Nintendo Entertainment System · Shoot 'em Up / Shooter
Contra Force
Certified classic
| System | Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Released | 1992 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Shooter |
| Developer | Konami |
| Publisher | Konami |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Contra |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 16 |
Developed by Konami, Contra Force arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992 as a shoot 'em up. It blends shoot 'em up and shooter elements.
It landed about 7 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1992 include Mega Man 4, Mega Man 5 and Yoshi's Cookie. Among the 84 NES shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #4 by legacy score.
It is part of the Contra series; on the NES you can also try Contra and Super Contra. The series also appears on other systems with Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES) and Contra: Hard Corps (Genesis). Konami also made Metal Gear, Castlevania and Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse for the NES.
Contra Force 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 NES's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Contra Force 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.
Contra Force cheats & codes
34 codes on file (Game Genie, Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:
| Start All Characters With 9 Lives | PAUYTTLE |
|---|---|
| Start All Characters With 6 Lives | TAUYTTLA |
| Start All Characters With 1 Life | PAUYTTLA |
| Infinite Lives (All Characters) | AANVIAPA |
| You Start The Game With Lots Of Lives | UAUYTTLE |
| Keep Weapons After Death | OUEXNKOO |
Contra Force walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Contra Force.
If you like Contra Force, the Matrix also picks…
Contra Classic
Battle City Classic Co-op
Contra: Hard Corps Classic
Space Invaders Classic
Shooting Range Deep cut
Space Harrier Deep cut
Contra 4 Classic
Playing NES games today
NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.
Contra Force FAQ
When did Contra Force come out on the NES?
Contra Force was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992.
Who made Contra Force?
It was developed by Konami.
Is Contra Force multiplayer?
Yes. Contra Force supports up to 2 players.
How long does Contra Force take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Contra Force 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 Contra Force 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.