Description

Swordquest: Airworld was the planned fourth and final installment in Atari's ambitious Swordquest series for the Atari 2600. Designed as part of a contest that blended video gaming with treasure hunting, the series challenged players to solve complex puzzles tied to real-world prizes. Airworld was to follow Earthworld, Fireworld, and Waterworld, completing the cycle of the classical elements.

The game was reportedly inspired by concepts from Neoplatonic philosophy and would have included gameplay tied to the I Ching, featuring a grid-based puzzle mechanic. However, Airworld was never completed or released, as the Swordquest contest was canceled due to Atari's financial troubles during the video game crash of the early 1980s. Its absence has left it a subject of enduring curiosity and speculation among retro gaming enthusiasts.