Play Heiankyo Alien Online

Heiankyo Alien came out on the Game Boy in 1990, developed by Deniam. It was a portable version of a much older arcade game, and on a system filled with action and puzzle titles, it carved out its own quiet, methodical niche. You don't see many games like it, even now.

You control a lone guard tasked with protecting the ancient capital from invading aliens. Your only tool is the ability to dig holes in the ground. The objective is to lure an alien over a freshly dug pit, wait for it to fall in, and then quickly fill the hole to trap it. The challenge comes from the aliens' increasing intelligence; they soon learn to avoid your traps or even dig themselves out if you're too slow. The pacing is tense and deliberate, forcing you to think several steps ahead rather than react impulsively. It feels like a dangerous game of chess played on a grid against unpredictable opponents.