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Zaxxon
扎克森
Zaxxon is a shooter released by Sega in 1982 that uses an isometric perspective to simulate flying through a fortified space fortress. The player pilots a spacecraft through scrolling levels filled with walls, fuel tanks, turrets, and enemy aircraft. A key mechanic involves managing altitude: the ship's shadow on the ground indicates height, and players must adjust elevation to fly through openings in walls or avoid obstacles. Fuel depletes over time and must be replenished by shooting fuel drums. Levels include outer fortress sections and open space segments where enemy fighters attack. Each fortress section ends with the robot boss Zaxxon, which must be destroyed with precise shots. Controls handle lateral movement, ascent, descent, and weapon fire.
- Developer
- Sega
- Released
- 1982
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Rating
- 4.9 / 5 (2.3K)
- Last updated
Zaxxon Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Zaxxon 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.
Zaxxon Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Zaxxon 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
"Zaxxon" Arcade longplay 1982
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Zaxxon released?
Zaxxon was released in 1982 for the Arcade.
Who developed Zaxxon?
Zaxxon was developed by Sega, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is Zaxxon?
Zaxxon is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Zaxxon for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Zaxxon runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Zaxxon in the browser?
No. Zaxxon streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Zaxxon?
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 Zaxxon 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 Zaxxon this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Zaxxon. 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.
