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Return of the Invaders
入侵者再度来袭
Return of the Invaders is an action game developed by Taito Corporation in 1985. Players control a laser cannon at the bottom of the screen to shoot descending waves of aliens. The game features multiple stages with progressively challenging enemy formations and attack patterns. Controls are straightforward: move left and right to dodge incoming fire while returning fire at the invaders. The level structure consists of successive waves that increase in difficulty, with enemies moving faster and firing more frequently as players advance. The objective is to clear each wave by eliminating all aliens before they reach the bottom of the screen.
- Developer
- Taito Corporation
- Released
- 1985
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Rating
- 4.5 / 5 (2.3K)
- Last updated
Return of the Invaders Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Return of the Invaders 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.
Return of the Invaders Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Return of the Invaders 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
"Return of the Invaders" Arcade longplay 1985
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Return of the Invaders released?
Return of the Invaders was released in 1985 for the Arcade.
Who developed Return of the Invaders?
Return of the Invaders was developed by Taito Corporation, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is Return of the Invaders?
Return of the Invaders is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Return of the Invaders for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Return of the Invaders runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Return of the Invaders in the browser?
No. Return of the Invaders streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Return of the Invaders?
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 Return of the Invaders 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 Return of the Invaders this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Return of the Invaders. 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.
