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Nova 2001
Nova 2001 is an action arcade game developed by UPL and released in 1983. Players control a spaceship navigating through space while shooting at incoming enemies. The game features continuous scrolling gameplay where the player must destroy waves of attacking aliens across multiple stages. Controls are straightforward, using directional inputs to move the ship and a button to fire weapons. The level structure progresses through increasingly difficult enemy formations, with each stage introducing faster and more aggressive opponents. Nova 2001 emphasizes quick reflexes and sustained firepower to survive the relentless alien assault.
- Developer
- UPL
- Released
- 1983
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 (3.2K)
- Last updated
Nova 2001 Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Nova 2001 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.
Nova 2001 Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Nova 2001 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
"Nova 2001" Arcade longplay 1983
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Nova 2001 released?
Nova 2001 was released in 1983 for the Arcade.
Who developed Nova 2001?
Nova 2001 was developed by UPL, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is Nova 2001?
Nova 2001 is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Nova 2001 for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Nova 2001 runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Nova 2001 in the browser?
No. Nova 2001 streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Nova 2001?
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 Nova 2001 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 Nova 2001 this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Nova 2001. 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.
