Alien Attack
Strafe across the defense line, unleash barrage fire, and outlast every invasion wave before the mothership descends.
Gameplay overview
Side-scrolling defense shooter
Alien Attack drops you into Earth's last fighter craft, tasked with scraping enemy squadrons out of the sky before they rain plasma on the cities below. Each wave draws new formations of nimble scouts, armored bombers, and hazard drones that demand quick reactions as they swoop across the screen.
Collect glowing power-ups to spread your lasers, fire tracking missiles, or trigger temporary shields. Survive long enough and the invasion fleet escalates with shielded motherships that require well-timed bomb volleys to crack open.
Your objective
What you are trying to achieve
Alien Attack is a survival shooter: hold the defensive line, clear every invading wave, and stay alive long enough for the shielded mothership to arrive—then break it open. There is no level select, so progress is measured by how deep into the invasion you last and the score you bank along the way.
Controls
Pilot the fighter
| Action | Input / gesture |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys / A & D | Strafe your ship left or right along the defensive line. |
| Space / Left click | Fire your primary laser cannon. |
| S / Down arrow | Trigger heavy ordnance once the special meter is full. |
| P | Pause to gather yourself between hectic volleys. |
Beginner guide
Your first few minutes
The opening waves are forgiving, so use them to learn how power-ups change your fire before the formations tighten.
- Stay in motion with the arrow keys or A and D, because a stationary ship is an easy target for bomber salvos.
- Hold Space or left-click to keep your primary laser firing while you reposition.
- Fly into saucers carrying power-ups so their drops widen your lasers or add tracking missiles.
- Save heavy ordnance for crowded formations or shielded carriers that your base gun cannot crack quickly.
- Press P to pause between hectic volleys and plan where to reposition next.
- Watch for the mothership telegraph and line up your bomb volley before it can fire back.
Advanced tips
Win the invasion dogfight
- Prioritize saucers carrying power-ups; their drops snowball your firepower for the next volley.
- Stay in motion to bait bomber salvos into empty space before slipping back for shots.
- Save the heavy ordnance for shielded carriers or crowded formations to maximize splash damage.
Why play it?
Retro pace with modern polish
- Bright pixel particle effects and chunky explosions scratch the Galaga-era itch.
- Wave modifiers remix enemy patterns, so no two survival runs feel identical.
- Persistent score milestones unlock new ship skins and HUD flourishes.
Our take
Why Alien Attack scratches the arcade shooter itch
Alien Attack channels the feel of classic fixed shooters—simple strafing, escalating waves, and a focus on positioning—while layering in modern particle effects and power-up variety. The shielded motherships and mixed formations push you to think about target priority rather than just holding down fire.
It’s an easy game to play in short bursts: survive a few waves, chase a higher score, then come back later for another run when you are ready to dodge bullet curtains again.
Who will enjoy it?
- If you like games in the Galaga and Space Invaders lineage, Alien Attack is a straightforward recommendation—especially if you want something that runs smoothly in a browser on both desktop and mobile.
Frequently asked questions
Need a quick answer?
- How do you play Alien Attack?
- Pilot Earth's last fighter along the defensive line, firing lasers at swooping alien squadrons and collecting power-ups until the invasion fleet escalates.
- What is the goal in Alien Attack?
- Survive every wave the invasion throws at you and break open the shielded motherships that appear later in the run.
- What are the controls for Alien Attack?
- The arrow keys or A and D strafe, Space or left-click fires the cannon, S or the down arrow triggers heavy ordnance, and P pauses.
- Does Alien Attack support touch controls?
- Yes. Drag to reposition the ship and tap the fire button to shoot when playing on phones or tablets.
- How do I unlock new skins in Alien Attack?
- Hit the score thresholds shown on the post-wave screen; each milestone awards a new paint job for your ship.
- Can I mute the audio in Alien Attack?
- Yes. Toggle the speaker icon in the game HUD to disable music and effects independently.
- What are the best tips for Alien Attack?
- Prioritise saucers carrying power-ups, stay in motion to bait bomber salvos, and save heavy ordnance for shielded carriers.
- How do I unlock new skins?
- Hit the score thresholds shown on the post-wave screen; each medal awards a new paint job.
- Can I mute the audio?
- Toggle the speaker icon in the game HUD to disable music and effects independently.