Screenshots1 / 2
The Empire Strikes Back
星球大战：帝国反击战
Released in 1985, The Empire Strikes Back is an arcade action game developed by Atari Games based on the Star Wars film franchise. Players pilot a Rebel snowspeeder and defend Echo Base on the ice planet Hoth against waves of Imperial AT-AT walkers. The objective is to destroy as many walkers as possible before they reach and destroy the base. Players maneuver their snowspeeder using a joystick and fire button, targeting the AT-ATs with laser cannons. The walkers advance steadily, and players can also attempt to tangle their legs with tow cables for bonus points. The game features continuous wave-based gameplay, with enemy formations growing more numerous and aggressive as the player progresses.
- Developer
- Atari Games
- Released
- 1985
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Rating
- 4.5 / 5 (2.1K)
- Last updated
The Empire Strikes Back Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for The Empire Strikes Back 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.
The Empire Strikes Back Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of The Empire Strikes Back 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
"The Empire Strikes Back" Arcade longplay 1985
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Empire Strikes Back released?
The Empire Strikes Back was released in 1985 for the Arcade.
Who developed The Empire Strikes Back?
The Empire Strikes Back was developed by Atari Games, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is The Empire Strikes Back?
The Empire Strikes Back is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play The Empire Strikes Back for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — The Empire Strikes Back runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play The Empire Strikes Back in the browser?
No. The Empire Strikes Back streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in The Empire Strikes Back?
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 The Empire Strikes Back 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 The Empire Strikes Back this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of The Empire Strikes Back. 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.
