Yes. Play it free right on this page with no download or sign up, on computers, phones and tablets.

How do I get a double fighter?

Let a boss bug capture your ship with its tractor beam, then shoot that boss while it dives. Your ship returns and docks beside you.

How many shots can I fire at once?

Two shots can be on screen at a time, or four in two lines with a double fighter. Hold fire for rapid fire.

How do I play on a phone?

Use the bar at the bottom left to move and the button at the bottom right to fire. The fullscreen button above the board makes it bigger.

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Space Bugs | Free Retro Arcade Space Shooter

What is Space Bugs?

A vertical arcade shooter where you slide your ship along the bottom and shoot down 40 space bugs that fly in and form up. Like the classic arcade bug shooters, they swoop in on curved paths, fill the formation and then dive at you alone or in groups.

You start with three ships and lose one when a bug or a shot hits you. You earn extra ships at 20,000 and 70,000 points, then every 70,000. Your hit ratio is shown at the end.

What happens when my ship is captured?

A boss bug can dive and fire a tractor beam that pulls your ship up. You lose a life and the captured ship rides on top of that boss.

Rescue: shoot that boss while it is diving and your ship comes back and docks beside you as a double fighter that fires two shots.
In formation: shoot the boss while it sits in the formation and the captured ship flies away.
While being pulled: hit the boss before your ship reaches it and your ship drops right back.
Double trouble: a double fighter is a bigger target. Lose one half and you carry on with the other.

How many points is each bug worth?

Every bug is worth double while it is diving. A boss diving with escorts gives the most.

Bug	In formation	Diving
Bee (yellow)	50	100
Butterfly (pink)	80	160
Boss (green, 2 hits)	150	400 · one escort 800 · two escorts 1,600

What is a challenging stage?

Stages 3, 7, 11, 15 and so on are bonus rounds. Forty bugs fly past without shooting. You get 100 points per hit, and 10,000 for hitting all 40.

Tips

Shoot them on the way in. Each group follows the same curve, so fire along it and the formation never fills up.
Soften the bosses early. Bosses take two hits, so tag them while they sit in formation.
Get captured on purpose. With spare ships, let a boss take one and shoot it on its next dive for a double fighter.
Only two shots fly at once. Shoot from closer and your shots come back faster.

Your best score is saved in this browser. Music and sound can be turned off with the buttons at the top right of the game.

Space Bugs

Controls