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Xexex
Xexex is a horizontal scrolling shooter developed by Konami and released in arcades in 1991. Players pilot a spacecraft through eight stages filled with large, detailed enemy formations and elaborate boss encounters. A distinctive mechanic involves a detachable tentacle-like probe that can latch onto enemies, drain their health, and be used as a shield or weapon. The ship can also collect power-ups to enhance its main shot and options. Stage environments range from space settings to organic, biological-themed areas, with some stages featuring massive enemies that fill much of the screen. The game runs on Konami's custom hardware, producing detailed sprite work and parallax scrolling backgrounds. Xexex was released primarily in Japanese arcades and gained a reputation for its visual presentation and challenging difficulty.
- Developer
- Konami
- Released
- 1991
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 (2.9K)
- Last updated
Xexex Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Xexex 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.
Xexex Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Xexex 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
"Xexex" Arcade longplay 1991
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Xexex released?
Xexex was released in 1991 for the Arcade.
Who developed Xexex?
Xexex was developed by Konami, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is Xexex?
Xexex is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Xexex for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Xexex runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Xexex in the browser?
No. Xexex streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Xexex?
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 Xexex 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 Xexex this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Xexex. 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.
