Bigfoot Bonkers

Bigfoot Bonkers, released in 1976 from Meadows Games, Inc., is a two-player maze game offering a unique and simple challenge. Players each control a mouse navigating a grid-based playfield, leaving a visible trail behind them as they move. Movement is restricted to 90-degree turns, adding an element of strategic planning to avoid collisions with the environment or your opponent’s path. The objective is straightforward: outlast your competitor by avoiding contact with obstacles—represented as "feet"—on the screen; the first player to make a mistake loses. A core mechanic involves maneuvering and potentially trapping your adversary within a confined area, requiring careful movements and anticipation of their actions. Be mindful that pushing the joystick backwards results in colliding with your own trail, adding another layer of complexity. The game’s minimalist design—a horizontal black-and-white monitor and simple 4-way joystick controls—belies its deceptively challenging gameplay. Bigfoot Bonkers is a title best experienced head-to-head, as playing solo results in the automated opponent immediately crashing into walls. A persistent series of beeps accompany play throughout the game, an unavoidable characteristic of the machine’s sound output. Matches continue until one player secures two victories, a setting adjustable by arcade operators.