Space Invaders is one of the highest-grossing arcade video game franchise, first released in 1978. It is a Japanese shooting video game developed by Tomohiro Nishikado. The game was originally released on Arcade but later adapted by other systems such as Atari 2600, Nintendo, WonderSwan,  Atari 5200, Gameboy, and even mobile phones. If you want to know how was the journey of this game since its very foundation in Japan to becoming one of the most popular and iconic games in America, here are the all arcade game versions you need to know.

Space Invaders 

According to an urban legend, the popularity of the Space Invaders game was too high that the shortage of yen in Japan was reported blaming the game for it. As a result of that, Japan has to increase the production of 100-yen coins, however, it was later lowered gradually in the year 1978 and further. The game has generated almost US$500 Million in revenue by 2007.  Space Invaders, first released in 1978, created by Tomohiro Nishikado, originally released in Japan before the USA.

Original Release Date: June 1978

Space Invaders Part- II 

Space Invaders Part-II was released in 1979 in the United States as Space Invaders Delux, also quite known as Deluxe Space Invaders. The U.S version of Space Invaders has a different graphical color scheme and with lunar city background. Apart from the Space Invaders arcade machine version,  Game Boy version was only released in Japan.

Original Release Date: 1979

Space Invaders II

Space Invaders II arcade game can be found in the 1980s in America where it features an updated version of color graphics. The movements, the gameplay, and attack patterns are also different for the aliens. UPL developed the game Space Invaders. This particular version was released in the United States in a cocktail-table format. Space Invaders features a competitive two-player mode.

Original Release Date: 1980

Return Of The Invaders

The 1985-released arcade game Return Of The Invaders was updated to advanced color graphics, complex movements of characters, newer attack patterns of those aliens, and more. The third version of the Space Invaders was developed by the company UPL. Space Invaders gamers experienced a better and improved gameplay with this updated version.

Original Release Date: 1985

Super Space Invaders’91 

Super Space Invaders’ 91 was also popular as Majestic Twelve: The Space Invaders Part IV in  Japan and the USA as well. There were all-new graphics, changed gameplay elements, and availability in two-player mode. The home versions of this 1990-released game titled Super Space Invaders.

Original Release Date: 1990

Minivaders

Minivaders was the 1990-released version of the Space Invaders video game that only got released in Japan. Also, the audio and scoring of the game for this version were omitted. Mininvaders were only released in the Arcade system, not others such as Atari or Gameboy at that time.

Original Release Date: 1990

Space Invaders DX 

Now, this was the remake of the original Space Invaders 1978 with all the new additional gameplay elements and features along with the two-player mode. It even introduced a mode that was quite like ‘Parody Mode’. It replaced the spirits with all elements from other Taito games such as The NewZealand Story, Arkanoid, and Bubble Bobble. This version was further released in different systems such as Game Boy, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, PlayStation, TurboGrafx-D, Nuon and TurboGrafx-CD in consequent years.

Original Release Date: 1993

Space Invaders’95

Another updated but parody version of the original arcade game featuring colorful, new shapes and super-deformed designs. This game was also called as Akkanvander  and Space Invaders’ 95: Attack of the Lunar Loonies. However, this same version was going to get its PC version this year in 2004 but canceled.

Original Release Date: 1995

Space Invaders The Beat Attacker

The arcade game style was based on a rhythm in which the players were supposed to shoot the three defense turrets. That could be done by stepping over three different control panels.  Players could also win achievement tickets with this where they can be exchanged for prizes.

Original Release Date: 2008

Space Invaders Frenzy 

An updated version of the original space invaders features the redemption game features, released in January 2017. Space Invaders Frenzy was the last updated version released as Arcade. This arcade classical game was upgraded with more vibrant colors, new shapes, and forms in design and multi-player gameplay.

Original Release Date: 2017