Asteroid

Description

Asteroid is a space shooter where you pilot a ship across the bottom of the screen and destroy falling rocks before they reach you. Four types of rocks appear during a run, each requiring a different number of hits to destroy. Rocks you do not destroy will collide with your ship and end the game.

Mechanics

Your ship fires bullets upward when you tap or click the screen. The bullet travels in a straight vertical line from the ship's current position. Move the ship left or right so the bullet path intersects a falling rock. Each rock type has a fixed hit point value. Stone 1 requires one hit, stone 2 requires two, stone 3 requires three, and stone 4 requires four. When a rock's hit points reach zero it explodes. Each destroyed rock adds to your score based on its type: one point for the smallest rocks and up to ten points for the largest.

If any rock reaches your ship's position without being destroyed, the game ends immediately. There are no lives, shields, or continues. Each run starts from zero and ends on first contact.

Rocks fall in waves. The interval between waves is fixed, but the number of rocks and their distribution across the four types shifts as the game progresses. Larger rocks with higher hit point values become more common over time, which increases the pressure to aim accurately and fire efficiently.

Strategy

Prioritize large rocks early. A stone 4 absorbs four bullets and if left alone it will cross the screen and potentially block your movement. Smaller rocks are faster to clear but lower value. Clearing a large rock while ignoring two approaching stone 1 rocks can result in being trapped.

Position your ship beneath the rock you are targeting and fire. The bullet fires from your ship's position at the moment you tap, so movement after firing does not redirect it. Plan your position before firing rather than moving and firing simultaneously.

For other shooting and arcade titles, browse the Shooting category or the Arcade section.