Galaga
Galaga is a 1981 fixed shooter arcade game developed by Namco, a sequel to the earlier hit Galaxian. Players control a starfighter at the bottom of the screen, blasting waves of insect-like aliens that first fly in formation and then swoop down in swirling, unpredictable attack patterns. Its signature twist lets one of the boss Galaga enemies capture the player's ship with a tractor beam; rescuing that captured fighter forms a dual ship with double firepower.
Galaga refined the formula of its predecessor with more dynamic enemy movement, bonus challenging stages that reward accuracy with no penalty for missing, and a scoring system that encouraged skilled, patient play. It became one of the most beloved and enduring arcade titles of the golden age, a fixture of arcades and the subject of countless faithful home ports.
Today Galaga remains widely accessible through official arcade compilations, retro collections, and dedicated plug-and-play machines, and its tight, escalating gameplay continues to influence modern shoot 'em up designs.
Where can you play Galaga today?
Device by device, which of the 5 alternatives below you can play on it.
- PC
- Sky Force Reloaded (€ 9,99), Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 (€ 19,99), ZeroRanger (€ 11,99) and 1 more.
- Mac
- None of the alternatives to Galaga runs on Mac.
- Linux
- None of the alternatives to Galaga runs on Linux.
- iPhone
- Sky Force Reloaded (€ 9,99) and Galaga Wars (Free + in-app purchases).
- iPad
- Sky Force Reloaded (€ 9,99) and Galaga Wars (Free + in-app purchases).
- Android phone
- Sky Force Reloaded (€ 9,99) and Galaga Wars (Free + in-app purchases).
- Android tablet
- Sky Force Reloaded (€ 9,99) and Galaga Wars (Free + in-app purchases).
- PlayStation
- Sky Force Reloaded (€ 9,99), Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 (€ 19,99) and Arcade Game Series: Galaga (€ 3,99). All 3 on PlayStation
- Xbox
- Sky Force Reloaded (€ 9,99), Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 (€ 19,99) and Arcade Game Series: Galaga (€ 3,99). All 3 on Xbox
- Switch
- Sky Force Reloaded (€ 9,99), Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 (€ 19,99) and ZeroRanger (€ 11,99). All 3 on Switch
- Steam Deck
- Sky Force Reloaded (€ 9,99), Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 (€ 19,99), ZeroRanger (€ 11,99) and 1 more. All 4 on Steam Deck
Games like Galaga
Modern alternatives to Galaga, 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.
Sky Force Reloaded Indie
€ 9,99A gorgeous indie vertical shmup in the Galaga arcade lineage.
Sky Force Reloaded is also an alternative to 1 other classic
Sky Force Reloaded runs on PC, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Galaga Wars
Free + in-app purchasesA free-to-play mobile update for phones and tablets.
Galaga Wars runs on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Steam Deck.
Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1
€ 19,99Eleven Namco classics emulated faithfully, Galaga and Galaxian among them.
Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
ZeroRanger Indie
€ 11,99A brilliant modern vertical shooter with tight formations of enemies and an arcade credit system.
ZeroRanger runs on PC, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox. It is Steam Deck Playable.
Arcade Game Series: Galaga
€ 3,99The faithful digital re-release of the arcade classic.
Arcade Game Series: Galaga runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch. It is Steam Deck Playable.
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