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Metal Slug
合金弹头
Metal Slug, developed by SNK and released in 1996, is a 2D run-and-gun arcade action game for up to 2 players. Players control elite soldiers navigating through military-themed levels, battling enemy forces with various firearms and grenades. The core mechanic revolves around the Metal Slug—a powerful tank vehicle—which serves as the series' signature element and appears throughout most missions. Players can pick up weapon power-ups and grenades scattered across each stage. The game features richly detailed pixel art with explosive action sequences and destructible environments. Controls are straightforward: directional movement, jumping, shooting, and grenades. Levels progress through distinct military scenarios, from bases to vehicles, with boss fights at the end of each stage. The combination of responsive controls, weapon variety, and the tank mechanics define the gameplay experience across its arcade levels.
- Developer
- SNK
- Released
- 1996
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 (1.7K)
- Last updated
Metal Slug Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Metal Slug 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.
Metal Slug Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Metal Slug 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
"Metal Slug" Arcade longplay 1996
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Metal Slug released?
Metal Slug was released in 1996 for the Arcade.
Who developed Metal Slug?
Metal Slug was developed by SNK, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Metal Slug support?
Metal Slug supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Metal Slug?
Metal Slug is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Metal Slug for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Metal Slug runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Metal Slug in the browser?
No. Metal Slug streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Metal Slug?
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 Metal Slug 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 Metal Slug this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Metal Slug. 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.
