Space Invaders Game

Space Invaders puts you behind a single cannon at the bottom of the screen, facing rows of aliens marching side to side above you. Every alien you clear speeds the survivors up, so a wave that started slow and predictable turns into a fast, twitchy scramble by the time only a few are left.

The tension comes from that speed curve, not from complicated mechanics: shoot, dodge the return fire, and hold your nerve as the formation gets faster and closer to the ground. A UFO drifting across the top of the screen every so often is worth extra points if you can hit it without losing your rhythm on the main wave.

Controls

Arrow keys to move your cannon left and right, spacebar to fire. On mobile, drag to move and tap to shoot.

Tips

• Clear one side of the formation first rather than picking off aliens randomly — it opens a lane and cuts down the crossfire you're dodging.
• The last few aliens in a wave move much faster than the first ones did. Expect it, and don't panic-fire.
• Only go for the UFO when you have a clean shot; missing it wastes time you need for the wave below.