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Dog Patch
Dog Patch is an action arcade game released by Midway in 1977. Based on the Al Capp comic strip Li'l Abner, the game supports two players simultaneously. Players control characters who throw objects to knock out opponents, with the action taking place across a vertically split screen. Each player uses a joystick and a button to aim and throw projectiles at the other side. The objective is to hit the opposing characters while avoiding incoming objects. The game uses a black-and-white display with color overlay. Dog Patch is notable for its early two-player simultaneous competitive format, which was uncommon for arcade games of the era.
- Developer
- Midway
- Released
- 1977
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 (2.5K)
- Last updated
Dog Patch Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Dog Patch 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.
Dog Patch Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Dog Patch 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
"Dog Patch" Arcade longplay 1977
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Dog Patch released?
Dog Patch was released in 1977 for the Arcade.
Who developed Dog Patch?
Dog Patch was developed by Midway, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Dog Patch support?
Dog Patch supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Dog Patch?
Dog Patch is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Dog Patch for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Dog Patch runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Dog Patch in the browser?
No. Dog Patch streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Dog Patch?
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 Dog Patch 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 Dog Patch this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Dog Patch. 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.
