City Defender is a free missile defense game. Enemy missiles fall toward your six cities and you stop them by launching counter missiles that blow up in growing circles. It runs in your browser with no download or sign up, works on phones and computers, and keeps working offline once loaded.
Inspired by: Missile Command (Atari, 1980).
How to play City Defender
- Click or tap where you want a blast. The nearest base with missiles left fires at that spot.
- Each blast grows into a fireball. Any enemy missile that touches it is destroyed.
- You have three bases with 10 missiles each. The middle base shoots faster.
- Later waves bring faster missiles and warheads that split into several missiles.
- At the end of each wave you earn a bonus for saved cities and unused missiles. The game ends when all six cities are gone.
Controls
- Keyboard: Arrow keys move the aim, Space fires. P or Esc to pause.
- Mouse: Move the mouse to aim and click to launch a counter missile.
- Touch screen: Tap anywhere in the sky to fire at that spot.
Tips to score higher
- Aim ahead of the enemy missile, not at it. Your counter missile takes time to arrive.
- Let blasts overlap. One big fireball can catch several missiles in a row.
- Save missiles. Unused ones are worth points at the end of the wave and you may need them later.
- Deal with the splitting warheads high up, before they break into many missiles.
The story behind City Defender
Missile Command was released by Atari in 1980. Designer Dave Theurer built it on the anxieties of the Cold War, and the game was made so that you can slow the end but never fully win. Its trackball, glowing fireballs and growing difficulty made it a favourite in arcades. Players loved the feeling of making quick decisions with many things happening at once. If you remember dropping a coin in an arcade, or playing a clone on an old computer, this game will bring that urgent, happy panic back.
Questions players ask
Is City Defender free?
Yes. It is free to play with no sign up and no download.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Just tap the sky to fire at that spot.
Is it the original Missile Command?
No. It is our own game with original art and code, inspired by the classic.
Why can't I fire?
Your bases may be out of missiles or destroyed. Bases are rebuilt and refilled at the start of the next wave.
Can I win?
The waves keep coming, so the aim is to protect your cities for as long as you can and reach a high score.