Space Shooter

A classic arcade-style space shooter in which you move a ship along the bottom and shoot down rows of invaders that march sideways and step down. It works with a keyboard and with touch on a phone.

How to use

1. Press "Start" to begin the first wave.
2. Move with ← → or A and D, and fire with Space or ↑. On a touch screen, drag on the play area to steer and hold the "Fire" button.
3. If holding the button is awkward on a phone, switch on "Fire automatically (handy on a phone)".
4. Press P or Esc to pause. When all lives are lost, press "Play again" to start over.

How it works

• There are 40 invaders in 8 columns and 5 rows. The top row is worth 30 points, the next two rows 20 and the bottom two rows 10. A bonus ship that sometimes crosses the top is worth 50 to 300 points.
• You have 3 lives, but the game ends at once if the invaders reach the bottom. The shields break a little with every hit from either side and are rebuilt for each wave.
• The invaders move faster as fewer remain, and each new wave is faster and starts lower.
• Your best score is saved on this device.

Questions and answers

How do I get a higher score?

Invaders higher up are worth more, and the bonus ship gives up to 300 points at once. After a wave is cleared the next one starts and the score keeps adding up.

Why did the game end suddenly?

Either all 3 lives were lost, or the invaders came down to the level of your ship. That ends the game whatever lives are left, so clearing the lowest invaders first is safer.

Can I fire several shots in a row?

Only one of your shots can be on the screen at a time, so the next one fires after the previous shot hits something or leaves the screen. Shooting at nearby invaders lets you fire again sooner.