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1942
1942 is a vertical-scrolling shoot-em-up developed by Capcom, with the arcade original released in 1942. The NES port puts players in control of a military aircraft fighting through waves of enemy planes. Players navigate their ship up the screen while shooting continuously, collecting power-ups that enhance firepower with options like spread shots and rapid fire. Enemy formations appear in organized patterns, requiring both reflexive dodging and strategic positioning. The game features eight consecutive stages with increasing difficulty, each presenting new enemy types and attack patterns. Two players can take turns controlling the aircraft, with lives shared across both players. The gameplay emphasizes pattern recognition and timing, as enemies follow predictable routes that can be learned and countered.
- Developer
- Capcom
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 (1.1K)
- Last updated
1942 Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for 1942 on our in-browser NES emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | A | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | B | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| Enter | Start | Start / Pause |
| Shift | Select | Select / Mode |
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
1942 Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of 1942 on NES before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"1942" NES longplay
1942 Cheat Codes
23 community-curated cheats for 1942. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
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Mostly Untouchable
OZOYUEPX+OZVULSPX -
Most Enemies Die Instantly
PAEIXKNY -
Infinite Lives P1
SZXLKEVK -
Infinite Rolls P1
SZESPUVK -
Rapid Fire
AEUSGZAP -
Infinite Lives
0432:020432:03 -
Infinite R
0436:03 -
Invincibility
048E:88OLZNEE -
Both players start with 9 rolls
PASIOALE -
Start with 6 lives (1-player game only)
IESUTYZA -
Start with 9 lives (1-player game only)
AESUTYZE -
After continue, player 1 has 6 lives in 2-player game
IAKUUAZA
Show 11 more cheats Show fewer
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After continue, player 1 has 9 lives in 2-player game
AAKUUAZE -
Player 2 has 6 lives in 2-player game
IASUOAZA -
Player 2 has 9 lives in 2-player game
AASUOAZE -
Hit Anywhere
SZKULGAX+ALKUTGEL+SZELGKSO+SXULIKSO -
Infinite Dives
022D:03+0436:03 -
True Score Modifier
07BF:00+07C0:00+07C1:00+07C2:00+07C3:00+07C4:00 -
Fake Score Modifier
0427:00+0428:00+0428:00+0429:00+042A:00+042B:00 -
Shots Pierce Through Enemies
SZELGKSO+SXULIKSO -
Speed Up Game
0062:02 -
Start With 6 Lives, 1-Player Game Only
IESUTYZA -
Start With 9 Lives, 1-Player Game Only
AESUTYZE
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed 1942?
1942 was developed by Capcom, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does 1942 support?
1942 supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the NES.
What type of game is 1942?
1942 is a Action game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play 1942 for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — 1942 runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play 1942 in the browser?
No. 1942 streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in 1942?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original NES cartridge supported.
Does 1942 work on mobile devices?
Yes — the NES emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play 1942 this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of 1942. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
