Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up
Zaxxon
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | SEGA |
| Publisher | Coleco Industries, Inc. |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Zaxxon |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 6 |
Developed by SEGA and published by Coleco Industries, Inc., Zaxxon arrived on the Atari 2600 as a shoot 'em up.
Among the 72 2600 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #22 by legacy score.
It is part of the Zaxxon series. The series also appears on other systems with Zaxxon 3-D (Master System) and Zaxxon (5200). SEGA also made Pengo, Tac/Scan and Congo Bongo for the 2600.
Zaxxon supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.
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 have a friend to play against
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Zaxxon 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.
Zaxxon walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Zaxxon.
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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.
Zaxxon FAQ
Who made Zaxxon?
It was developed by SEGA and published by Coleco Industries, Inc..
Is Zaxxon multiplayer?
Yes. Zaxxon supports up to 2 players.
How long does Zaxxon take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Zaxxon 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 Zaxxon 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.