Galaga, a classic arcade shooter released in 1981, tasks you with piloting a starfighter to destroy swarming insect-like enemies for maximum points. You move left and right, shooting formations that dive and fire bombs. Distinctive features include the ability to fire dual shots and a unique tractor beam mechanic where enemies can capture your ship; freeing it doubles your firepower. The game also offers non-combat "Challenging Stages" for bonus points. This main game is known for its intense, focused aerial combat loop.
This is a classic arcade shooter, originally released in 1981, that places the player in control of a starfighter tasked with defending against waves of alien insectoid enemies. The core objective is straightforward: achieve the highest possible score by systematically destroying the attacking swarm. The game is presented on a single screen where the player's ship can move horizontally along the bottom edge of the playfield, maneuvering to avoid incoming fire and enemy formations.
The primary gameplay loop involves engaging enemy formations that descend from the top of the screen. These enemies fly in set patterns before diving toward the player, often firing projectiles. A significant evolution from earlier titles in the genre is the player's ability to fire multiple shots simultaneously, increasing offensive capability. The game concludes when the player loses all available fighters, either through collision with an enemy or its projectiles, or through enemy capture.
A defining feature of this title is the introduction of enemy capture mechanics. Periodically, a specialized "boss" enemy will attempt to ensnare the player's fighter using a tractor beam. If successful, the captured ship joins the enemy ranks. If the player has reserve fighters, they can resume play with a new ship.
If the player manages to shoot down the boss enemy while it is actively holding a captured fighter, the freed ship links up with the player's active fighter. This results in a temporary but powerful upgrade: doubled firepower. However, this enhancement also doubles the size of the player's hitbox, presenting a trade-off between offensive power and defensive vulnerability.
The game incorporates distinct bonus opportunities designed to reward precision and survival. Every few levels, a special "Challenging Stage" occurs. During these sequences, enemies enter and exit the screen in predetermined patterns but do not fire or attempt to crash into the player. Successfully eliminating every target during this stage yields a substantial point bonus.
This main game experience has been made available across numerous platforms since its debut, including the original Arcade hardware, as well as ports for systems such as the Sharp X1, PC-9800 Series, FM-7, and MSX, in addition to modern console releases like the Xbox 360. It falls squarely within the Shooter and Arcade genres. Currently, there are no reported DLCs or expansions available for this core game package.
The integration of the tractor beam capture mechanic and the subsequent ability to gain a temporary dual-ship power-up sets this game apart from its contemporaries. Furthermore, the inclusion of non-combative bonus stages offers a strategic break from the intense action, focusing purely on pattern recognition for high scores.



Face down the ultimate alien invaders! "GALAGA" is a shooter released by NAMCO (Bandai Namco Entertainment) in 1981. It is a sequel to GALAXIAN. This title has a new model of FIGHTER with rapid-fire missiles facing off with vicious aliens! It also lets you rescue FIGHTERS captured by BOSS GALAGA tractor beams to form a Dual FIGHTER for linked dual missile fire.

Get ready to face-off against bug-like aliens again in this sequel to Galaxian. Galaga was first released in 1981 and is just as popular and beloved as its predecessor but kicks it up a notch with even more awesome space-tastic features.

Homebrew port of Galaga to the Atari 2600

First appearing in arcades in 1981, the masterpiece GALAGA finally comes to Xbox One! Move the fighter left and right, and destroy the waves of incoming aliens in this space-age shooter. Destroy all the enemies to advance to the next stage! Retrieve a captured fighter and combine into a Dual Fighter! Try your hand at Challenging Stages that appear after every few levels, and aim for a perfect score! With multiple enemy formations, the high-risk, high-reward of the Dual Fighter, and the Challenging Stages, there's plenty here for even the most hardcore players! This latest port comes with scanline and sound settings, and the option to switch between the old and new versions - perfect for true fans of the game. Experience the shining star of 80's arcades for yourself!

Mobile phone remake of Galaga exclusive to Japan. Features stages based on other Namco properties, such as Pac-Man, Xevious and Mappy.

An enhanced remake of the classic shoot-'em-up for feature phones and Android-based devices.

A modified version of Galaga, released first in the Namco Museum Remix compilation. Pac-Man rolls through a track while the Wii Remote is used to shoot Galaga enemy ships.

The 2005 release Namco Museum Battle Collection included another game titled Galaga Arrangement. However, it was not the same game. This title was re-released on Xbox 360 in Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade. It was than re-released on the iPhone under the name Galaga Remix. It featured new bosses and weapons, as well as the original Galaga.

Game Boy port of Galaga.

Galaga Arrangement is the 6th edition in the Galaga sub-series. It is a fixed shooter arcade game featured in the 1995 arcade cabinet Namco Classic Collection Vol. 1.

Atari 7800 port of Galaga.

Classic arcade shoot ‘em up Galaga was faithfully recreated for the home in this acclaimed NES version.

Sega-Galaga is the SG-1000 port of Galaga, and is strangely the only port to receive a name change. The player pilots a starship and must destroy all the on-screen enemies, similar to Space Invaders and Galaxian. However, the enemies in Galaga have the power to steal your ship to use as reinforcements (meaning the player loses a life). However, if you are able to destroy the enemy who has captured your ship, you are able to pilot both ships at once, doubling your firepower at the expense of being a bigger target. Though Sega-Galaga is essentially the same game as the arcade original, the limitations of the SG-1000 means the graphics and sound are not quite as advanced. Also the "challenging stages" have been omitted, meaning each stage is identical to the last.