Cosmic Defender Space Assault

Why We Picked Cosmic Defender Space Assault

Cosmic Defender Space Assault is the sort of game you lose once and then understand, which is a fair trade. It rewards the boring play — building first, defending second, attacking when it is paid for. Nothing is hidden; the mistake is just expensive. It is small, readable, and honest about its economy — three things a browser strategy game rarely manages together. On the record: 311 of 500 on the arcade shelf, 4.4 out of 5 from 74 ratings, and 1,962 plays.

How to Play

The game is small enough to explain in three lines:

• Keys first, pointer second; the game was built for a keyboard.
• Survive the first wave, then spend what the first wave earned.
• Give the first wave your full attention; it sets the pace the rest of the session keeps.

Editor’s Note

It is a game about the opening minutes, and it never quite develops a middle. It is short enough that a bad opening is worth abandoning rather than rescuing.

Written by the UGFJD editorial team for this page. The publisher’s own description follows below, unedited.