Space Commanders

Before Space Invaders clones flooded arcades, there was Space Commanders (1983, DOS), a bare-bones but addictive shooter where your mission is simple: don’t die. Rows of alien ships descend relentlessly, and your pixelated cannon fires back with all the enthusiasm of a typewriter. It’s fast, frantic, and surprisingly satisfying once you find the rhythm. There’s no story, no upgrades, just you, your reflexes, and the haunting realization that you’ve been playing for three hours. For early DOS gaming, this was pure adrenaline — minimalism at its most merciless.