Commodore 64 · Shoot 'em Up
Zaxxon
| System | Commodore 64 |
|---|---|
| Released | 1984 (originally 1982) |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Sega |
| Publisher | Sega |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Zaxxon |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 5 |
Released for the Commodore 64 in 1984, Zaxxon is a shoot 'em up developed by Sega. This C64 release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1982.
It landed about 2 years into the C64's life. Other notable C64 releases from 1984 include Space Taxi, Raid over Moscow and Questron. Among the 157 C64 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #16 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 (2600). Sega also made Golden Axe, Altered Beast and Shinobi for the C64.
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)
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.
If you like Zaxxon, the Matrix also picks…
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Defender Classic
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Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 Deep cut
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Playing C64 games today
C64 games loaded from cassette or floppy disk, and many reward patience and practice. The THEC64 reissues make original-style play easy on modern TVs, and Rec0m88 supports the C64 if you own your games.
Zaxxon FAQ
When did Zaxxon come out on the C64?
Zaxxon was released for the Commodore 64 in 1984; the original game dates back to 1982.
Who made Zaxxon?
It was developed by Sega.
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.