Galaga Classic
Nintendo Entertainment System · Shoot 'em Up
Galaxian
| System | Nintendo Entertainment System |
|---|---|
| Released | 1984 (originally 1979) |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Namco |
| Publisher | Namco |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Galaxian |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 9 |
Developed by Namco, Galaxian arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1984 as a shoot 'em up. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1979.
It belongs to the NES's earliest wave of games. Other notable NES releases from 1984 include Duck Hunt, Mappy and Wild Gunman. Among the 84 NES shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #20 by legacy score.
It is part of the Galaxian series; on the NES you can also try Galaga 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.
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
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 cheats & codes
7 codes on file (Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Emulator memory codes codes to start with:
| Enemy Shooting Affected | 078D:00 |
|---|---|
| Lives Mod | 0042:00 |
| Infinite Lives | SXEYUZVG |
| Auto-fire | 0044:01 |
| Invincible | 004F:00 |
| Stage Modifier | 0059:00 |
Galaxian walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Galaxian.
If you like Galaxian, the Matrix also picks…
Battle City Classic Co-op
Galaxian3: Project Dragoon Deep cut
Space Invaders Classic
Ikari Warriors Classic Co-op
Salamander 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.
Galaxian FAQ
When did Galaxian come out on the NES?
Galaxian was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1984; the original game dates back to 1979.
Who made Galaxian?
It was developed by Namco.
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.