Is WarGames on Steam?

No. WarGames 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 WarGames on?

WarGames is available on ColecoVision, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX.

When did WarGames release?

WarGames was first released on December 31, 1984.

WarGames

Dec 31, 1984Real Time Strategy (RTS)StrategyColecoVisionAtari 8-bitCommodore C64/128/MAX

WarGames — frequently asked questions

Is WarGames on Steam?: No. WarGames 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 WarGames on?: WarGames is available on ColecoVision, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX.
When did WarGames release?: WarGames was first released on December 31, 1984.

About WarGames

Greetings, Professor Falken. Shall we play a game? This strategic game is based on the popular 1983 movie of the same name, starring Matthew Broderick. It might remind people of Missile Command but the action is slower and spread over six screens which represent different areas of the U.S.A. Enemy missiles, planes, and subs will attack and you must direct your own forces, which include missiles, planes, subs, and satellites, to intercept them. Each type of defense has strengths and weaknesses (missiles are fast but limited in range, planes are slower but have unlimited range). Satellites are a better all-around defense but are only available every so often. Some weapons aren't available in certain areas, and some enemies are resistant to certain weapons, so you must alter your strategy accordingly.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: ColecoVision, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX
Developer: Coleco
Publisher: Coleco
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Science fiction, Warfare
Series: WarGames

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
ColecoVision	1984	$12	$49	—	Graphics ★★★ · Play-Action ★★★	Coleco

Also released on: Atari 8-bit · Commodore C64/128/MAX. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

ColecoVision · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-19

Loose

$12

Complete

$49

Sealed

—

How often it sells

Loose: about once a month
Complete: about once a month
Sealed: about 2 times a year

Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-19.

Price over time

Loose
Complete

A loose copy sold for about $3.00 in Jul 2009, $8.99 five years ago, and $12.40 as of Oct 2026.

Show as table

Month	Loose	Complete
Jan 2010	$5.00	—
Jan 2011	$1.80	—
Jan 2012	$7.95	—
Jan 2013	$13.50	—
Jan 2014	$6.98	$16.00
Jan 2015	$12.99	$40
Jan 2016	$7.05	$14.85
Jan 2017	$8.00	$23
Jan 2018	$7.99	$13.32
Jan 2019	$8.59	$19.99
Jan 2020	$8.59	$20
Jan 2021	$8.30	$17.50
Jan 2022	$18.45	$22
Jan 2023	$14.95	$51
Jan 2024	$15.00	$55
Jan 2025	$14.23	$58
Jan 2026	$10.86	$48
Oct 2026	$12.40	$49

Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.

Release record

Territory	Label	Model #	Barcode
North America Coleco	End label: for ColecoVision and ADAM	2637	076930205822
Europe CBS Electronics	—	—	—

North America: Model number confirmed by the game's own manual.
Europe: Sold in Europe by CBS Electronics; the ColecoVision FAQ lists its model number as 4L4457. CBS carts have black labels and a differently shaped top end.

Source: Model numbers, end-label variants and CBS numbers: the ColecoVision FAQ v4.1, each serial confirmed against Coleco's 1982 catalogue, the game's manual or its UPC; barcodes from PriceCharting, check digits verified

Region: NA
Released: 1984
Controller: Hand controller, Super Action Controllers, Roller Controller (two-player)
Players: 1 or 2
Authenticity: Low

Modern re-releases are not tracked for the ColecoVisionLow counterfeit risk

ColecoVision prices, all games & how to spot a fake

Coleco's own NORAD-scene strategy game, a slower take on Missile Command with a keypad overlay a complete copy should include.

Coleco developed WarGames for the ColecoVision and published it in 1984, with staffer Joseph Angiolillo as principal designer. According to Wikipedia it does not retell the film but turns its NORAD scene into a playable defense of the United States against nuclear attack, much in the style of a less frantic Missile Command.

Computer Entertainer reported the possible deal for a cartridge tied to the film before its June 1983 release (issue 2-2) and later the license agreement (issue 2-10). The game sold: it was fifth on the video game software top five in issue 4-1.

How it was made

Developed and published by Coleco; principal designer Joseph Angiolillo.

What the press said at the time

Computer Entertainer Vol. 3 No. 2

May 1984

Graphics ★★★ · Play-Action ★★★

“However, Wargames is a true rendition of the movie with fine graphics and gameplay. If you were unable to locate War Room when it was available, Wargames is a good substitute.”
— Computer Entertainer, May 1984

Computer Entertainer rated graphics first and play action second, from four symbols (excellent) to one (poor) — diamonds through early 1987, stars after — comparing each game only with other games for the same system.

Worth knowing

From the ColecoVision manual. A two-commander team mode needs the Roller Controller: a Strategic Commander uses the hand controller keypad while a Field Commander uses the roller ball and action buttons.
From the ColecoVision manual. Super Action Controller players should not insert the overlay and instead keep it beside them for reference.
From the ColecoVision manual. If the TOTAL DEFCON drops to 1, a 60 second counterstrike countdown begins; the Satellite is the most powerful of the four defenses.

Before you buy

WarGames is one of the ColecoVision games that shipped with a keypad overlay, so a complete copy includes it; reproduction overlays exist. It plays with the standard controller and keypad. The price row shows a boxed copy at several times the loose price, so the box, manual and overlay carry most of a complete copy's value.