Gradius Online

Gradius is a classic side-scrolling shoot 'em up where players pilot the Vic Viper starship through waves of enemies and challenging stages.

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About Gradius

Gradius is a classic side-scrolling shoot 'em up where players pilot the Vic Viper starship through waves of enemies and challenging stages.

How to Play Gradius Online

Your goal is to pilot the Vic Viper horizontally from left to right, destroying enemy ships, bases, and obstacles across multiple stages. You start with a basic pea shooter, but by destroying certain enemy formations, you collect power-up capsules. These capsules cycle through an upgrade menu at the bottom of the screen, allowing you to enhance your ship with options like Speed Up, Missile, Double, Laser, and Option (drones that mirror your firepower). You must strategically select upgrades to survive the increasing difficulty. Early on, focus on increasing your speed for maneuverability and acquiring at least one Option to double your firepower. Mid-game, you'll face environmental hazards and larger bosses; use your Options to attack from multiple angles while dodging patterns of enemy fire. In tense moments, especially during boss fights, prioritize movement and positioning over aggressive shooting to avoid losing your power-ups upon death, as you respawn at a checkpoint with a basic weapon.

How to Play Gradius Online

Press Play Now. The game opens in a new tab and starts in your browser – nothing to download or install.
On a computer, play with the keyboard or plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad. Open the player menu to see or remap the keys.
On a phone or tablet, use the on-screen buttons. Turn the device sideways for a bigger screen.
Use the save state option in the player menu to keep your progress between sessions.

Tip: a gamepad makes special moves and long combos much easier than the keyboard.