Space Invaders

Single-player only. Cheats can turn off achievements and some saves; use them on a spare save.

1. Shoot the mystery UFO on your 23rd shot and then every 15th shot after that to get its top 300-point value.
2. Clear the invaders column by column from the edges, which slows how fast the formation reaches you.
3. Hide under your bunkers but don't rely on them, since your own shots eat through them too.
4. Bottom-row invaders are worth 10, middle rows 20 and the top row 30, so the top row is worth sniping early.
5. The last invader moves very fast, so pre-aim where it will be rather than chasing it.
6. Use the Nagoya attack: once invaders reach the lowest row, their shots appear below your cannon and can't hit you if you're right under them.

Tap a secret to reveal it.

• Tomohiro Nishikado designed the game and built much of its custom hardware himself.
• The Atari 2600 port was the first licensed arcade conversion for a home console and sold millions of consoles.
• Midway released it in the United States under license from Taito.
• Nishikado first considered tanks and planes, then switched to aliens after deciding it was wrong to shoot people.