Nightmare
Atari 2600 · 1983
About this game
In Nightmare the player controls a visitor to a haunted mansion.
The goal is to escape from it through a constantly moving hatch in the attic.
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His job will be made harder by the ghosts who are still lingering around the house.
The player has to climb three floors to reach the attic, and there is one ghost for each floor.
The ghosts become invisible as they cross the house's walls.
While invisible they are harmless, so they have to make themselves visible to catch the visitor.
They'll become invisible again if they cross the house walls again.
If they catch the visitor, he'll lose one of his lives.
But once the visitor has past the ghost's floor, the ghost will be paralyzed and can be caught by the visitor.
Besides the ghosts, other dangers threaten the visitor.
A thunderstorm is breaking out and flashes of lightning hit the mansion, creating lightning balls which will roll through the floor the visitor is in.
The flashes will also make the invisible ghosts visible while the lightnings strike.
Besides, the visitor can't be standing still for too long or a trap door will open and he'll fall through it, losing a life.
To make things even more difficult, there will be also a randomly placed obstacle blocking the visitor's way.
The player starts with three lives and gains one each time he escapes the mansion.
As the player grows on points from reaching the attic or capturing the ghosts, the game gets more difficult.
The number of obstacles increase and the exit becomes invisible unless the player captures a ghost.
In higher difficulty levels catching a ghost won't be enough, as the player will have to also get the house's ground plan, which appears on a chest after he captures a ghost.
The game can be played by 2 players, one of them controlling the ghosts in the house.
About Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 (1977) was the console that first proved interchangeable game cartridges could sustain a mass-market business, effectively founding the home console industry as we know it. Most common 2600 titles are inexpensive today given how many units and copies were sold, but a small number of extremely rare releases — including several from Atari's own late-era prototype and licensed titles — are among the most valuable cartridges in retro collecting.
Gamevaro tracks Nightmare for Atari 2600 with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding Nightmare to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This A2600 release dates back to 1983.
Market values by condition
PAL
NTSC-U
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-15 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €14.46 |
| 2026-07-15 | Loose / Item only | PAL | €21.19 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for Nightmare, suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common Atari 2600 titles.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Nightmare worth?
Nightmare for Atari 2600 is currently worth €21.19 loose. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Nightmare rare?
Nightmare has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common Atari 2600 titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Nightmare?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. These are tracked as separate market values because the price gap between them can be significant, especially for older releases.
Is Nightmare worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of Nightmare is currently worth €21.19 loose, versus €14.46 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
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