Play Hit the Ice Online Free for Arcade.
Hit the Ice hits different when it boots instantly in your browser. Released in 1990 on the Arcade, this retro classic from Taito is ready the second you press start — no downloads, no setup.
The game is a cartoonish representation of the sport with three players on each team: forward, defense, and goalie. There are few rules, as players are encouraged to trip, elbow and kick opponents.
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| Action | Keyboard | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | ↑ | D-Pad up |
| D-Pad Down | ↓ | D-Pad down |
| D-Pad Left | ← | D-Pad left |
| D-Pad Right | → | D-Pad right |
| B (bottom) | X | Bottom face |
| A (right) | Z | Right face |
| Y (left) | S | Left face |
| X (top) | A | Top face |
| L | Q | Left shoulder |
| R | E | Right shoulder |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Insert Coin | V | Select |
⭐ Premium members can click any key below to remap this game's controls. Go Premium
| Action | Keyboard | Arcade input |
|---|---|---|
| Move | · · · · | Joystick (8-way) |
| Shoot / Check | · | Button 1 |
| Pass / Save | · | Button 2 |
| Button 3 | · | Button 3 |
| Start | · | Start |
| Insert Coin | · | Select |
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The Story Behind Hit the Ice
Hit the Ice is a 1990 ice hockey video game developed and published by Taito for arcades. It was released by Williams in North America. The game is a cartoonish representation of the sport with three players on each team: forward, defense, and goalie.
There are few rules, as players are encouraged to trip, elbow and kick opponents. Taito released ports of Hit the Ice for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Boy and Super NES. An NES version was developed but not released.
How Hit the Ice Plays
The game is a cartoonish representation of the sport with three players on each team: forward, defense, and goalie. Players have special moves, most of which are illegal moves in actual ice hockey (such as slashing, tripping, elbowing, or kicking opponents in the groin). The game is unique because instead of having six players per team, the game only has three (forward, defense, and goalie).
If a team is far enough behind, his team may receive a power-up in the form of a "super drink", making the stick of the player who consumes it flash with energy and turning every shot into a super shot for a short time. If allowed to charge and shoot, the shot will hit the goaltender with such force that he is knocked back into the net along with the puck, counting as a goal. Every player is capable of a "super shot", which must be charged beforehand.
Why Players Still Load It Up
There are few rules, as players are encouraged to trip, elbow and kick opponents. An NES version was developed but not released. In the United Kingdom, Hit the Ice was the top-selling PC Engine game in October 1991.
Taito released ports of Hit the Ice for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Boy and Super NES. The game is a cartoonish representation of the sport with three players on each team: forward, defense, and goalie. Hit the Ice is a 1990 ice hockey video game developed and published by Taito for arcades.
Hit the Ice — Frequently Asked Questions
What console was Hit the Ice released on?
Hit the Ice was released for the Arcade in 1990.
Can I save my progress in Hit the Ice?
It does — with a free account you can snapshot the game at any point using save states, then pick it up later from exactly that spot.
How many players does Hit the Ice support?
Hit the Ice supports 1 player(s) in this browser version.
Can I play Hit the Ice online for free?
Absolutely. The full game loads in the player at the top of this page and runs right in your browser — no installs, no plugins, no waiting.