Fight alien invaders in a thrilling ASCII art space shooter with retro charm and endless action.
_ ____ ____ ___ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ / \ / ___| / ___|_ _|_ _| / \ | (_) ___ _ __ / \ | |_| |_ __ _ ___| | __ / _ \ \___ \| | | | | | / _ \ | | |/ _ \ '_ \ / _ \| __| __/ _` |/ __| |/ / / ___ \ ___) | |___ | | | | / ___ \| | | __/ | | | / ___ \ |_| || (_| | (__| < /_/ \_\____/ \____|___|___| /_/ \_\_|_|\___|_| |_| /_/ \_\__|\__\__,_|\___|_|\_\
ASCII Alien Attack is a retro-inspired space shooter rendered entirely in ASCII art, inspired by the legendary arcade game Space Invaders®. Control your cannon, protect your shields, and blast through waves of advancing aliens before they reach your base. Simple controls and old-school charm deliver a nostalgic arcade experience right in your browser!
Difficulty:
Score: 0
Lives: 3
Level: 1
Difficulty: Normal
Instruction
Controls:- Arrow Left / A – Move Left
- Arrow Right / D – Move Right
- Space – Shoot
- P – Pause / Resume
- R – Restart Game
Settings:
- Choose between three difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, and Hard.
- Customize symbols for player, enemies, bullets, and barriers for a unique look.
Goal:
Defend your base by destroying all incoming alien waves. Earn points for each enemy destroyed — more points for enemies higher up. Avoid enemy fire and collisions to survive. Barriers offer temporary protection but will degrade over time. Clear all enemies to advance to the next level and face faster, more challenging waves.
Acknowledgments and credits
ASCII Alien Attack is inspired by the legendary Space Invaders®, originally created by Tomohiro Nishikado and released by Taito in 1978. Space Invaders® is a registered trademark of Taito Corporation.ASCII Alien Attack is an original game created, designed, and programmed by Joacim Wejdin, and developed under the Injosoft brand. All rights to the game name, source code, design, and ASCII artwork are reserved by Injosoft. Any reproduction, modification, or redistribution without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
This game is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by Taito Corporation. It is an independent creation developed as a respectful tribute to the original arcade classic.
Thanks for playing and keeping the ASCII gaming spirit alive!
Want More? Try These ASCII Games
ASCII Skiing – Race down a dynamically generated ASCII ski slope in this fast-paced terminal-inspired game! Avoid trees, rocks, pits, and big boulders, how far can you go?
ASCII Boss Battle – A fast, terminal‑style roguelike where you dodge projectiles, chug potions, and gear up to defeat a multi‑phase Final Boss. Pick a difficulty and race the clock for your best time.
ASCII TypeRacer – Race against time and test your typing speed in this fast-paced ASCII TypeRacer. Type with precision, push for faster runs and avoid mistakes. How quick can your fingers really go?
ASCII Four In A Row – Test your strategy in this ASCII art version of Connect Four. Play from easy to extreme difficulty, plan your moves, and out think your friend or AI to claim victory in this game.
Need a Break? Read These ASCII Articles
Top 10 ASCII Games You Can Still Play – A nostalgic look at ten must-play ASCII games, from legendary roguelikes to quirky modern titles. All are still available to play today.
Rogue the Dawn of Roguelikes – Discover the origins of roguelikes in Rogue, the ASCII classic that turned simple symbols into epic adventures and defined an entire genre.
What Is a True ASCII Game – Explore what truly defines an ASCII game. Learn the difference between pure ASCII, hybrids, and pseudo-ASCII, and why the definition still matters to retro fans.
Why ASCII Games Are Perfect for Learning to Code – Discover why ASCII games are the ideal way to start coding. Learn core programming concepts, clean coding habits, and algorithms while keeping things fun.