Play River Raid Online

River Raid is a vertically scrolling action game released in 1984 for MS-DOS. Developed and published by Activision, Inc., it is a top-down scrolling shooter where the player controls a military jet aircraft.

The player pilots a jet fighter along a winding river, navigating from the bottom of the screen toward the top. The primary objective is to destroy a series of enemy bridges located at intervals along the river. The jet is equipped with a cannon that has unlimited ammunition, which is used to engage various enemy units including helicopters, aircraft, ships, and stationary balloons. Progression is continuous, with the river's course and enemy placements defining the path forward.

Along the route, fuel stations appear which the player must fly over to replenish their jet's fuel supply. Running out of fuel results in the loss of a life. The player must also avoid colliding with the riverbanks or with enemy craft, as any impact destroys the plane. Accidental destruction of a fuel station with the cannon is possible, which removes that refueling opportunity. The game continues until all player lives are lost.