Arcade · 1987
Contra 1987
Contra combines side-scrolling gunfights with behind-the-back base assaults. Explore the arcade edition and its weapon pickups.
Play Contra 1987
ArcadeContra 1987
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Try a related playable game
- Super Contra / Super CFamicom · Another game or edition in this series
- Super Contra ForceFamicom · Another game or edition in this series
- ContraFamicom · Another game or edition in this series
These are separate games or editions; your saved progress does not transfer.
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Read the playing helpPlaying on a touch screen
Start the game, then use its on-screen direction pad and action buttons. If they are hidden, choose Show touch controls above the game. Turn your phone sideways for more room; use Fullscreen when your browser supports it.
Use the on-screen Select / coin button before Start.
Touch support varies by emulator and game. You can still expand the keyboard layout below, or connect a compatible keyboard or gamepad.
Control panel
Arcade controls
Arrow keys move · V inserts a coin in coin-operated games · Enter starts · Z / X / A / S are action keys.
A compatible gamepad can be used after launch.
Keyboard layoutOpen / close
MOVE
Up arrowLeft arrowRight arrowDown arrow
Action
AXZS
Start a coin-operated game
- Launch the player and click inside the game screen.
- Press V to insert a coin, then Enter to start.
- If the game has its own selection menu, follow the on-screen prompts.
Default Player 1 keys are shown. If you changed them or use a gamepad, check the player’s control settings.
System: Move the pointer over the game screen to reveal the player toolbar, or tap its menu button on touch devices. Use the toolbar for save and load states, fullscreen, and control settings.
Save or load game progress
Importing replaces the save stored for this game on this browser. Download your current backup first if you want to keep it.
Launch the game to check save-state support.
Save progress keeps one emulator snapshot for this game on this browser. Saving again replaces that snapshot. Download a backup before clearing site data or changing devices. No account or cloud sync is provided.
Import an OLDGAMES backup on this same game page, then launch and choose Resume saved game. Older .state files use the player’s Load State menu.
Favorites bookmark this page; they do not save progress.
- After launching, reveal the player toolbar by moving the pointer over the game screen or tapping its menu button.
- Choose the save-state download option when available and keep the file.
- To restore it, launch the same game and choose the load-state option. Check the restored progress before replacing an older backup.
In-game saves and emulator states are different. Availability varies by game and player. Browser storage can be cleared; a downloaded backup is not cloud sync.
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About Contra 1987
Contra combines side-scrolling gunfights with behind-the-back base assaults. Explore the arcade edition and its weapon pickups.
Shooting across the screen and into the bases
Contra keeps changing the direction of the fight. Outdoor sections let Bill and Lance run, jump and shoot across the screen; enemy bases put the targets ahead of them. Two players can tackle the campaign together. Aiming follows movement, so a jump also opens up shots below your character that are unavailable while standing.
Crouching changes your jump
Crouching lets you shoot low targets and duck incoming fire. On a raised platform, crouching and pressing jump drops you to the level below. Learn that distinction before trying to leap a gap: the same jump button can send you down instead of across.
Arcade and Famicom campaigns
This is the arcade campaign. Contra on Famicom reworks the stages, so its routes and console codes should be checked against that separate version.
Background and mechanics: Wikipedia game reference.
Konami: Contra collection game list · Identifies the arcade and home-console releases separately.
Playing this edition
Where are the controls?
The control panel below the game screen shows this edition’s keys. Click inside the game before using your keyboard.
How do I save or change controls?
Open the player menu for the options available in this emulator. Save support varies by game and player; see the playing help for more guidance.
Where can I find more games like this?
Browse Action games across systems, or stay with the Arcade catalogue. Related picks below explain how each game connects.
