Screenshots
Gradius
沙罗曼蛇
Gradius is a side-scrolling shooter released by Konami in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Players pilot the Vic Viper spacecraft through seven action-packed levels, each filled with alien enemies and environmental hazards. The game introduces the iconic power-up system, where defeated enemies release capsules that grant weapons like lasers, missiles, shields, and speed boosts. Players must manage their upgrades strategically, as taking damage results in losing recently acquired power-ups. The game features smooth, responsive controls with the ability to freely move across the screen while shooting in a fixed direction. Enemy patterns demand precise positioning and timing. The two-player mode allows alternating control between ships. Gradius offers significant difficulty variation through its adjustable lives and continues system, making it accessible to players of different skill levels.
- Developer
- Konami
- Released
- 1986
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Shooter
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 (2.2K)
- Last updated
Gradius Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Gradius 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.
Gradius Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Gradius 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
"Gradius" NES longplay 1986
Gradius Cheat Codes
30 community-curated cheats for Gradius. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
-
Invincibility
GKSGAPSX+VUSGPOLO+XKSGZOOGGKOKPPSX+NEOKZOLP+XKOKLOOGGKSGTPSX+KKSGYOLP+XKSKAOOG+1 -
Infinite Force Field Barrier
SXEGGPVGSXKGPPVG -
Always Have Laser Weapon
XZEOXGVZ+PAEOUGGG+VAEOKGEY+GGEOSGPAXZKPNGVZ+PAKOEGGG+VAKOOGEY+GGKOXGPA -
Always Have Double Weapon
XZEOXGVZ+ZAEOUGGG+VAEOKGEY+GGEOSGPAXZKPNGVZ+ZAKOEGGG+VAKOOGEY+GGKOXGPA -
Pause the game and press Up to acquire Missiles, 2 Options, and Force Field Barrier
PESPEXZA+SUSOEZVIPAEOSUZA+SLOPSLVI -
Start With 6 Lives - Both Players
TAEAILLA -
Start With 9 Lives - Both Players
PAEAILLE -
Infinite Lives - Both Players
SLVPZYVI -
Never Lose Weapons
YGEPXUZS+YGEPVUILYGUONUZS+YGKPUUIL -
Automatic Fire Is On For Normal Gun
NLLXZP -
No Enemies Except End Guys
NYPZZL -
Both players have infinite lives
SXOOYYVI
Show 18 more cheats Show fewer
-
Both players start with 1 life
AENELZLA -
Both players start with 6 lives
IENELZLA -
Both players start with 9 lives
AENELZLE -
Keep power capsules
KOXOLYSP -
Increase force field protection
NNOEKPIE -
Hit Anywhere
AAOKYAAP+AAXKGALA -
Infinite Lives
0020:05 -
Set Max. Speed
0040:0F -
Set Missiles
0041:01 -
Set Weapon Modifier
0044:00 -
Set Max. Option
0045:02 -
Set Max ? (Shield)
0046:02 -
More Score And Received More Lives
PTYAGG -
Shots Pierce Through Enemies
AVUGYEOZ -
Skip Title Scroll
ZENEPEVY -
Always Get Weapon Laser
GEKEXPAA -
Your Ship Is At The Very Top Of The Screen
YAAKIO -
Enemies Farther Ahead
KPPZZL
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Gradius released?
Gradius was released in 1986 for the NES.
Who developed Gradius?
Gradius was developed by Konami, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Gradius support?
Gradius supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the NES.
What type of game is Gradius?
Gradius is a Shooter game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Gradius for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Gradius runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Gradius in the browser?
No. Gradius streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Gradius?
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 Gradius 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 Gradius this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Gradius. 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.
