Defend the stars, wave after wave

How to play Star Blaster

Star Blaster is a free arcade space shooter you can play in your browser on a computer, tablet or phone — no download and no account. You fly a starfighter at the bottom of the screen while waves of attackers and asteroids come down from above. Shoot them before they reach you, stay out of the way of their fire, and survive as long as you can.

Controls

On a keyboard, fly with the arrow keys or W, A, S and D, and hold Space to fire. Press P or Esc to pause. On a phone or tablet, put a finger on the screen: the ship flies to just above your finger so you can still see it, and fires on its own. You can also hold the buttons under the screen.

Enemies

• Scouts dive straight down. One hit, 100 points.
• Weavers swing from side to side as they come. One hit, 150 points.
• Gunships are slow and armoured and fire back at you. Three hits, 300 points, and they always drop a power-up.
• Asteroids tumble down the screen. Two hits, 50 points.

Power-ups, lives and waves

Destroyed enemies sometimes leave a power-up behind: double guns for eight seconds, a shield that takes the next hit for you, or an extra life (up to five). You start with three lives; being hit by an enemy, an asteroid or a shot costs one and makes your ship flash for a moment while nothing can touch it. A new wave starts every 20 seconds, with more enemies coming faster, and surviving a wave adds a bonus. Anything that gets past you does no harm, so there is no need to chase everything. Your best score is remembered in this browser on this device only.

Frequently asked questions

Is Star Blaster free?

Yes. It is free to play with no sign-up, no download and no in-game purchases.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. Touch the screen and the ship follows your finger and fires automatically.

Does the game pause if I switch tabs?

Yes. It pauses on its own whenever the page is hidden.