Galaga Classic
Atari 5200 · Shoot 'em Up
Galaxian
Certified classic
| System | Atari 5200 |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Namco |
| Publisher | Atari |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Galaxian |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 11 |
Developed by Namco and published by Atari, Galaxian arrived on the Atari 5200 as a shoot 'em up.
Among the 17 5200 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #2 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 5200.
Galaxian 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
- you want to experience one of the 5200's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
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.
If you like Galaxian, the Matrix also picks…
Galaxian3: Project Dragoon Deep cut
Galaga '88 Deep cut
Space Invaders Classic
Battle City Classic Co-op
Playing 5200 games today
The 5200 library is small and arcade-focused, so it suits players who enjoy classic coin-op ports. The original non-centering joysticks are famously fragile, which is why many collectors use refurbished or modern replacement controllers.
Galaxian FAQ
Who made Galaxian?
It was developed by Namco and published by Atari.
Is Galaxian multiplayer?
Yes. Galaxian supports up to 2 players.
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.