Breakout
Play Breakout free on RetroPlayNow: bounce the ball, smash all 8 rows of bricks and clear the wall for a bonus. Earn Retro Coins with every brick you break.
More games to play
How it works
Play, earn points and Retro Coins: the shared currency across every RetroPlayNow game. Unlock badges and climb the leaderboard! Your progress is saved automatically on this device.
Breakout is the brick-bashing classic that Atari introduced in 1976 and every arcade generation has loved ever since. The goal is simple: use your paddle to bounce a ball into a wall of colored bricks and smash every single one before the ball falls past you.
This RetroPlayNow version arranges the bricks in 8 rows of 12. The higher rows are worth more points — the top red row pays 50 points per brick, while the bottom blue row pays 15. Clear the whole wall and you earn a 500-point bonus, plus 100 extra points for every life you have left.
The ball speeds up a little with every paddle hit, so long rallies turn into a true reflex test. The paddle bounce follows the ball's impact point: hit the edges for a sharp angle, hit the center for a straight, predictable shot.
You start with 3 lives. Every ball that drops costs one, and when they are gone the run is over and your score is submitted to the RetroPlayNow leaderboard — where every 100 points becomes Retro Coins you can spend in the arcade shop.
How to play Breakout
- Move the paddle. Use your mouse, touch, or the left/right arrow keys (or A/D) to slide the paddle under the ball.
- Launch the ball. Click the game area or press Space to release the ball from the paddle and start the rally.
- Break the bricks. Every brick you hit is destroyed and scores points: the higher the row, the higher the value, from 50 points at the top to 15 at the bottom.
- Aim with the paddle edge. Hit the ball with the edge of the paddle to send it at a sharp angle into the brick wall. Use the center for straight shots while you reposition.
- Clear the wall for the bonus. Destroy all 96 bricks to win the game and collect a 500-point bonus plus 100 points for each remaining life.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Breakout?
Move the paddle with your mouse, touch or the arrow keys, launch the ball with Space or a click, and destroy every brick in the wall. Each brick scores points based on its row.
How many lives do you get in Breakout?
You start with 3 lives. Every time the ball falls past your paddle you lose one life, and the game ends when all lives are gone.
How do I earn Retro Coins in Breakout?
Your final score converts to Retro Coins at 100 points per coin automatically when the run ends. Clearing the wall adds a 500-point bonus plus 100 points per remaining life.
Why is the top row of bricks worth more?
The top rows are harder to reach because the ball has to travel deeper into the wall, so they pay more: 50 points per brick at the top, down to 15 at the bottom.
Can I pause the Breakout game?
Yes, press P to pause and resume the game on desktop. The game also pauses automatically when you switch to another tab.
