The story of Zaxxon takes place in a futuristic world where a group of rebels are fighting against an evil alien force known as the "X-2000". The player is given the role of a commando named Jim, who must navigate through different levels and destroy enemy bases to ultimately defeat the X-2000.
The gameplay of Zaxxon involves guiding Jim through a series of 3D-like landscapes using a combination of up, down, left, and right movements on the joystick. The player must also use his laser gun to destroy enemy aircraft and other targets while avoiding getting hit by incoming fire.
Zaxxon was first released in 1982 for the Atari 2600 console and is considered a classic of the arcade genre.