The Endless Impact of Space Invaders

Long before 3D graphics or online matches, Space Invaders defined tension and fun.

"They’re coming faster!" -- Every terrified player

The rise of arcade obsession

When it hit Japan in 1978, it caused a national coin shortage. Rows of aliens, a single laser cannon, and a pounding rhythm that speeds up — the formula of stress and reward.

Why it’s immortal

Its progression curve taught designers how to make games feel alive, decades before AI.

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