Q*bert
A pyramid of cubes, a snake on your tail and an orange little guy who swears in symbols.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1982
- Manufacturer
- Gottlieb
- Players
- 2 players, alternating turns
- Genres
- Vintage classics, Platformers
- Decade
- '80s arcade games
Few cabinets had as much personality as Q*bert. An orange critter with a trumpet nose hopping around a pyramid of cubes, and when he got caught, a comic book speech balloon full of symbols popped up that every kid knew was a swear word. People laughed at that machine as much as they yelled at it.
Q*bert isn't on UsuArcade yet, but it's on our wishlist. If you want it in the lobby, vote with “I want to play it.”
History
Q*bert came out in 1982 from Gottlieb, a company best known for its pinball machines. It became one of their biggest video game hits, and its star turned into a full-blown 80s icon with toys, board games and cartoon cameos.
Its isometric pyramid gave it a sense of depth that was rare in 1982, and its goofy humor, packed with weird and lovable characters, made it unforgettable for a whole generation.
How to play
You move Q*bert diagonally, hopping from cube to cube. Every cube you land on changes color, and once they all match the target color, you clear the round. Later levels get trickier: sometimes a cube needs several hops, or a second hop flips it back.
Enemies drop in from the top. The nastiest is Coily, a snake that bounces after you. Floating discs hover at the sides of the pyramid: hop on one and it carries you back to the top, and if Coily was right behind you, he takes a dive off the edge. Just don't jump off the pyramid without a disc, or it's a long way down.
Fun facts
- Gottlieb, the company behind it, was mainly famous for pinball.
- When Q*bert loses a life, he blurts out a balloon of symbols standing in for a curse word.
- Luring Coily to the edge and escaping on a disc is the most satisfying move in the game.
In the arcade
Coming soon to UsuArcade. Once it's here, you'll be able to sit down at its machine in your browser, let others watch you hop live and fight for the arcade high score. In the meantime, if you're into quick-reflex classics, Pac-Man, Frogger and Amidar are already in the lobby and free to play.
FAQ
Can I play Q*bert on UsuArcade?
Not yet. It's on the wishlist, so vote with “I want to play it” to help bring it in sooner.
What year did Q*bert come out?
Q*bert hit arcades in 1982, made by Gottlieb.
How do you play Q*bert?
Hop diagonally across a pyramid of cubes to change their color while dodging Coily and other enemies, using the floating discs to escape.
What similar games can I play in the lobby?
Pac-Man, Frogger and Amidar are all free to play on UsuArcade right now.
