Hello to you and how you be… Dan Ryan here… you there. Thank you so much for checking out this post and if you like what you see please share. A few years ago we started a segment on the podcast called Stone Age Starter Kits. The idea was Kris and I would pretend we had $100 to start a retro game collection with. The question was, if you had the console and the controllers, what games would you/could you get? The entire piece of business took a few years to complete since we started with the 2600 and went all the way up to the last generation, Generation 8. (PS4/XBone/WiiU) After making our way through that list, I thought a good idea for a new segment on the podcast would be the Stone Age Standouts; the top 5 games you should buy for each system regardless of price. And, since we have some really outstanding products for the systems covered on the show, wouldn’t it be a good idea to make this post, recapping the episode and letting non-listeners in on the fun? This month we took a look at the Vectrex, a system I was almost entirely unfamiliar with. Submitted for your approval this is Stone Age Standouts: Vectrex. 

First released for North American markets in October of 1982, then for Japanese and European markets in 1983, the Vectrex is the only vector based home console ever released. It had an MSRP of $199, about $660 as of 2026, and remained on the market for an incredibly short time, only making it to February of 1984. Now, this is largely due to the video game crash of 1983 which almost wiped out consumer gaming in North America entirely and not necessarily a reflection on the system itself. While it is certainly different, what with its vertical CRT, multi-colored game specific overlays, and singular graphics capability, the Vectrex has received strong support from the homebrew community and has a dedicated, bordering rabid, fanbase. As of this writing the planned Vectrex Mini is still on track for a September 2026 debut after raising over a million dollars on Kickstarter. The library for the system is small, clocking in at 28 official releases, and relatively expensive to collect for. That said, there are some really fun games definitely worth your time. 

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Bedlam (1983): Bedlam is a game unlike any I’ve played before. In it the player takes control of a spaceship in the middle of a multi-pointed star, the number of points changes depending on the level, and has to mow down enemy ships as they emerge from each of the respective points. Your ship can rotate in the middle but not move, giving the game a real sense of desperation as more and more ships start attacking. Oh, and the levels change shape and rotate as well the higher you go adding to the challenge. A unique, challenging title focused on arcade-like action is what you’ll get when you fire up Bedlam.

Fortress of Narzod (1983): One of the consensus “must-haves” for the Vectrex, Fortress of Narzod is another title unlike anything else on other systems. Taking advantage of the unique aspects of the Vectrex players pilot a ship through a 3D canyon of sorts trying to reach a fortress at the far end of the screen. Players can move up and down, side to side, and shoot projectiles at various enemies. Where Narzod gets interesting is the fact that your bullets, and those of enemies, can bounce off of walls and ricochet around the level. The action gets quite intense as you start dodging not just incoming enemy fire but the ricochet of your own bullets as well. It’s very Vectrex and an absolute must play.

Mine Storm (1982): Mine Storm was the pack in, built in?, game that shipped with the Vectrex making it a ubiquitous experience on the system. Not that that’s a bad thing however as Mine Storm is a wonderful Asteroids clone that has some killer explosions courtesy of the vector graphics. Being an Asteroids clone you know what you’re getting here, a single ship has to take down a horde of enemies while dodging their projectiles and debris. (or maybe they are tiny spaceships that appear after the explosions… either way) The control is buttery smooth, the sound is intense, the experience is fantastic.

Scramble (1982): Scramble on the Vectrex is wild when compared to its other, arcade, counterparts. The vector graphics give this version an insane look that I absolutely adore. The gameplay remains the same though as players are tasked with flying their ship through hostile enemy territory and blowing up said enemies and territory with either their laser or bombs all the while collecting fuel, by blowing it up of course, to keep the mission going. It’s a very fun game that gets insanely challenging as you move into tight corridors you have to navigate with absolutely no room for error. This version plays extremely well and manages to offer something a bit different than any other version.

Space Wars (1982): By the time this debuted on the Vectrex it was already a 20 year old game! This version of the very first video game is highlighted here because it is a true multi-player experience, something the console was lacking in. The object of Space Wars is to destroy your opponent's ship by blasting it to pieces or getting it to fly into the screen centered sun. It is a super simple premise that is as fun today as it was when it first hit the MIT campus in 1962. Unique to this version is the multiple ship design since the Vectrex did not display color.  

And that’s my list. As someone who really never played around with the system much before this episode I have to say, I was really pleasantly surprised. There is just something inherently charming to me about vector graphics. It reminds me of being a little kid and having my flabbers totally gasted by things like Star Wars Arcade and Tron. Sure, like a lot of early systems, there's a great deal of imagination at play. The Vectrex displayed white lines on a black screen. But, the worlds it was able to create were extraordinary. We didn't include any homebrew titles on our lists since that's not the spirit of this project. That said, there are some very cool looking titles I want to try and would love to hear suggestions. To hear what Kris had to say make sure to check out the pod through whatever catcher you use or on our very own Youtube channel. But I want to know what you think. Join the Stone Age Gamer discord, or you can find me on Bluesky to let me know your thoughts. We love to hear from you and will probably bring your comments up on the show. In the immortal words of Billy Joel, “Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes; I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again.” See you soon.