Arcade · 1989
Golden Axe
Golden Axe pairs fantasy melee combat with magic potions and rideable beasts. Compare its three heroes before starting.
Play Golden Axe
ArcadeGolden Axe
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Try a related playable game
- Golden AxeGenesis · Another game or edition in this series
- Golden AxeDOS · Another game or edition in this series
- Golden Axe IIGenesis · Another game or edition in this series
These are separate games or editions; your saved progress does not transfer.
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Wait for larger games to download. If loading stalls, reload and try again. Check your connection and allow this site's player files if a browser extension blocked them. Once the screen appears, click inside it before using the keyboard.
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 Golden Axe
Golden Axe pairs fantasy melee combat with magic potions and rideable beasts. Compare its three heroes before starting.
Potions, thieves and stolen mounts
Ax Battler, Tyris Flare and Gilius Thunderhead fight Death Adder’s soldiers with different weapon reaches and magic. Potions fill the magic gauge; the amount stored determines the spell’s strength. Blue thieves drop those potions when struck, while green thieves carry food. Knock an enemy off a bizarrian and you can take its place in the saddle.
Know what your mount can hit
The mounts have different attacks. The cockatrice swings its tail, while dragons use fire. Watch which one you have captured before deciding where to stand: a tail swipe and a fireball cover different parts of the screen.
Another arcade brawler to try
These notes cover the arcade game. For another scrolling brawler with a very different attack layout, try Double Dragon II: The Revenge; its buttons attack left and right.
Background and mechanics: Wikipedia game reference.
Secret Codes & Cheats
Check the edition and timing requirements before entering a code. Button names refer to the emulated controller; use your assigned keyboard or controller inputs.
Arcade Level Select & 9 Continues
Hold Down-Left + 2, tap 1 on character select screenOn the character selection screen, hold Down-Left on the joystick while pressing Jump (Button 2), then press Attack (Button 1) to bring up the hidden stage select number on the corner of the map.
Campfire Magic Potion Farm
Kick sleeping blue thieves multiple times before they drop itemsDuring bonus campfire stages, line up your attacks so each strike hits both small thieves simultaneously, maximizing dropped magic vials up to your character’s maximum spell capacity.
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.
