They were at the forefront of computing at the time. Revisiting the simple graphics on these throwbacks was, frankly, kind of shocking. But all will transport you back to your teen years faster than hearing “Rapper’s Delight.” Some (Pong and Breakout) are for AARP members only others (Asteroids, Centipede and Missile Command) are available to everyone. Ready for some ’80s nostalgia? AARP has just added five free, classic Atari games to the site. We whiled away hours at those consoles, our pockets stuffed with quarters, the carpet beneath our Adidas shell tops sticky from soda. It makes me wistful for when those beeping sound effects from first-generation Atari games at the roller rink competed with Heat Wave’s “Always and Forever,” played during couples skates. Speaking of classic games, remember when video games required standing? When we were teens, gaming was less about escaping into insular digital fantasies and more about hanging out with friends and flirting with crushes. The latter challenges players to illuminate a path by connecting dots to clear them from the board. The site also offers several other classic games, including Backgammon and Bridge, and AARP-registered members get more choices, including Blackjack, Codeword and Lumeno. Before I knew it, I’d played three games in a row. Basically, that’s the same part of my brain that I used to pack for a weekend getaway, back when those were a thing. Employ your special visualization skills to avoid running out of room. Block Champ requires quick decisions about where to place colored blocks that appear in varying shapes and configurations on a grid. So, Timaj and I were able to catch up and chat while we got indignant that, according the game, “Idris” isn’t a word.īut if you appreciate Black movie stars, beauty queens, Greek-letter organizations, traditional foods and gospel singers-and who doesn't?- you'll love the word game developed just for you by Sisters From AARP: Cultural Clues Word Search! Though I haven’t played the actual card game since before smartphones existed, after winning my first two hands of Klondike solitaire, I felt like a certified card shark.Ĭraving some company, I shared my screen with my girlfriend Timaj via Zoom and invited her to join me in Scramble Words while I scrambled eggs for dinner (don’t judge - they go great with wine). The game is simple - letters appear along the bottom of the screen and you have to use them to form words. Which led me to solitaire, which I wish I’d remembered while quarantined. (Look it up, ladies.) The clues in Mini Crossword were easier than The New York Times crosswords (what isn’t?), but challenging and fun nonetheless. I love language and consider my vocabulary to be kind of, shall we say, brobdingnagian. While my score was nowhere near the list of highest-ranked players, I loved the feeling of focus and absorption. With seven minutes to match as many of the same tiles as I could, my competitive spirit awakened. I first clicked on Mahjong Remix, a new take on the classic. I told her I was, well … game … then enjoyed a few moments of playtime over the next several days. So I was intrigued when a girlfriend told me she loves the free games on and suggested I give them a try. With cold weather and limited options for fun, it’s easy to lose hours scrolling through the news or social media, but for the sake of my sanity, I’ve unplugged a bit.
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