Atari 2600 Astroblast is a conversion of Intellivision’s Astrosmash, a fixed shooter video game. The game features a blend of gameplay elements from Space Invaders and Asteroids. Players control a laser cannon that can scroll left or right along a flat plane to target falling objects like large or small meteors, large or small spinning bombs, guided missiles, and occasionally a UFO that crosses the screen at higher levels. The background showcases low hills and stars.
In Astroblast, there are four types of targets, each of which can move at various speeds. As the game progresses, the speed range for each target type increases, making the game more challenging and engaging for players. The objective of the game is to shoot down the falling objects and defend the laser cannon from being hit by these objects, accumulating points as the player successfully targets and destroys them.