Play Return of the Invaders Online

Return of the Invaders came out in the arcades in 1985, developed and published by Taito Corporation. It was a follow up to the classic Space Invaders, arriving at a time when shooters were getting faster and more complex. The game kept the familiar alien invasion theme but introduced new enemy types and movement patterns that demanded quicker reflexes.

You control a laser cannon at the bottom of the screen, moving left and right to shoot rows of descending aliens. Your main goal is to clear each wave before they reach the bottom or you run out of lives. Signature mechanics include destructible barriers that provide temporary cover, UFOs that fly across the top offering bonus points if shot, and enemies that now spiral, dive, or even reflect your shots back at you. The pacing is relentless; later stages become crowded with aggressive foes, and the difficulty ramps up sharply. It feels tense and urgent, especially when you’re down to your last life and the screen is full of moving targets.