ASCII Art Archive v2 – Now live with a new layout and weekly updates. Read more.
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 Bird Shooting – A fast shooter with a twist: friendly birds score points, red birds of prey hunt your cursor, shoot one and it’s Game Over. Keep the sky clear, dodge the plane and chase a high score before the 2‑minute timer.
ASCII Block Dropper – A retro ASCII Tetris clone where falling blocks meet colorful themes and custom symbols. Rotate, drop, and stack for combos, chase your high score, and enjoy smooth animations.
ASCII Keyboard Dancer – A fast, reflex‑testing typing game. Hit the falling letters on the timing line, swap key sets, pick your difficulty, and try Rainbow or the wild Crazy mode with hazards and a gun shooting at you.
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?
Need a Break? Read These ASCII Articles
NetHack The Ultimate ASCII Dungeon Adventure – Explore NetHack, the ultimate ASCII dungeon adventure in this easy-to-read introduction to one of gaming’s most legendary roguelikes.
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.
Adding Color and Animation to Your ASCII Games – Learn simple tricks to make your ASCII games feel alive using colors, flickering effects, and basic animations while keeping the retro charm intact.
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.