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Astro Invader
宇宙入侵者
Astro Invader is an action arcade game released by Stern in 1980. Players control a laser cannon at the bottom of the screen, shooting waves of descending aliens before they land or reach the ground. Unlike straightforward fixed shooters, the game features aliens that drop from a rotating space station into columns, gradually filling up the screen. Players must clear columns before the aliens pile up and touch down. Controls consist of left and right movement plus a fire button. The game supports up to two players in alternating turns. Difficulty increases as aliens descend faster and in greater numbers across multiple stages, demanding quick reflexes and accurate shooting to survive each wave.
- Developer
- Stern
- Released
- 1980
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 (3.3K)
- Last updated
Astro Invader Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Astro Invader on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Astro Invader Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Astro Invader on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Astro Invader" Arcade longplay 1980
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Astro Invader released?
Astro Invader was released in 1980 for the Arcade.
Who developed Astro Invader?
Astro Invader was developed by Stern, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Astro Invader support?
Astro Invader supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the Arcade.
What type of game is Astro Invader?
Astro Invader is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Astro Invader for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Astro Invader runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Astro Invader in the browser?
No. Astro Invader streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Astro Invader?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does Astro Invader work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Astro Invader this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Astro Invader. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
