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Gain Ground

Arcade

Arcade

Gain Ground is an arcade style action game with a bit of strategy thrown in. The goal is get all of the soldiers to the opposite side of the screen or to kill all of the enemies. Each soldier in the army has a unique specialization, from among 20 types. Each soldier can attack in two different wa...

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Developer
Sega Enterprises

Released on
1988

Size
1–3 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

Gain Ground is an arcade style action game with a bit of strategy thrown in. The goal is get all of the soldiers to the opposite side of the screen or to kill all of the enemies. Each soldier in the army has a unique specialization, from among 20 types. Each soldier can attack in two different ways, using either a normal weapon or a special weapon. The strategy comes from deciding which soldier would do best in which situation. Some weapons are better at dealing with certain enemies and obstacles than other weapons.

Players start with only three soldiers but can encounter other soldiers that can be rescued, by touching them. If the new soldier survives long enough to reach the exit, they can be added to the soldier inventory. The number of possible soldier in a player’s army is over 30 soldiers. There are 50 stages total, divided into rounds of 10. At the end of each round, players encounter an enemy boss.

Gain Ground

Overview & History

Released by Sega in 1988 for the System 24 arcade hardware, Gain Ground is a brilliant anomaly of tactical action design. Set in a distant dystopian future, the narrative revolves around a virtual reality simulation gone rogue, trapping its architects within a hostile historical and futuristic theme park. To rescue them, elite warriors must fight their way through 40 multi-tiered stages spanning prehistoric eras, medieval kingdoms, and futuristic cyber-scapes. Distinct from standard side-scrollers, the arcade original is celebrated for its isometric top-down perspective, blending fast-paced combat with tactical rescue mechanics where fallen comrades can be picked up and added to your active roster.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional run-and-gun titles, Gain Ground operates on a unique grid-based movement system combined with real-time strategic positioning. You begin each stage with a limited squad, but hidden NPCs are scattered across the battlefield waiting to be rescued. Successfully carrying a civilian to the designated exit point permanently adds them to your selectable character pool. The roster includes 20 distinct fighters wielding specialized weaponry, ranging from short-range broadswords and crossbows to heat-seeking missile launchers, grenades, and shields. Managing your squad is critical: if your active character falls, you must cycle to the next available soldier. The game also features intense boss encounters and a timed countdown that forces aggressive progression, rewarding spatial awareness and weapon-type mastery over mindless button-mashing.