Galaxian ColecoVision box art

ColecoVision · Shoot 'em Up

Galaxian

Certified classic

SystemColecoVision
GenreShoot 'em Up
DeveloperNamco
PublisherAtari
Players1–2 players
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
SeriesGalaxian
ESRBE
LegacyCertified classic · legacy score 11

Developed by Namco and published by Atari, Galaxian arrived on the ColecoVision as a shoot 'em up.

Among the 18 ColecoVision shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.

It is part of the Galaxian series. The series also appears on other systems with Galaga (7800) and Galaga (NES).

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 ColecoVision'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 gameplay screenshot on ColecoVision
In-game screenshot (ColecoVision)

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 ColecoVision games today

The ColecoVision's library is small but rich in faithful coin-op conversions, and homebrew developers still release new cartridges for it today.

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.

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