Night Driver

Atari • 1976

Night Driver — Title screen
Title screen
Night Driver — Gameplay
Gameplay

Experience the thrill of high-speed pursuit in Night Driver, an early example of first-person driving gameplay released by Atari in 1976. Players take control of a lone vehicle navigating a winding highway, attempting to evade pursuing police cars while maintaining a safe speed. The objective is to outrun law enforcement and complete the course without crashing or exceeding the posted limits. Originally designed for upright cabinets, Night Driver was notably adapted by Atari to utilize surplus “Highway” sitdown arcade cabinets. These conversions were successful, with kits also produced to allow existing Highway cabinets in arcades to be retrofitted. The game’s unique configuration demonstrates an effort to maximize the use of available hardware and expand its reach within the arcade market. Night Driver offers a single-player experience focused on skillful driving and quick reflexes – a straightforward but engaging challenge for players seeking a taste of early arcade racing.

Details

Manufacturer
Atari
Year
1976
Players
1
Genre
Driving / 1st Person
Display
raster
Emulation status
imperfect
MAME ID
nitedrvr

Machine data derived from the MAME project.