Play Pow Online

Pow is a 1987 arcade game by SNK, playable today through MAME. It arrived during a period when run and gun shooters were a staple of arcades, offering a straightforward but intense military-themed experience. The game doesn't try to reinvent the genre; it focuses on delivering a solid, challenging burst of action.

You control a lone soldier advancing from left to right, clearing each screen of enemy troops and vehicles to progress. Your primary weapon is a rifle with unlimited ammo, but you can collect power-ups for a spread shot or a powerful rocket launcher. The core loop involves methodically picking off enemies while constantly dodging their return fire; the pacing is relentless, and the difficulty ramps up quickly as the screen becomes more crowded. It feels like a tense, non-stop firefight where one mistake can end your run.