Kool-Aid Man (video game)
Two unique video games featuring the Kool-Aid mascot.
In 1983, Mattel put out two different action games for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision, both starring the Kool-Aid Man, the TV mascot for the powdered drink. The Atari version was released under the M Network label. Although the two games share a character and a publisher, each one plays completely differently. They were first sold only through mail-order, and later showed up in stores.
**Atari 2600** On the Atari 2600, the game is a simple arcade-style action title. You control a flying Kool-Aid Man hovering over a giant pool of Kool-Aid. Enemies called Thirsties fly back and forth across the screen. Sometimes they stop, stick a straw into the pool, and start drinking it dry. You can capture them for points only while they are drinking. If you bump into a moving Thirsty, your character gets shoved backward, giving the Thirsties more time to drain the pool. The game ends when the pool is empty. Power-ups appear as floating letters—K, S, and W, standing for Kool-Aid mix, sugar, and water—which give you temporary invincibility. The opening cutscene shows Kool-Aid Man smashing through a brick wall, just like in the commercials.
**Intellivision** The Intellivision version is a more complex adventure game. Instead of starting as Kool-Aid Man, you control two kids who need to make a batch of Kool-Aid. They must search a three-story house for three items: a pitcher, sugar, and Kool-Aid mix. Each item must be carried back to the kitchen and placed in front of the sink. A step ladder is needed to reach the sugar, which sits on a counter. Two Thirsties patrol the house; if you get too close, they chase you and freeze one of the kids on contact. Once all items are at the sink, a cutscene shows Kool-Aid Man bursting through the wall, and you then control him to hunt and capture the two Thirsties. After that, the level ends and the next one starts with higher difficulty. You lose if the ten-minute timer runs out before you finish, or if both kids get frozen.
**Reception** *The Video Game Update* advised against buying the game, calling it dumb and boring and aimed at kids. GameTrailers ranked it among the most shameless licensed games ever. IGN’s Levi Buchanan said playing it felt “as painful as dropping Kool-Aid mix directly on your tongue,” and that paying $30 for it left a similarly bitter taste.
**External links** The Atari 2600 version of *Kool-Aid Man* is play
- Released
- 1983
- Platforms
- Atari 2600, Intellivision
- Publisher
- Mattel (M Network for Atari version)
- Genre
- Action (Atari 2600), Adventure (Intellivision)
- Mascot
- Kool-Aid Man
Lore & Background
The Atari 2600 version is a simple arcade style action game. The player controls a flying Kool-Aid Man hovering above a large pool of Kool-Aid. Thirsties fly across the screen and attempt to run into Kool-Aid Man; they occasionally stop to drink from the pool. Kool-Aid Man can capture them while they drink for points, but contact while moving pushes him backward. The game ends when the Thirsties drain the pool. Power-ups are letters K, S, and W, representing Kool-Aid mix, sugar, and water, granting temporary invincibility. A cutscene shows Kool-Aid Man breaking through a brick wall.
The Intellivision version is an adventure game. The player controls two children making Kool-Aid, searching a three-story house for a pitcher, sugar, and Kool-Aid mix. A step ladder is needed to reach the sugar. Two Thirsties patrol the house; contact freezes one child. Once all items are at the sink, a cutscene shows Kool-Aid Man bursting through a wall, and the player then controls him to capture the Thirsties. The level ends when both are defeated, with higher difficulty in subsequent stages. The game ends if the ten-minute timer expires or both children are frozen.
Reader's Guide
The Kool-Aid Man games are notable as licensed products tied to a beverage mascot, released in 1983 for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision. The two versions differ significantly: the Atari 2600 game is a simple arcade-style action game, while the Intellivision version is a more complex adventure game involving item collection and character switching. Both were published by Mattel, initially available only through mail-order before reaching retail. Reception was negative: The Video Game Update called it dumb and boring, GameTrailers listed it as one of the most shameless licensed games, and IGN's Levi Buchanan described it as painful. Despite this, the Atari 2600 version remains playable online via the Internet Archive, and the games are remembered as an early example of brand-based video game marketing.
Did You Know?
- The Atari 2600 version was published under the M Network label.
- Power-up letters K, S, and W stand for Kool-Aid mix, sugar, and water.
- The Intellivision version includes a ten-minute timer that ends the game if it runs out.
- Both versions were initially available only through mail-order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kool-Aid Man video game?
It's a pair of 1983 titles published by Mattel that turned the powdered-drink TV mascot into a playable video-game character. One version ran on the Atari 2600 and the other on the Intellivision, and although they share a star and a publisher, they play as completely separate games.
How do the Atari 2600 and Intellivision Kool-Aid Man games differ?
The Atari 2600 entry is a simple arcade-style shooter where you hover the Kool-Aid Man over a giant pool of Kool-Aid and blast enemies called Thirsties. The Intellivision version takes an adventure approach, giving each console its own distinct gameplay identity.
How was the Kool-Aid Man game originally distributed?
Both the Atari and Intellivision versions launched exclusively as mail-order purchases in 1983. They only hit retail shelves after that initial direct-to-consumer window closed.
Who published the Kool-Aid Man video game and under what label?
Mattel handled publishing for both versions, with the Atari 2600 edition specifically carrying the M Network imprint. The Intellivision title fell under Mattel's broader publishing umbrella.
Why is the Kool-Aid Man game considered notable in advergame history?
It's an early example of a single brand mascot being adapted into two entirely different game experiences on competing hardware within the same year. Mattel producing a shooter on one console and an adventure on the other made it a curious footnote in 1980s advertising-gaming history.
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