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Golden Axe
战斧
Golden Axe is a side-scrolling action game developed by Sega in 1989. The game features a medieval fantasy setting where players control one of three warriors—each with unique abilities and magic attacks—fighting through hordes of enemies across eight levels. Gameplay emphasizes beat-em-up style combat combined with mounted enemy riding mechanics, which became the game's signature feature. Players can pick up weapons and potions to enhance their combat effectiveness. The game supports up to two players simultaneously, allowing cooperative play throughout the campaign. Controls utilize simple button combinations for attacks, jumps, and magic casting. Each level concludes with a boss battle, progressively increasing in difficulty. The arcade version became widely distributed in arcade cabinets and established the franchise with its engaging blend of action and fantasy elements.
- Developer
- Sega
- Released
- 1989
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 (8.3K)
- Last updated
Golden Axe Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Golden Axe 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.
Golden Axe Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Golden Axe 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
"Golden Axe" Arcade longplay 1989
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Golden Axe released?
Golden Axe was released in 1989 for the Arcade.
Who developed Golden Axe?
Golden Axe was developed by Sega, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Golden Axe support?
Golden Axe supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Golden Axe?
Golden Axe is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Golden Axe for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Golden Axe runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Golden Axe in the browser?
No. Golden Axe streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Golden Axe?
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 Golden Axe 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 Golden Axe this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Golden Axe. 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.
