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Barrier
Barrier is a two-player action game released in 1979 by Vectorbeam for arcade cabinets. Each player controls a ship on opposite sides of a divided screen, shooting projectiles across a central barrier to destroy the opponent. The gameplay is straightforward and competitive: players maneuver their vessels vertically while firing at each other, with the barrier providing partial cover and strategic obstruction. The game uses vector graphics, typical of Vectorbeam's output during this period. Matches are time-limited or score-based, with both players competing directly in real time. Controls consist of a joystick for vertical movement and a button for firing. The game has no single-player campaign, focusing entirely on head-to-head competition between two players at the same cabinet.
- Developer
- Vectorbeam
- Released
- 1979
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 (4.8K)
- Last updated
Barrier Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Barrier on our in-browser Arcade 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Barrier Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Barrier on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Barrier" Arcade longplay 1979
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Barrier released?
Barrier was released in 1979 for the Arcade.
Who developed Barrier?
Barrier was developed by Vectorbeam, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Barrier support?
Barrier supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Barrier?
Barrier is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Barrier for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Barrier runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Barrier in the browser?
No. Barrier streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Barrier?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does Barrier work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Barrier this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Barrier. 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.
