Galaxian Classic
Atari 7800 · Shoot 'em Up
Galaga
Certified classic
| System | Atari 7800 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1986 (originally 1981) |
| 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 |
Galaga is a shoot 'em up released in 1986 for the Atari 7800, developed by Namco and published by Atari. This 7800 release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1981.
It belongs to the 7800's earliest wave of games. Among the 10 7800 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 (NES) and Galaxian (2600). Namco also made Dig Dug, Xevious and Pole Position II for the 7800.
Galaga 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 7800's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Galaga 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.
Galaga walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Galaga.
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Playing 7800 games today
The 7800 has a compact library with a handful of standout arcade ports and a lively homebrew scene. The Atari 2600+ and 7800+ reissues play original 7800 cartridges over HDMI.
Galaga FAQ
When did Galaga come out on the 7800?
Galaga was released for the Atari 7800 in 1986; the original game dates back to 1981.
Who made Galaga?
It was developed by Namco and published by Atari.
Is Galaga multiplayer?
Yes. Galaga supports up to 2 players.
How long does Galaga take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Galaga 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 Galaga 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.