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Prisoners of War
战俘
Prisoners of War is a 1989 action game developed by SNK for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Players control a character navigating side-scrolling levels filled with enemies and obstacles. The game features straightforward combat mechanics using punch and kick attacks mapped to controller buttons. Progress through the game requires completing multiple stages, each with increasing difficulty and enemy variety. The action is fast-paced, demanding quick reflexes and careful timing to avoid enemy attacks. Players can collect power-ups scattered throughout levels to enhance their abilities temporarily. The game employs a lives system, with the player receiving limited continues to reach the final boss. Level design emphasizes forward momentum, encouraging players to advance through enemy formations rather than rely on defense. Controls are responsive and intuitive, typical of SNK's action game design philosophy of the era.
- Developer
- SNK
- Released
- 1989
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 1P
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 (861)
- Last updated
Prisoners of War Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Prisoners of War 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.
Prisoners of War Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Prisoners of War 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
"Prisoners of War" NES longplay 1989
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Prisoners of War released?
Prisoners of War was released in 1989 for the NES.
Who developed Prisoners of War?
Prisoners of War was developed by SNK, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Prisoners of War support?
Prisoners of War is a single-player Action game for the NES.
What type of game is Prisoners of War?
Prisoners of War is a Action game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Prisoners of War for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Prisoners of War runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Prisoners of War in the browser?
No. Prisoners of War streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Prisoners of War?
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 Prisoners of War 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 Prisoners of War this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Prisoners of War. 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.
