1942
1942 is a 1984 shoot 'em up developed by Capcom, a vertically scrolling shooter loosely set in the Pacific theatre of World War II. Players fly a fighter plane named the Super Ace against waves of enemy aircraft, aiming to reach Tokyo across dozens of stages while shooting down or dodging the relentless formations that sweep in from all sides.
The game introduced a loop-the-loop roll manoeuvre, available a limited number of times per life, that let players evade enemy fire and bullets by briefly flipping out of harm's way, adding a defensive tactic beyond simple movement. Shooting special red formations dropped power-ups that widened firepower or summoned escort planes, and the score-chasing structure kept players returning to the cabinet to master each wave.
1942 launched Capcom's long-running vertical shooter series, including the acclaimed 1943: The Battle of Midway, which refined the formula with an energy meter and weapon upgrades. The original remains available through Capcom retro compilations and emulation for those who enjoy classic arcade shmup action.
Where can you play 1942 today?
Device by device, which of the 4 alternatives below you can play on it.
- PC
- Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (Free + in-app purchases), Ghost Blade HD (€ 9,99), Warplanes: WW1 Fighters (€ 14,99) and 1 more.
- Mac
- Ghost Blade HD (€ 9,99).
- Linux
- Ghost Blade HD (€ 9,99).
- iPhone
- None of the alternatives to 1942 runs on iPhone.
- iPad
- None of the alternatives to 1942 runs on iPad.
- Android phone
- None of the alternatives to 1942 runs on Android phone.
- Android tablet
- None of the alternatives to 1942 runs on Android tablet.
- PlayStation
- Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (Free + in-app purchases) and Ghost Blade HD (€ 9,99).
- Xbox
- Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (Free + in-app purchases) and Ghost Blade HD (€ 9,99).
- Switch
- Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (Free + in-app purchases), Ghost Blade HD (€ 9,99) and Warplanes: WW1 Fighters (€ 14,99). All 3 on Switch
- Steam Deck
- Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium (Free + in-app purchases), Warplanes: WW1 Fighters (€ 14,99) and Aircraft Evolution (€ 9,99). All 3 on Steam Deck
Games like 1942
Modern alternatives to 1942, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium
Free + in-app purchasesA free shell with paid packs covering the 194X shooters and other Capcom cabinets.
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Ghost Blade HD Indie
€ 9,99A clean, readable vertical shooter with scoring chains, built for arcade-style repeat runs.
Ghost Blade HD runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Untested.
Warplanes: WW1 Fighters Indie
€ 14,99An indie flight combat game evoking early aerial warfare shooters.
Warplanes: WW1 Fighters runs on PC, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox. It is Steam Deck Playable.
Aircraft Evolution
€ 9,99A modern arcade plane shooter with upgrades and side-scrolling aerial combat.
Aircraft Evolution runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Playable.
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