Space Invaders - Complete Game Guide
Space Invaders is the classic alien-shooting arcade game. Rows of aliens march across the screen and slowly descend toward your ship. Move left and right and fire upward to destroy them all before they reach the bottom.
Type
Shooter
Lives
3
Controls
Tap / Keys
Score
Aliens Destroyed
How to Play
A formation of 55 aliens (5 rows of 11) marches left and right across the screen. Each time they hit a wall, they drop down a row. Your ship sits at the bottom - move it to dodge enemy fire and shoot upward to destroy aliens.
- Tap left side of screen or press Left arrow to move left
- Tap right side of screen or press Right arrow to move right
- Tap centre or press Space/Up to fire
- You can have up to 2 bullets on screen at once
- Destroy all 55 aliens to win
Tips and Strategy
Pro tip: Pick off the aliens from one side first. This shortens their march path and gives you more time before they descend to your level.
- Focus on the bottom rows first - they are closest to you and shoot at you
- The fewer aliens remaining, the faster they move - be ready for sudden speed increases
- Stay mobile - don't sit still or enemy bullets will find you
- Watch for enemy bullets while lining up your shots
- Top row aliens (squid) are worth 50 points - try to hit them when you can
Scoring
Different alien types are worth different points. The harder-to-reach aliens at the top are worth more.
- Top row (squid): 50 points each
- Middle rows (crab): 30 points each
- Bottom rows (octopus): 10 points each
Frequently Asked Questions
Move your ship left and right and shoot upward at descending aliens. Destroy all 55 aliens to win. You have 3 lives - enemy bullets and aliens reaching the bottom will end the game.
On mobile, tap the left third of the screen to move left, the right third to move right, and the centre to shoot. On desktop, use arrow keys and spacebar.
Top row aliens are worth 50 points, middle rows 30 points, and bottom rows 10 points. The maximum possible score for clearing all aliens is 990 points.
Yes, Space Invaders on Game Slop is completely free to play in your browser with no downloads or sign-ups required.