Tutankham (1982). Play online

Summary

Tutankham thrusts you into an Egyptian tomb where you must crawl through maze‑like corridors while blasting mythic monsters with a laser that only fires left and right. Each life gives a single flash bomb that wipes the screen clean, and hidden warp zones teleport you to other parts of the level—enemies cannot follow. The core loop mixes frantic shooting with simple puzzles: you collect keys, unlock doors and find the exit before time runs out. Optional treasures boost your score, and remaining timer seconds convert into bonus points.

You can only carry one key at a time, forcing backtracking to retrieve a second one, while the countdown disables your laser when it hits zero. Extra lives are awarded at 30,000 points, encouraging high‑score runs. The mix of action and treasure hunting gave the arcade a distinct flavor among early‑’80s shooters.

The cabinet topped Play Meter’s North American charts in October 1982 and stayed in the top ten for months, prompting Parker Brothers to bring it to the Atari 2600, ColecoVision, Intellivision and other home computers. Critics praised its vivid graphics and addictive gameplay, a reputation that survives in retro magazines and the 2024 Switch Arcade Archives release. Even later Konami maze shooters cite Tutankham as a key influence.

Storyline

In Tutankham, you become an intrepid explorer daring to loot the maze‑like tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun. The game’s scrolling corridors twist and turn, forcing you to navigate tight passages while searching for treasure.

Every step is a race against death: asps, vultures, parrots, bats, dragons and ancient curses patrol the chambers, and any contact kills the explorer instantly. The relentless pursuit creates a tense, fast‑paced experience that rewards quick reflexes and careful route planning.