Gradius Classic
Space Invaders
Commodore 64 · Shoot 'em Up
Space Invaders
Certified classic
| System | Commodore 64 |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Taito |
| Publisher | Midway Games |
| Players | 1–2 players |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 18 |
Space Invaders is a shoot 'em up released for the Commodore 64, developed by Taito and published by Midway Games. This C64 release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1978.
Among the 157 C64 shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.
Taito also made Bubble Bobble, Arkanoid and Qix for the C64.
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 C64'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 C64 games today
C64 games loaded from cassette or floppy disk, and many reward patience and practice. The THEC64 reissues make original-style play easy on modern TVs, and Rec0m88 supports the C64 if you own your games.
Space Invaders FAQ
Who made Space Invaders?
It was developed by Taito and published by Midway Games.
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.