How to play asteroids
Your ship floats in the middle of a field of space rocks. Shoot a large asteroid and it splits into two medium ones; shoot those and they split into small ones; small rocks are destroyed. Clear every rock to start the next wave. The screen wraps around, so anything leaving one edge appears on the opposite side, including you and your shots.
On a keyboard, use the left and right arrows to rotate, the up arrow to thrust and Space to fire. Press P to pause. On a phone or tablet, use the large on-screen buttons: rotate left, rotate right, thrust and fire. You can hold several buttons at once.
Physics
The ship keeps drifting after you stop thrusting, slowing down only gradually. This momentum is what makes the game interesting: you need to plan your movement, not just point and shoot. Short taps of thrust are easier to control than holding it down.
Scoring
Small rocks are worth the most points because they are hardest to hit, and large rocks the least. Each new wave starts with more asteroids. Every 10,000 points earns an extra life. Your best score is saved in your browser.
Tips
Stay near the centre and let rocks come to you during the first waves. Avoid breaking many large rocks at once, because the fragments fill the screen. Clean up small pieces before breaking the next big one. Remember the wrap-around: a rock leaving the top edge will reappear at the bottom, close behind you.
The original asteroids arcade game came out in 1979 and became one of the best-selling arcade games of its time. This version is a free, lightweight tribute that runs offline in any browser.
FAQ
Is this asteroids game free?
Yes. It is free, with no download and no sign-up.
Can I play asteroids on mobile?
Yes. Use the on-screen buttons to rotate, thrust and fire; you can press more than one at a time.
Why does my ship keep moving?
The ship has momentum, like in space. Rotate and thrust in the opposite direction to slow down.
What happens at the edge of the screen?
Everything wraps around and reappears on the opposite side.
Does it work offline?
Yes, after your first visit the game is cached and works without internet.