Play Gauntlet: The Third Encounter Online

Summary

Gauntlet: The Third Encounter, sometimes just called The Third Encounter, arrived on the Atari Lynx as a fresh take on the Gauntlet brand rather than a straight port of the arcade originals. Originally titled *Time Quests and Treasure Chests*, the name was swapped when Atari Corporation secured the Gauntlet license from Atari Games, and the game kept the eye‑catching NES‑style box art despite the platform shift. Epyx handled the development, delivering a title that feels both familiar and distinctly new for handheld fans.

The game stands out with its roster of eight adventurers – the classic Valkyrie and Wizard join six newcomers like the Samurai, Punk Rocker, Android, Gunfighter, Nerd, and Pirate – each limited to one player in a four‑person co‑op. Its 40‑room castle is explored in Lynx’s rare vertical orientation, giving the dungeon crawl a unique visual flow that still feels true to the series’ arcade roots.

Storyline

Gauntlet: The Third Encounter (often called Gauntlet III) drops the player into an ancient castle teeming with monsters. Generations ago an enchanted Star Gem crashed at the base of that fortress, and the loathsome creatures that emerged stole it into the depths. All previous attempts to retrieve the gem ended in disaster, with entire parties of adventurers wiped out. The creatures draw magical strength from the gem, and if it remains they will soon be powerful enough to threaten humanity. You and your friends must become the new adventurers, brave the castle’s halls, and recover the Star Gem to save the world.