Space Rocks
Pilot a tiny ship and blast drifting space rocks into dust.
How to play Space Rocks
Space Rocks is a retro arcade game for one player, drawn in glowing neon lines. Your small ship floats in a field of drifting space rocks. There is no air to slow you down much, so the ship keeps gliding after you thrust. Anything that leaves one side of the screen comes back on the other side, including you, the rocks and your shots.
Goal
Shoot every rock to clear the wave. A big rock splits into two medium rocks, and a medium rock splits into two small ones. Small rocks turn to dust. Big rocks are worth 20 points, medium 50 and small 100. Each new wave brings more rocks.
Controls
- Keyboard: left and right arrows (or A and D) turn the ship. The up arrow or W fires the engine. Space fires. Down arrow, S, H or Shift jumps into hyperspace. Press P or Esc to pause.
- Touch: push the stick under the field to point the ship. Push it all the way to the edge to thrust. Hold the round button to fire, and use the star button for hyperspace. You can also tap the field to fire.
Hyperspace and saucers
Hyperspace moves you to a random spot in an instant. It can save you from a crash, but you might land next to a rock, and it needs a moment to charge again (see the bar at the bottom left). From wave 2, flying saucers cross the screen and shoot at you. The big saucer shoots wildly and is worth 200 points. The small one aims well and is worth 1,000.
End of the game
Touching a rock, a saucer or a saucer shot costs a ship. After a crash, you come back in the middle as soon as it is clear, with a short shield. You win an extra ship every 10,000 points. Lose all your ships and the game is over. Your best score for each difficulty is saved in this browser. For more space action, try Space Shooter or Alien Invasion.
Strategy tips
- Thrust in short bursts. Your ship keeps sliding. Small taps keep it under control, while long burns send you into rocks.
- Do not split everything at once. Breaking all the big rocks fills the screen with fast small ones. Clear one area before you start on the next.
- Use the wrap-around. Shots fly through the edges too. Aim across the border to hit rocks on the far side.
- Keep hyperspace for emergencies. It is a gamble, so use it only when a crash is sure.
- Hunt the small saucer. It is dangerous, but at 1,000 points it is worth turning to face it.
Space Rocks FAQ
Is this the game Asteroids?
No. Space Rocks is our own game inspired by classic vector arcade games. The graphics, sounds and rules here are made for this site.
Why does my ship keep moving?
In space there is little to stop you. The ship slows down only slowly after you stop thrusting, so plan your moves and turn around to brake.
What does the difficulty change?
Easy gives you four ships, slower rocks and fewer saucers. Hard makes the rocks faster and the saucers come and shoot more often. Each difficulty keeps its own best score.
How do I play on a phone?
Use the stick under the field to point and thrust, the round button to fire and the star button for hyperspace. Tapping the field also fires.
