Space Shooter
Blast through numbered enemy waves, grab power-ups and take down the mothership every fifth wave.
Galaxy Defender
Guard a planet from attackers closing in from every side. Your defense ship circles the planet and fires outward, and every enemy that reaches the surface drains the shield.
Controls
| ← → or A / D | Orbit the ship around the planet |
|---|---|
| Space | Fire outward (hold to keep firing) |
| P or Esc | Pause / resume |
| R | Restart |
| Drag or tap on the game | The ship turns to your finger's angle and fires while you touch |
|---|---|
| ◀ ▶ buttons | Orbit the ship |
| Hold FIRE | Fire |
| Move the mouse | The ship moves to the pointer's angle around the planet |
|---|---|
| Click or hold the button | Fire |
On touch screens a control pad appears below the game. You can show or hide it with the Touch pad button above the game.
How to Play
- Press Start Game. The planet sits at the center and your ship circles it on a fixed orbit, always facing outward.
- Move the ship around the orbit with the arrow keys, by pointing with the mouse, or by touching the game. Shots always fly straight out from the planet in the direction the ship faces.
- Enemies enter from all four edges and head for the planet. Shoot them before they reach it. They fly past your ship without harming it; only the planet takes damage.
- Each enemy that reaches the surface removes 1 of the 5 planet shield points. The segmented ring around the planet and the Planet shield counter in the HUD show what is left.
- Destroy every enemy in a wave to earn the wave-clear bonus and start the next, larger wave. The game ends when the shield reaches 0.
Objective
Protect the planet for as many waves as possible. Shield points do not come back, so every enemy you let through makes the rest of the run harder.
Difficulty progression
Wave 1 sends 9 slow drones, and every wave adds 3 more enemies (up to 60). Enemies arrive at shorter intervals each wave and move about 7% faster, up to nearly double the starting speed. Darts join from wave 2, splitters from wave 3 and bombers from wave 4, and the share of these tougher enemies grows as the waves continue.
Scoring
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Drone | 20 points |
| Dart | 40 points |
| Splitter | 30 points (takes 2 hits) |
| Small splitter piece | 15 points each |
| Bomber | 60 points (takes 2 hits) |
| Wave clear | 50 points × the wave number |
Your personal best is stored only in this browser. Scores are for fun and are not official records.
Tips
- Deal with darts first. They are the fastest enemies and cross the screen in a few seconds.
- Hit splitters while they are still far out. Their two small pieces fly off sideways before turning toward the planet, which gives you time to pick them off.
- Bombers first circle the planet at a distance. A flashing red ring means one is about to dive straight in, so line up on it before it turns.
- Drones, darts and splitters fly in a straight line toward the center. Once your ship faces the same angle, holding fire will hit them.
- Keep sweeping instead of waiting in one spot. Rotating toward the next threat while firing covers more of the sky.
- With a mouse, pointing is faster than the arrow keys for large turns. On a phone, dragging on the game is quicker than the orbit buttons.
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Related Guides
PlanetsPlanet-Based Arcade GamesHow arcade games use planets as bases, launch points, landing grounds and gravity wells, with tactics for each of our planet games.Game DesignHow Enemy Waves Work in Arcade GamesAn explanation of how arcade shooters build and escalate enemy waves, and practical ways to read each wave and decide what to shoot first.ControlsMobile Space Game ControlsA hands-on guide to touch controls in browser space games, from the on-screen joystick and buttons to drag steering, orientation, scrolling and performance.
About Galaxy Defender
Galaxy Defender turns the usual shooter layout inside out: instead of flying toward the enemy, you defend a fixed point from every direction at once. The ship is locked to a circular orbit around the planet, so every decision is about angle and timing. Turning to face a new threat takes a moment, and while you are aiming one way, something else may be closing in from behind.
Four enemy types keep the waves varied. Drones fly straight in at a steady pace, darts are fast and thin, splitters break into two smaller pieces when destroyed, and bombers circle the planet before diving at it. The planet shield has 5 points and never recharges, so the whole run is a slow test of how few enemies you let through. You can play with keyboard, mouse or touch, and your personal best is saved locally in your browser.
Categories: Planet Games, Space Shooter Games, Alien Arcade Games. Galaxy Defender is an original game made for Space Arcade Games. Its gameplay is arcade-style and fictional, not a scientific simulation (see our disclaimer).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my ship be destroyed in Galaxy Defender?
No. Enemies pass through your orbit without harming the ship. Only the planet takes damage: each enemy that reaches the surface costs 1 of its 5 shield points, and the game ends at 0.
Does the planet shield recharge?
No. Shield points are not restored between waves, so protecting them in early waves matters for the whole run.
How do I aim with the mouse or a touch screen?
Move the mouse and the ship turns around the orbit to the pointer's angle; click or hold the button to fire. On a touch screen, touch or drag anywhere on the game to turn the ship toward your finger and fire while you hold. The arrow keys or the orbit buttons take over again as soon as you use them.
What do splitters do when they are destroyed?
A splitter breaks into two small pieces that fly off to either side for a moment and then head for the planet. Each piece is worth 15 points and takes one hit.
Why does a bomber circle before attacking?
Bombers stop at a distance and circle the planet for a few seconds. A red ring flashes around a bomber just before it dives straight at the planet at high speed.