Play Arkanoid Online

Summary

Arkanoid turns the classic Breakout idea into a futuristic bounce‑off where you pilot a little Vaus ship that shoots an energy bolt at a wall of colorful bricks. When the bolt rebounds off the paddle, you try to clear every block while catching the occasional power‑up that drifts down like a tiny glowing cargo. Laser cannons let you blast through bricks, a catch‑device lets you launch the bolt at any angle, and another item slows the ball for precise control. Some bricks are indestructible or need several hits, adding a puzzle edge to the pure reflex gameplay.

The NES version even bundled a custom paddle controller, which made the arcade feel sit right on your couch. Computer Gaming World named it the year's Best Arcade Translation, praising its crisp graphics and faithful physics. Critics called the game fast, colourful and hypnotically addictive, and it topped arcade conversion‑kit charts in the US in 1987. Those accolades earned it a Silver Award from Gamest and cemented its reputation as the go‑to block‑breaker of the late ’80s.

Its neon‑lit aesthetic was inspired by the film Tron, a touch that helped revitalize the dormant block‑breaker genre. Success spawned a string of sequels—from Tournament Arkanoid to the modern Arkanoid: Eternal Battle—showing the formula still holds appeal. Even today you’ll spot its influence in mobile mashups and indie titles that borrow its power‑up dynamics.

Storyline

Arkanoid’s story begins when the starship Arkanoid is assaulted by a mysterious space entity called DOH. The attack forces the tiny paddle‑shaped vessel Vaus to break free and pilot its own desperate escape. As the player guides Vaus through the increasingly chaotic levels, the final confrontation arrives on stage 33 in most releases—or stage 36 on the NES version—where DOH awaits as the ultimate boss. At this point the game removes the continue option; losing all lives ends the run permanently.

If Vaus manages to defeat DOH, the ending sequence shows time rewinding, the warped arena snapping back to normal, and Vaus slipping back into the restored Arkanoid just in time. A brief message then warns that the journey has only begun and that DOH’s threat is far from over.