Nintendo Entertainment System · Shoot 'em Up
Galaga
Certified classic
| System | Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Released | 1985 (originally 1981) |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Namco |
| Publisher | Bandai |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Galaxian |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 11 |
Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, Galaga is a shoot 'em up developed by Namco and published by Bandai. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1981.
It belongs to the NES's earliest wave of games. Other notable NES releases from 1985 include Super Mario Bros., Excitebike and Ice Climber. Among the 84 NES shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #12 by legacy score.
It is part of the Galaxian series; on the NES you can also try Galaxian and Galaga: Demons of Death. The series also appears on other systems with Galaga (7800) and Galaxian (2600). Namco also made Pac-Man, Battle City and Mappy for the NES.
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 NES'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 cheats & codes
2 codes on file (Other codes). Here are a few Other codes codes to start with:
| Shoot Like There's Two Planes | AEAVYA |
|---|---|
| Start A New Game On A Different Stage | PAGGXI |
Galaga walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Galaga.
If you like Galaga, the Matrix also picks…
Battle City Classic Co-op
Galaga '88 Deep cut
Galaxian3: Project Dragoon Deep cut
Space Invaders Classic
Jackal Classic Co-op
Ikari Warriors Classic Co-op
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.
Galaga FAQ
When did Galaga come out on the NES?
Galaga was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985; the original game dates back to 1981.
Who made Galaga?
It was developed by Namco and published by Bandai.
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.