Blockade

A minimalist contest of strategy and reflexes, Blockade challenges two players to outmaneuver each other in a simple maze environment. Each player controls a character that leaves a solid trail as it moves, constrained to 90-degree turns on an invisible grid. The goal is straightforward: be the last player to avoid colliding with your opponent’s line or the edge of the playfield. A clever tactic involves maneuvering your opponent into a confined space, then carefully navigating until they make a mistake. Released in 1976 by Gremlin, Blockade marked the company's entry into video game development and quickly gained recognition for its unique gameplay. The dedicated arcade cabinet features a dark woodgrain finish and a simple marquee displaying the game’s title; controls consist of four direction buttons rather than a traditional joystick. A match concludes when one player accumulates six losses, though operators could adjust this number to shorten or lengthen play sessions. Blockade's design fostered numerous imitations within the burgeoning arcade scene. Featuring an Intel 8080 processor and a limited color palette, the game presented a visually austere but engaging experience for players seeking a competitive test of spatial reasoning and patience. A port was later released for the Noval 760 computer system.