In Williams’ 1982 arcade game Joust, the player rides an ostrich.
Joust was designed by John Newcomer and released by Williams Electronics in 1982. Rather than controlling a human on foot or driving a vehicle, the player guides a knight mounted on a flying ostrich. Flapping the mount’s wings lets the character rise, while gravity pulls the rider back down.
The central objective is to collide with enemy riders at a higher vertical position. Victories create eggs that hatch into additional enemies, while the lava at the bottom of the playfield and the pursuing fireball add pressure. A second player can join as a rival or ally, depending on the situation.
The ostrich is a distinctive part of Joust’s identity, but the game also includes buzzards, enemies mounted on vultures, and the powerful Shadow Lord. Because the artwork is fantastical, players sometimes describe the mount as an eagle or other raptor; the game specifically depicts an ostrich.