Play Alien Attack Online — Free Retro Shooter
Introduction
Alien Attack is the retro alien-shooter in its purest arcade form: rows of alien ships descend toward you, and you control a cannon at the bottom of the screen, firing upward to stop them before they land. Every wave moves faster, every shot counts, and your only goal is to survive as long as you can and beat your high score. It is the classic vertical shooter that started the arcade era, rebuilt for your browser with no download and no account.
About Alien Attack
The descending-alien shooter is one of the most famous arcade games ever made, and it defined an entire generation of early gaming. The format is simple and perfect: rows of enemies march side to side and drop toward you, you dodge and shoot, and the difficulty rises with every wave you clear.
The tension comes from the marching line. The aliens do not stay still — they sweep across the screen, drop a row, sweep back, and every wave they move faster. You must shoot the aliens before they reach the bottom while dodging the bombs they drop in return. It is a pure test of aim, timing and nerves.
This version is based on an open-source reinterpretation by matt-aranha, released under the MIT licence. It runs in your browser with keyboard controls on desktop and offers classic wave-clearing gameplay. No download, no sign-up and no account to create.
How to Play Alien Attack
Move your cannon.
Use the left and right arrow keys to slide your cannon along the bottom of the playfield. Position yourself beneath the alien formation to line up your shots.
Fire at the aliens.
Press the space bar or fire button to shoot upward. A hit destroys an alien and adds to your score, and clearing a full wave moves you to the next, faster one.
Dodge the incoming bombs.
The aliens fire back. Move your cannon to avoid their bombs — being hit costs you a life, and losing all your lives ends the game.
Clear the waves.
Destroy every alien in a wave to advance. Each new wave descends faster and is harder to dodge, so the game escalates until it overwhelms you.
Beat your high score.
Your best score is saved locally, so every game is a chance to push a little further and climb a little higher.
Alien Attack Controls
| Action | Desktop | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Move cannon left | Left arrow key | Not available — keyboard game |
| Move cannon right | Right arrow key | Not available |
| Fire | Space bar | Not available |
| See your score | The score is shown at the top of the playfield | Not available |
| See remaining lives | Lives are shown at the top of the playfield | Not available |
| Restart the game | Click the Play button after losing | Not available |
| Pause the game | Press the Pause button, if available | Not available |
| Fullscreen | Click the fullscreen button above the playfield | Not available |
| Exit fullscreen | Escape key | Not available |
Alien Attack Tips & Strategies
Stay ahead of the line
The aliens move as a single formation. Read which direction they are sweeping and position your cannon on the far side, where the next wave of targets will arrive.
Shoot the side aliens first
The aliens at the edges are the ones that steer the formation's direction. Clearing them slows the march and gives you more time to dodge.
Fire in short bursts
Holding the fire button wastes shots. Fire deliberately, aim at a target, and let each shot land before you fire again — accuracy beats volume.
Move only when you must
The less you move, the fewer bombs you walk into. Hold a position, take your shots, and move only when the bombs or the formation force you to.
Watch the bombs, not just the aliens
Bombs drop in straight lines from the aliens above you. Watch the alien directly above your cannon — when it drops a bomb, step out of the way early.
Learn the wave rhythm
Every wave has a rhythm: sweep, drop, sweep. Once you feel it, you can predict where the aliens will be next and position yourself before they arrive.
What makes Alien Attack worth playing
- Classic descending-alien shooter gameplay
- Runs entirely in your browser with no download or plugin
- Keyboard controls for precise aiming
- Escalating waves and a local high score
- Open source under the MIT licence with credit to the developer
Game Info
| Developer | matt-aranha |
|---|---|
| Released | 2025 |
| Genre | Action, Arcade, Shooter |
| Players | Single player |
| Technology | HTML5 / JavaScript |
| Platforms | Desktop |
| Average session | About 6 minutes |
| Licence | MIT |
| Last updated |
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Alien Attack — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alien Attack free to play?
Yes, completely. The game is open source under the MIT licence and free to play here with no payment, no trial and no premium version.
How do I control the cannon?
Use the left and right arrow keys to move, and the space bar to fire. The game needs a keyboard and is designed for desktop play.
What happens when I clear a wave?
Destroying every alien completes the wave and the next one appears, descending faster and firing more aggressively. The difficulty keeps rising as long as you survive.
Can I play Alien Attack on my phone?
No — the game is controlled with a keyboard, so it is designed for desktop and laptop play.
How do I avoid the bombs?
Watch the alien directly above your cannon. When it drops a bomb, move sideways out of the line before it lands.
Is my high score saved?
Your best score is saved in your browser's local storage, so you can return and try to beat it. Clearing your browser data will reset it.
Licence & Attribution
Alien Attack, based on an open-source game by matt-aranha · MIT License
Licence verified .