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Cover of Defender

Similar games

Games like Defender

1981

A legendary arcade shooter where you fly a ship over a horizontally scrolling planet, fending off alien waves while rescuing astronauts from abduction. Fast pace and brutal difficulty define the experience.

  • Challenging difficulty
  • Shooting and gunplay
  • Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
  • Sci-fi setting
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More in these topics: Sci-fi games Action games Shoot ’em ups

In short: Games like Defender

Each of these 10 games shares something of what makes Defender special. The reasons are listed right on each game.

Similar in what way?

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10 games with a similar feel, sorted by match · How is this calculated?

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Best match

Galaga

95 %Match

1981PEGI 3PCXbox

Brings what grabs you about Defender: good gunplay, combat with precise timing and a sci-fi setting.

A classic arcade shooter where you pilot a fighter along the bottom of the screen and blast waves of insect-like aliens. The tractor beam that captures your ship, which you can rescue for double firepower, gives it its hook.

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Similar games →

Xevious

Shooting and gunplay

A 1982 arcade classic in which you pilot the Solvalou fighter through vertically scrolling waves of alien enemies, shooting air targets and bombing ground ones at once. It was a pioneering title for the shoot-'em-up genre.

Raiden

Challenging difficulty

A classic vertical arcade shooter where you dodge enemy fire across eight missions, blast targets and collect power-ups. Built around score chasing and replays, with a steep challenge.

Millipede

Challenging difficulty

A 1982 arcade classic and the sequel to Centipede: using a trackball and a fire button, you blast a descending millipede and other bugs. It is all about high scores, reflexes and frantic, fast rounds.

Blue Rider

Challenging difficulty

An arcade shooter where you fight to survive as the Blue Rider in a valley flooded with bullets. It nods to classic console heroes and leans on fast reflexes.

Wolflame

Shooting and gunplay

A classic vertical 2D shooter in the vein of Raiden and Twin Cobra, built around arcade action, reflexes and dodging bullets. A no-frills retro throwback from the makers of Gigantic Army and Satazius.

Ultratron

Shooting and gunplay

Ultratron is a frantic twin-stick arcade shooter in the spirit of Robotron 2084, where you play the last battle droid blasting waves of killer robots. Neon retro visuals, driving sound and upgrades between levels make for a hypnotic flow.

Moon Cresta

Pixel art

You pilot a ship along the bottom of the screen and fight off waves of Galaxian-style attackers while a moving starfield suggests vertical scrolling. A classic early arcade shooter whose simple rules quickly demand precise dodging and shooting.

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