Games Like Space Invaders: Space Shooters to Play Online
Updated
Games like Space Invaders are shooters where you move a ship or cannon, fire at waves of aliens and try not to be hit. Space Invaders is a 1978 arcade game designed by Tomohiro Nishikado for the Japanese company Taito. The games below are original browser shooters by independent studios, from close cousins of the arcade game to ones with bosses and upgrades.
How Space Invaders plays
In Space Invaders you slide a laser cannon left and right along the bottom of the screen and shoot upward. Rows of aliens move sideways across the screen and step down each time they reach an edge, which brings them closer to you.
You can hide behind barriers, but they wear away. The aliens move faster as you thin them out, and a saucer sometimes flies across above them for bonus points. The game ends when the aliens reach you or you run out of lives.
Players call this a fixed shooter, because you move along one line and the enemies come to you. This table shows where the games below ask for the same.
| What you do in Space Invaders | Games that ask the same |
|---|---|
| Steer a ship and fire | SpaceShooter, Cosmic Defender, Space Shooter War |
| Shoot waves of aliens | SpaceShooter, Galaxy Blaster Defend the Galaxy, Cosmic Defender |
| Dodge enemy fire | Galaxy Blaster Defend the Galaxy, Galaxy Space Defender, Neon Assault |
| Survive wave after wave for a high score | Neon Assault, Stellar Assault, Space Shooter War |
Closest to Space Invaders
These keep the core: you steer a ship and shoot at what comes down.
- SpaceShooter is the plainest take. You move a spaceship and fire at descending aliens, and the further you get, the more challenging it becomes.
- Cosmic Defender is a retro-styled vertical arcade shooter. Formations of enemies descend on you, and each level ends with a boss. Move with the mouse, a touch drag, or A and D or the arrow keys, and hold Space or the mouse button to fire.
- Galaxy Blaster Defend the Galaxy has you defend the galaxy from waves of alien invaders. Dodge enemy bullets, collect power-ups to upgrade your weapon and defeat a boss at the end of each level. Move with the mouse or a finger and click or tap to shoot.
- Space Shooter War is a classic arcade-style game with endless waves of enemies. Destroy as many ships as you can and avoid incoming projectiles. Use the mouse, the arrow keys or A and D with Space, or drag a finger sideways and hold to fire.
- Neon Assault pits a neon spaceship against relentless waves of aliens. A boss arrives every five waves, and coins buy ship skins. Your ship fires on its own, so you only steer, with a mouse drag, the arrow keys or A and D.
Shooters with levels, bosses and power-ups
Here a run is a campaign of levels or waves, often with bosses and power-ups.
- Stellar Assault sends you through 40 waves of alien enemies in a lone starfighter. Pick one of four vessels, spend the upgrade points you earn each wave on your hull, weapons, shields or combat drones, and face a mini-boss every five waves and a boss every ten. Move with W, A, S, D or the arrow keys and fire with Space.
- Galaxy Space Defender is a space shooter with waves of enemy ships and powerful bosses over six levels. Dodge super-bombs and make your shots count.
- Space Shooter Boss adds meteor showers to the enemy waves. Dodge attacks, collect power-ups and beat the final boss. Move the mouse left or right to steer and hold the left button to shoot.
- Spaceship Destruction has seven levels that get harder. Destroy the enemies attacking you and collect energy items, bombs and shields. It takes the mouse or the arrow keys.
Space shooters with a twist
- ZingAliens sends waves of aliens at you, and each one shows a number for how many hits it needs. Hit it that many times to destroy it before it escapes.
- Astro Destroyer has you destroy waves of asteroids while avoiding collisions and collecting power-ups. Navigate left or right with touch controls and tap to fire lasers.
- Neon Blaster turns the shooter sideways. It is a retro horizontal shoot 'em up with waves of enemy ships, bosses, power-ups and special weapons.
- V Shoot is a minimalist shooter with vector art visuals. Fight waves of enemy ships and collect items while you try to beat your score.
More shooters are on the shooting games page and in the space games collection. For aiming and positioning habits that carry over, read shooting games tips, and for more on the setting, see the space games guide.
Tips for fixed shooters
- Keep moving. A ship that sits still while it fires is the easiest target.
- Deal with the enemies closest to you first. They reach you soonest, and they leave you the least room to dodge.
- Expect a boss and keep something back for it. Cosmic Defender ends each level with a boss, and Stellar Assault sends a mini-boss every five waves.
- Balance offense and defense when you spend upgrade points. In Stellar Assault you can repair your hull and reinforce your shields as well as boost your weapons.
- Pick up power-ups only when it is safe. A power-up in the line of fire costs more than it gives.
Games like Space Invaders FAQ
What type of game is Space Invaders?
It is a fixed shooter. You move a cannon along the bottom of the screen and shoot at rows of aliens that come down toward you. Taito released it as an arcade game in 1978.
Can I play games like Space Invaders on a computer?
Yes. Cosmic Defender, Space Shooter War and Neon Assault take A and D or the arrow keys, and Stellar Assault takes W, A, S, D or the arrow keys with Space to fire. The site works in the browser of a phone, a tablet and a computer, and Cosmic Defender, Space Shooter War, Neon Assault and Astro Destroyer list touch controls.
Are there retro-style games like Space Invaders?
Cosmic Defender describes itself as a retro-styled vertical arcade shooter, and Neon Blaster as a retro arcade space shooter.
Are these games free?
Yes. They play free in the browser, with no install and no registration.
Keep moving, deal with the closest enemies first, and each wave gets easier to read.
