more to the game than flying and shooting.”
— Computer Entertainer, January 1984

“The graphics are well-defined and colorful, the play action is very fluid, and the sound effects adequate. Though there is nothing really new in this game, the blend of various factors is done so well that the game succeeds as good entertaining fun.”
— Electronic Games, July 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.