Pixel Arcade
About this game
Alien Rows is a fixed-gun gallery shooter. A block of aliens marches side to side, drops a row each time it touches an edge, and fires back at you. You have one cannon that slides along the bottom and four shelters to duck behind. Clear the formation and a faster wave takes its place.
Keyboard is arrow keys or A/D to move and space to fire; touch players get left, right and a fire button below the screen. Only one of your shots is in the air at a time, so every trigger pull is a decision — a wasted shot at the top row is a second you do not have when the formation is low.
Scoring runs from 10 points for the front row up to 30 for the back, and the saucer that crosses the top is worth between 50 and 300 depending on when you hit it. Shelters block their shots and yours, and they erode from both directions, so shooting your own cover open is the classic beginner mistake.
The reliable strategy is to clear a full column from one edge inward. That gives you a safe lane to retreat into and keeps the formation from reaching the sides quickly. This gallery format kicked off the arcade boom in the late 1970s and is still the cleanest one-sentence rule set in the hall.
FAQ
Why do the aliens speed up?
The game moves the whole formation on a fixed budget, so the fewer aliens are left, the more often each one steps. It is a rule, not a difficulty setting.
Can I play it on a phone?
Yes. Left, right and a fire button sit under the screen.
Is there an end?
Waves keep coming and get faster. The goal is your best score, not a final screen.
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