Play Amidar Online
Paint the Maze and Escape the Tracer
Amidar is a fast-paced maze game that challenges your ability to plan ahead while keeping an eye on moving threats. You control a character who must paint over every spot of the board to fill in rectangles. As you color the areas, you claim territory and progress through the level. The goal is simple: cover the entire map without getting caught.
The gameplay alternates between two distinct phases. In one mode, you control a gorilla tasked with collecting coconuts while avoiding headhunters. In the other, you use a paint roller to color the board. Both modes require careful movement because enemies move in deterministic, predictable patterns known as Amidar movement. This means that once you learn their paths, you can anticipate where they will be and plan your route accordingly.
One of the most dangerous threats is the Tracer, a special enemy that patrols the perimeter of the board. Eventually, it begins to chase you directly. You must keep moving and painting to stay ahead of its pursuit. The tension builds as more of the board is filled, leaving fewer escape routes.
The Atari 2600 version of Amidar was published by Parker Brothers in late 1982. It captures the core experience of the arcade original but is frequently criticized for being significantly slower than the arcade version. This slower pace can actually help players who find the original too fast, allowing more time to react to enemy movements.
When you complete a level, you are rewarded with a bonus stage based on the Japanese lot drawing game Amidakuji. This mini-game offers extra points and provides a brief respite from the main action before the next maze begins.
Playing Amidar is about balancing speed and caution. You want to paint as much of the board as possible, but rushing can lead to mistakes. Watch the enemy patterns closely. The Tracer is particularly unforgiving, so always keep an eye on its position relative to your own.
If you enjoy this version and want to try a faster pace, you might also like Amidar Double Speed. It offers the same core gameplay but with quicker enemy movements for those who find the standard version too slow.
The game features a bonus stage based on the Japanese lot drawing game Amidakuji. This adds variety to the experience and breaks up the repetitive nature of the maze levels. The Atari 2600 port is known for its distinctive sound effects, though it does not include the arcade's full soundtrack.
Amidar remains a classic example of early arcade design. Its simple premise of painting territory while avoiding enemies has held up well over time. The challenge comes from the need to manage multiple threats at once while planning your path to cover every square.
As you play, notice how the board changes. Each rectangle you fill reduces the available space for escape. This creates a natural difficulty curve that increases as the game progresses. The Tracer becomes more of a threat as the board fills up, forcing you to take risks to complete the level.
The enemies move deterministically, which is a key feature of the game. Unlike random chasers, these foes follow set paths. Learning these paths is essential to success. Once you memorize them, you can navigate the maze with confidence even when surrounded.
Amidar is available to play online on this page. No downloads or installations are required. Simply load the game and start painting. The Atari 2600 version offers a unique take on the arcade classic, with its own pacing and challenges that make it worth experiencing. You can also try more Atari 2600 games from the same system.