Galaxian is a shoot 'em up where you're at the bottom of the screen with aliens above you. Your goal is to shoot aliens down by aiming and firing bullets up the screen. The higher the alien, the more points you score when you destroy it. As you progress through levels, an enemy will move down the screen towards you, accompanied by a bomber that adds to the danger.
The gameplay involves moving left and right to aim at aliens, then firing bullets to kill them. You'll need to clear each wave of enemies before another one appears. With different types of aliens and increasing difficulty, Galaxian requires quick reflexes and strategy to succeed.