Nominate Games That Defined Atari 2600

[Hatta]

Most of the crucial ones have mentioned already. I'd add Solaris, but you may want to save that for your "push the limits" article.

[BurningDoom]

Adventure - It was unique for it's time and launched an entire genre. The Legend of Zelda owes thanks to Adventure.

Asteroids - An early, and much-loved game.

Combat - The original pack-in game that came with your Atari 2600, so many people played it. And it had so many modes of play.

Donkey Kong - Came in a little later than others on this list, but it was a fan-favorite, and is seminal as being Nintendo's first big hit. This is also a good representative of the later arcade hits.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestial - If only for the history behind the game and how it represents the video game crash, and the general consensus of it being the worst game in video game history.

Pac-Man - It may be an abysmal version of the arcade, but nonetheless, it sold. Lots of people had it, and played it. Pac-Fever was in full swing at the time.

Pitfall - A great platformer that evolved the genre from being static screens into scrolling levels.

Pole Position - Arguably the best racing game on Atari 2600.

Pong - The biggest video game hit of the early-to-mid 70s, represented on the (then) next-generation console.

Space Invaders - This is the first "big hit" video game outside of Pong. This game started selling Atari 2600s.

Space War - The first officially recognized video game. This isn't the same exact game, but should be recognized as the tribute it is.

[SwooshBear]

Space Invaders
Adventure
Pitfall!
Moon Patrol (personal favorite)
Asteroids
Missile Command

These are my top played 2600 games and river raid.
Everything I would have said has already been named

[Anapan]

I dunno about defining the system, but these are my favorites.

River Raid and Seaquest - Steerable Bullets are awesome.
Combat - Great 2-player action with lots of game modes.
Defender - Great sound effects and graphics.
Cosmic Ark - It's pretty fun and involving. One of the best.
Video Olympics - it's pong.
Enduro and Night Driver - best driving sims I played for the first part of my life.
Berserk - this one was pretty expansive.
Yars revenge - It inspired a radio drama record. I enjoyed it a lot.
Frogs & Flies - a lot of fun on a single screen.
Q*Bert - I remember it was really popular & I used to play it.

[Hatta]

Robotron 2084 - Frenzied arcade action from the early 80s at it's best.

Awesome game, but never released for the 2600. There's a 7800 version though.

[SirJoshuaTimothy]

I vote E.T. too, that game is legendary, even if it is in a negative way

[Gao]

It might be worth bringing up Superman. It isn't a great game (thought it's decent), but it was the first home title ever based on a licensed property (I don't think there were any licensed arcade or computer games before this either, but I'm less sure about that). Such licensed games came to define much of the library of the 2600 in the early 80s, with games based on everything from ET to MASH to Porky's.

[flamepanther]

This list is going to be flooded with arcade conversions and non-exclusive titles. I love the 2600, but when I think of the games that "defined" the console, it makes me wonder why I keep one around...

[cookie monster]

keystone kapers
cookie monster munch and the huge blue controller
stampede
and probally my all time favorite frogger

[Hatta]

This list is going to be flooded with arcade conversions

You say that like it's a bad thing.