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Poolshark
Poolshark is an action arcade game released by Atari in 1977, designed for two players. Rather than simulating a realistic game of pool, it puts players in a top-down billiards-style arena where they control paddles or bumpers to deflect a ball into pockets while blocking their opponent from doing the same. The game uses rotary or joystick controls to position and angle shots. Each round ends when a set number of balls are pocketed, with the player scoring the most points winning. The two-player competitive format makes each match a direct contest of positioning and reaction speed. Poolshark kept the rules simple while focusing on fast back-and-forth action between opponents.
- Developer
- Atari
- Released
- 1977
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 (5K)
- Last updated
Poolshark Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Poolshark on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Poolshark Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Poolshark on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Poolshark" Arcade longplay 1977
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Poolshark released?
Poolshark was released in 1977 for the Arcade.
Who developed Poolshark?
Poolshark was developed by Atari, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Poolshark support?
Poolshark supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Poolshark?
Poolshark is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Poolshark for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Poolshark runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Poolshark in the browser?
No. Poolshark streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Poolshark?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does Poolshark work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Poolshark this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Poolshark. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
