Step back into the golden age of arcade gaming with Missile Command, one of Atari’s most iconic titles released in 1980. In this timeless classic, players take on the role of a regional commander under siege, defending six cities from waves of devastating missile attacks. With limited ammunition, increasing threats, and intense pressure, only the sharpest minds and quickest reflexes will survive.
Still beloved today for its strategic gameplay and adrenaline-pumping action, Missile Command remains a benchmark in retro gaming excellence.
🚀 How to Play Missile Command
Your mission: Protect your cities from destruction by intercepting incoming threats with guided anti-missile blasts.
🎯 Objective:
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Prevent six cities from being destroyed by enemy missiles, bombers, and satellites.
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The game ends when all your cities are lost.
🖱️ Controls:
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Use your mouse or cursor to aim and click where you want your missile to explode.
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The explosion will take out any nearby incoming threats within its radius.
🧨 Bases and Ammunition:
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You have three missile bases, each with a limited number of missiles.
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Once a base is depleted, it becomes inactive until the start of the next wave.
☄️ Types of Incoming Threats:
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Standard Missiles – Basic threats that fall in straight lines.
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Cluster Missiles – Break into multiple warheads mid-air.
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Enemy Aircraft & Satellites – Drop faster and more complex missiles.
🧠 Strategy and Tips for Winning
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Aim Ahead: Lead your shots to detonate missiles in the path of fast-moving threats.
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Prioritize Targets: Focus on missiles heading toward cities first, then defend your bases.
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Conserve Ammo: Don’t waste missiles—accuracy is key to lasting through waves.
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Use Chain Reactions: One explosion can destroy multiple threats if timed right.
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Protect the Middle: Losing the center base limits your defensive options significantly.
🏆 Scoring and Progression
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Points are awarded for every enemy missile or warhead destroyed.
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Bonus points are given for each surviving city and each unused missile at the end of a wave.
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As waves progress, the difficulty increases with faster and more frequent attacks.
🌟 Why Missile Command Is Still a Classic
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🕹️ Pure Arcade Challenge: Timeless gameplay that tests reflexes and strategic thinking.
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⚡ Increasing Tension: Each wave intensifies, making every decision critical.
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🧨 Simple Controls, Deep Strategy: Easy to play, hard to master.
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👾 Retro Aesthetic: A nostalgic blast with pixel-style graphics and classic sound effects.
💬 Fun Fact
Missile Command was designed during the Cold War and reflects the era’s fear of nuclear warfare. Its creator, Dave Theurer, reportedly had recurring nightmares about nuclear devastation during the game’s development—further fueling its tense and gripping atmosphere.
Ready to Take Command?
With cities in peril and missiles raining from the skies, only you stand between safety and total destruction. Can you defend humanity in the face of overwhelming odds?
👉 Play Missile Command now and test your reflexes in this arcade classic of strategy, survival, and skill!
