Galaga Classic
Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up
Galaxian
Certified classic
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Namco |
| Publisher | Atari |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Galaxian |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 11 |
Released for the Atari 2600, Galaxian is a shoot 'em up developed by Namco and published by Atari.
Among the 72 2600 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #7 by legacy score.
It is part of the Galaxian series. The series also appears on other systems with Galaga (7800) and Galaga (NES). Namco also made Pac-Man, Dig Dug and Pole Position for the 2600.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you want to experience one of the 2600's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Galaxian is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Galaxian walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Galaxian.
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Playing 2600 games today
Most 2600 games are built for short, score-chasing sessions, which makes them perfect for a quick nostalgia hit. Original hardware is cheap and plentiful, the Atari 2600+ reissue plays original cartridges on modern TVs, and official collections such as Atari 50 bundle many first-party classics.
Galaxian FAQ
Who made Galaxian?
It was developed by Namco and published by Atari.
Is Galaxian multiplayer?
No. Galaxian is a single-player game.
How long does Galaxian take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Galaxian typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Galaxian on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.