Space Invaders — Play Free Online

About Space Invaders

Space Invaders is the game that made arcades. Five rows of aliens step sideways and down, firing as they come, and every one you shoot makes the rest move faster until the last alien is a sprint. Four shields absorb shots from both sides and crumble as they do. When the aliens reach the bottom, the game is over.

It is the original dodge game: the threat is slow, inevitable and speeds up exactly when you least want it to.

How to Play Space Invaders

1. Press Play and start.
2. Move the cannon left and right and fire at the descending rows.
3. Duck behind the shields when the bottom row fires.
4. Clear the wave before it reaches the ground, then do it again faster.

Controls

• Left and Right arrows: move.
• Space: fire (one shot on screen at a time).
• Enter: start.

Tips and Tricks

• Shoot the columns at the edges first; a narrow formation takes longer to reach the sides and drop.
• The mystery ship at the top is worth the most; the point value depends on your shot count.
• Do not shoot through your own shields more than you have to.
• The last alien is fast and low. Wait for it near the middle rather than chasing it.

Space Invaders FAQ

Is this the arcade original?

It is a faithful browser version with the same movement, speed-up and shields.

Why does it speed up?

The original hardware drew fewer aliens faster; the speed-up became the design.

How many waves?

Endless, each starting one row lower.