Play Gaplus Online

Gaplus is a 1984 arcade shooter from Namco, playable today through MAME. It arrived as a sequel to Galaga, building on the fixed-screen alien assault formula that defined many cabinets of the early 80s. The game doesn't reinvent the genre, but it pushes the mechanics further with a few clever twists that demand more from the player.

You pilot a small ship at the bottom of the screen, firing upward at waves of insect-like enemies. Your main goal is to survive as long as possible while clearing each formation. Two mechanics stand out: you can fire a tractor beam to capture certain enemies, turning them into temporary allies that add extra firepower, and you can collect power-up letters that spell out G-A-P-L-U-S to upgrade your ship's capabilities, like gaining a three-way shot. The pace is relentless, with enemies diving aggressively and patterns becoming dense quickly. It feels like a constant test of precision and timing, where every small mistake costs you dearly.