How to play

Launch missiles towards the enemies and don't let them destroy the city.

Desktop controls

Movement: Use the mouse to navigate.

In the Missile Command game, you are in charge of saving multiple cities from a vicious missile attack. This classic and retro game from the 1980s will bring you back in time with its old-school graphics but timeless gameplay. What do you say, commander, are you ready to save the cities?

Launch missiles and become a hero - is that it?

Of course, it is not enough to just fire shots in the air and that's how you win the game. After all, you are supposed to save the cities from threats! So let's go over the gameplay of Missile Command.

First of all, you are firing missiles at the ones shot by the enemy. Every level a set amount of missiles will come down from the sky - you must not let any of them hit the cities. They will start flying down faster and faster by every level, and if you let it hang in the air, it might even split into two separate missiles! Secondly, there will be attack airplanes coming in from the sides. Attack and destroy the airplanes before they fire deadly shots at the cities!

When you are aiming at a target, remember that the precise place you click is the place where the missile will explode. Thus, if you see a missile and click right on the missile, by the time your missile will reach that point, the enemy's shot will already be much further away. This game is all about timing, strategy, and precision!

Your resources are limited

You have three missile centers - one in the middle and one on each side of the screen. Between the missile launchers, on each side, there are 3 cities that need your protection. You might think that you can just shoot as much as you want, however in each of the missile launchers, there is a limited amount of missiles. Use them wisely, as the more you have left at the end of the level, the more points you score! The game is lost if the enemy has managed to destroy all six cities, as it means you have failed to fulfill your goal.

More than 40 years of launching missiles in Missile Command

Missile Command was released by Atari in 1980. It became a worldwide hit in no time, now bearing the title of one of the true classics of the "Golden Age of Arcade Games". At first, Missile Command was played on arcade boxes, alongside other classics of the time, such as Atari Pong or Atari Breakout. Over the decades, Missile Command was adapted for play on other devices, such as the Game Boy, Play Station, and Xbox. Now Atari Missile Command is as easy to play as ever - right here on your web browser, online, and for free.

Looking for more fun games?

The classic and retro look of Missile Command and other Atari games is a true original of the time and cannot be found anywhere else. If you want to discover the world of the classic Atari games from the seventies and eighties, see our collections of true masterpieces. However, if you want to play other fun and amusing arcade games, we have got the games for you!