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Archon
Archon is a hybrid strategy-action game developed by Free Fall Associates and released in 1989. The game presents a chess-like board where two players control armies of light and dark pieces. Pieces move strategically on the board until they occupy the same space, triggering real-time one-on-one action sequences. In these arcade-style battles, players directly control their pieces to defeat opponents in combat. The game alternates between tactical board positioning and fast-paced action gameplay. Each piece type has unique movement patterns and combat abilities. Victory requires both strategic planning and reflexes to win individual skirmishes. The 2-player gameplay supports head-to-head competition, making Archon a distinctive blend of turn-based strategy and arcade action mechanics.
- Developer
- Free Fall Associates
- Released
- 1989
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.3 / 5 (1.5K)
- Last updated
Archon Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Archon 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.
Archon Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Archon 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
"Archon" NES longplay 1989
Archon Cheat Codes
6 community-curated cheats for Archon. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
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Unrestricted Ground Movement
AASSIEUT -
Unrestricted Flying Movement
AAKIGAGA -
P1 Automatically Wins
0628:00 -
P1 Invincible In Battle
0627:64 -
P2 Automatically Wins
0627:00 -
P2 Invincible In Battle
0628:64
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Archon released?
Archon was released in 1989 for the NES.
Who developed Archon?
Archon was developed by Free Fall Associates, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Archon support?
Archon supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the NES.
What type of game is Archon?
Archon is a Action game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Archon for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Archon runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Archon in the browser?
No. Archon streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Archon?
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 Archon 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 Archon this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Archon. 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.
