Play Pole Position online
1 player · with spectators and arcade high scores How online multiplayer works
Nail the qualifying lap, then go fight for pole.
Play nowFree, right in your browser, nothing to install.
- Year
- 1982
- Manufacturer
- Namco
- Players
- 1 player
- Genres
- Racing, Vintage classics
- Decade
- '80s arcade games
For a lot of kids in the 80s, Pole Position was the first time they ever got behind a real steering wheel. Namco released it in 1982, and its behind-the-car view, with the road stretching out to the horizon, set the template for nearly every racing game that followed.
At UsuArcade you can play Pole Position online for free, right in your browser: sit down at its cabinet in the lobby, drop in a virtual coin and head out to qualify. And yes, that voice telling you to prepare to qualify is still there.
History
Namco built the game in Japan, and Atari brought it to the U.S., where it became one of the biggest hits of the year. The track was modeled on Fuji Speedway, complete with billboards lining the course.
Its success led to Pole Position II, with more tracks, plus versions for many of the home systems of the day.
How to play
First you run a qualifying lap against the clock. Your time decides your starting spot in the race, or whether you make the field at all. Then you race against other cars, trying to finish your laps before time runs out.
Steer with the wheel, hit the gas pedal and use the shifter to switch between low and high gear. Clip another car or slide into a billboard and you go up in a big fireball, so ease off in the tight turns.
Fun facts
- Atari handled distribution in the U.S.
- The track is based on Fuji Speedway in Japan.
- It only has two gears: low and high.
In the arcade
On UsuArcade, Pole Position is one player per game, just like the arcade: you sit down at the cabinet and it's all yours. But you're not really alone: friends can drop in as spectators, watch your race live and chat in the lobby.
It runs in your browser on phone or PC, gamepad supported, nothing to install, and every game starts with INSERT COIN, free. Your best score goes on the arcade's high score board for everyone else to chase. Need more speed? Out Run and Hang-On are on the floor too.
FAQ
Can I play Pole Position online with a friend?
No. Pole Position is a single-driver game, on UsuArcade too. What you can do is have friends watch your race live, chat in the lobby and battle it out for the high score.
What year did Pole Position come out?
1982. Namco made it, and Atari distributed it in the U.S.
How many players is Pole Position?
It's a single-player game. In our arcade, others can watch your race live and compete with you on the high score board.
How do you play Pole Position?
Run a qualifying lap, then race other cars and try to finish before time runs out without crashing.
Is Pole Position free to play?
Yes. It runs in your browser with nothing to install and no payments; every game starts with INSERT COIN.
