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Power Play
Power Play is a 2-player action arcade game released by Cinematronics in 1985. Players compete in a fast-paced sports-style contest, maneuvering on screen to outmaneuver opponents and score points. The game supports simultaneous two-player competition, making it well-suited for head-to-head arcade play. Controls are straightforward, allowing players to move and respond quickly during matches. The game is structured around timed rounds or point-based scoring, with players aiming to accumulate advantages before time runs out. Cinematronics, known for earlier vector-based arcade titles, produced Power Play as part of their mid-1980s catalog. The competitive two-player format was a key draw for arcade operators and players looking for direct rivalry rather than solo high-score chasing.
- Developer
- Cinematronics
- Released
- 1985
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 (4.7K)
- Last updated
Power Play Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Power Play 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.
Power Play Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Power Play 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
"Power Play" Arcade longplay 1985
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Power Play released?
Power Play was released in 1985 for the Arcade.
Who developed Power Play?
Power Play was developed by Cinematronics, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Power Play support?
Power Play supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Power Play?
Power Play is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Power Play for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Power Play runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Power Play in the browser?
No. Power Play streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Power Play?
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 Power Play 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 Power Play this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Power Play. 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.
