Commando Classic
Atari 2600 · Shoot 'em Up / Shooter
Space Invaders
Certified classic
| System | Atari 2600 |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Shooter |
| Developer | Taito |
| Publisher | Atari |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Space Invaders |
| ESRB | E |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 21 |
Developed by Taito and published by Atari, Space Invaders arrived on the Atari 2600 as a shoot 'em up. It blends shoot 'em up and shooter elements.
Among the 72 2600 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.
It is part of the Space Invaders series. The series also appears on other systems with Space Invaders (NES) and Space Invaders (SNES). Taito also made Front Line, Jungle Hunt and Polaris for the 2600.
Space Invaders supports up to 2 players, whether that means taking turns or going head-to-head.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you have a friend to play against
- you want to experience one of the 2600's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
What playing Space Invaders is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Space Invaders walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Space Invaders.
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Playing 2600 games today
Most 2600 games are built for short, score-chasing sessions, which makes them perfect for a quick nostalgia hit. Original hardware is cheap and plentiful, the Atari 2600+ reissue plays original cartridges on modern TVs, and official collections such as Atari 50 bundle many first-party classics.
Space Invaders FAQ
Who made Space Invaders?
It was developed by Taito and published by Atari.
Is Space Invaders multiplayer?
Yes. Space Invaders supports up to 2 players.
How long does Space Invaders take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Space Invaders typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Space Invaders on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.