Asteroids
Pilot your ship and blast the rocks.
Asteroids
How to play Asteroids
Goal: Clear every asteroid and survive as long as you can.
- 1Rotate your ship and thrust to move. You drift in space.
- 2Shooting a big rock splits it into smaller, faster ones.
- 3Flying off one edge brings you back on the other.
- 4Touching a rock costs a life.
On a computer
← → rotate, ↑ thrust, Space fire
On a phone
Use the on-screen rotate, thrust and fire buttons
Play a free Asteroids style space shooter. Rotate, thrust and blast rocks into smaller pieces in this arcade classic.
About Asteroids
In our Asteroids style game you pilot a small ship in open space. Rotate, thrust and fire to break up drifting rocks. Big rocks split into smaller, faster pieces, and the smallest pieces vanish when hit. Flying off one edge of the screen brings you back on the opposite side.
Space shooters with drifting rocks became an arcade hit around 1979 and are remembered for their realistic momentum. Our free version keeps that floaty feel, with a short shield after each respawn and new waves of rocks after each cleared field.
It rewards smooth control and awareness of the whole screen. Use the arrow keys and Space on a computer, or the on-screen buttons on a phone.
What makes this style of game special is momentum. Your ship keeps moving after you let go of thrust, just like in space, so good players learn to use tiny taps and turns rather than flying everywhere. Arcade Pantry is free to play with no sign up and no download. Your best results are saved only in your own browser.
Asteroids tips and strategy
- Use small bursts of thrust. Your ship keeps drifting, and too much speed is the main cause of crashes.
- Break big rocks one at a time. Splitting many at once fills the screen with fast pieces.
- Stay near the center so you can see rocks coming from every side.
- Rotate and shoot instead of chasing rocks around the screen.
- Remember the screen wraps. Rocks leaving one edge reappear on the other.
- Small rocks are worth the most points but are hardest to hit.
Asteroids FAQ
How do you control the ship?
Rotate with left and right, thrust with up, and fire with Space. On phones, use the on-screen buttons.
What happens when I shoot a big rock?
It splits into two smaller rocks. The smallest rocks disappear when hit.
How many lives do I have?
Three. You get a short moment of protection after losing one.
Is this the original Asteroids?
No. It is our own free game inspired by the classic and is not affiliated with any company.
Is this Asteroids game free?
Yes. It is free to play in your browser on any device.