Play Space Invaders [t1] Online

You’re a tiny laser cannon at the bottom of the screen, blasting away at a slow-marching alien horde—until the survivors speed up and suddenly you’re sweating over every shot. Those bleep-bloop sounds somehow make it even more tense.

Released: 1978

File size: 3.35 KB

Game Overview

Space Invaders on the Atari 2600 is the granddaddy of shooters—those little pixel aliens creeping down the screen still give me anxiety. You’re just a lone laser cannon at the bottom, picking them off one by one, but here’s the thing: the fewer there are left, the faster they move. And those weird, chirpy sound effects? Somehow they make every near-miss feel like a heart attack.

It’s simpler than the arcade version, sure, but that’s part of the charm. No frills, just you and a wall of descending doom. I still remember the first time I cleared a whole wave—pure relief, followed by immediate panic when the next fleet rolled in. If you’ve ever wondered why people got obsessed with high scores in the ‘80s, five minutes with this will explain everything.