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The End
The End is a fixed-screen action game released by Konami in 1980 for arcades. The player controls a gun turret at the bottom of the screen and must shoot descending alien creatures before they reach the ground and consume a row of bricks forming the player's defensive barrier. The aliens move in formation and gradually speed up as their numbers decrease, similar in structure to Space Invaders but with distinct mechanics. Some creatures attempt to eat through the brick barrier directly, adding urgency. The player can also shoot the aliens' bombs mid-air. The game loops with increasing difficulty after clearing each wave. Controls are a joystick for horizontal movement and a button for firing.
- Developer
- Konami
- Released
- 1980
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 (4K)
- Last updated
The End Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for The End 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 End Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of The End 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 End" Arcade longplay 1980
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The End released?
The End was released in 1980 for the Arcade.
Who developed The End?
The End was developed by Konami, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is The End?
The End is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play The End for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — The End runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play The End in the browser?
No. The End streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in The End?
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 End 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 End this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of The End. 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.
