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Boxing Bugs
拳击：Bugs
Boxing Bugs is a 1981 arcade sports game developed by Cinematronics. Two players control cartoon insect characters engaged in a boxing match, each trying to knock out their opponent. The game supports simultaneous two-player competition, making matches a direct head-to-head contest. Players use joystick controls to move their bug fighters around the ring and throw punches. The action takes place in a standard boxing ring viewed from a top-down or front-facing perspective, with rounds structured similarly to traditional boxing. Cinematronics gave the characters an exaggerated, humorous visual style typical of the early 1980s arcade era, distinguishing it from more realistic boxing titles of the time.
- Developer
- Cinematronics
- Released
- 1981
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Sports
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.3 / 5 (2.1K)
- Last updated
Boxing Bugs Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Boxing Bugs 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.
Boxing Bugs Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Boxing Bugs 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
"Boxing Bugs" Arcade longplay 1981
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Boxing Bugs released?
Boxing Bugs was released in 1981 for the Arcade.
Who developed Boxing Bugs?
Boxing Bugs was developed by Cinematronics, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Boxing Bugs support?
Boxing Bugs supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Boxing Bugs?
Boxing Bugs is a Sports game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Boxing Bugs for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Boxing Bugs runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Boxing Bugs in the browser?
No. Boxing Bugs streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Boxing Bugs?
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 Boxing Bugs 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 Boxing Bugs this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Boxing Bugs. 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.
