Paperboy sends players on a daily paper route to deliver papers to customers, while vandalizing non-customers' houses (by tossing papers through windows), avoiding cars and obstacles and trying to get through an entire week of deliveries. Like several Atari games of the mid-80s, the game used a novel controller, in this case a set of realistic metal handlebars that control direction, speed and paper throwing – the controller makes it difficult to accurately emulate, but a joystick or yoke-style controller will suffice. Paperboy's distinctive look, soundtrack and play style make it an enduring favorite from Atari's arcade heyday.