A 1978 fixed shooter by Taito where players defend Earth from descending rows of alien invaders by moving a laser cannon along the bottom of the screen.
Origin
Designed by Tomohiro Nishikado, Space Invaders introduced the shoot-em-up template: rows of aliens that advance, fire back, and speed up as fewer remain on screen. Nishikado built much of the custom hardware himself to support the visuals.
Phenomenon
In Japan, the game’s popularity reportedly contributed to a 100-yen coin shortage in 1978. Space Invaders arcade cabinets grossed roughly $2 billion globally within a few years of release.
Legacy
Space Invaders established the shooter genre, popularized the high-score table, and was one of the first games to grant the player extra lives. Its silhouette aliens have become a defining symbol of retro gaming.