Google Space Invaders Arcade Game
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Quick Facts
Arcade game legend, reimagined — the Google logo letters are your shields against Space Invaders.
elgooG,
N. Landsteiner
2019
Available on elgooG
Interact with the Easter Egg
How It Was Made
Concept Overview
Created by Tomohiro Nishikado in 1978, Space Invaders became a worldwide phenomenon with a simple, gripping loop — stop the descending aliens before they reach the bottom. Its chunky pixels and iconic beeps turned into pop-culture touchstones and helped bring video games to the mainstream.
Inspiration and Development
We built Google Space Invaders as a lighthearted homage with a clever twist: the letters of the Google logo double as your shields. It’s a nostalgia boost with a wink. This tribute builds on the excellent open-source work by N. Landsteiner (masswerk.at), who also contributed to our popular Google Terminal project.
The Easter Egg Experience
Key Features
Retro visuals, snappy controls, and that edge-of-your-seat pace you remember — plus a fresh idea: the G, o, o, g, l, e letters are destructible shields. You’re not just defending Earth; you’re protecting the Google name on the front line.
How It Works
Command your laser cannon through tightening waves of pixel invaders. Duck behind letter-shields for cover, time your shots, and push the swarm back before it reaches the bottom.
How to Play
- Click “Play” to start defending Google.
- Desktop: move with ←→ or AD; press Space to fire.
- Mobile: drag to move, tap to shoot.
- Each wave speeds up and hits harder — stay sharp.
- Use the Google letter shields wisely — they won’t last forever.
Like official Google Easter eggs — such as Zerg Rush (swarms of “o”s attacking your results), Atari Breakout (Google Images turned into bricks), and the Google Zipper — this project celebrates classic game ideas with a playful Google spin.
Final Thoughts
Google Space Invaders shows how timeless mechanics still spark new fun. It’s unofficial, but it captures the spirit of Google’s Easter eggs: familiar, cheeky, and instantly pick-up-and-play.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Google Space Invaders?
It’s a fan-made tribute that plays like classic Space Invaders — with a Google twist.
You pilot a cannon against descending pixel aliens while the Google logo letters act as your shields. Survive escalating waves and keep the swarm from breaking through.
It’s a sweet spot of arcade nostalgia and modern web magic — quick to learn, hard to put down.
How do I play the Google Space Invaders Easter egg?
Click “Play” to begin. On desktop, move with the arrow keys or A/D and fire with the spacebar. On mobile, drag to move and tap to shoot. Clear every alien before they reach the bottom, watch your lives, and chase a new high score — then dare your friends to beat it.