Paratrooper is a free retro defence game for your browser. Turn your gun, shoot the helicopters and the parachutists they drop, and stop the jets before their bombs land. It needs no download or sign up, works on phones and computers and keeps working offline once loaded.
Inspired by: Paratrooper, a 1982 DOS game for the IBM PC.
How to play Paratrooper
- Turn the gun with Left and Right, or point with the mouse or your finger.
- Press Space, click or hold your finger to fire.
- Shoot helicopters to stop them dropping troopers. Shoot parachutes and the trooper falls.
- Troopers who land walk to your gun. If 4 land on one side, they take over and the game ends.
- Shoot the bombs from the jets. A bomb that hits the gun ends the game.
Controls
- Keyboard: Left and Right rotate the gun. Space or Up fires.
- Mouse: Move the mouse to aim and hold the button to fire.
- Touch screen: Drag to aim and hold to fire, or use the arrows and the Fire button.
Tips to score higher
- Shoot helicopters as they enter the screen so fewer troopers get dropped.
- Shoot the troopers that have landed. Every one you hit lowers the count on that side.
- Keep an eye on both landing counters at the bottom of the screen.
- When a jet appears, find its bomb and shoot it quickly.
- Do not stay aimed at one spot. Sweep the sky.
The story behind Paratrooper
Paratrooper was a 1982 game for the IBM PC, written by Greg Kuperberg, and it became one of the best known early PC games. It ran in simple text style graphics, and players moved the turret with the keyboard and shot at helicopters and parachutists above. It spread quickly on floppy disks, passed hand to hand between friends and school computer labs. Many people in India remember similar small DOS games played on a first family computer, with the tower humming and the whole house taking turns. Simple rules and rising pressure made it unforgettable.
Questions players ask
Is Paratrooper free to play?
Yes. It is free, with no sign up and no download.
How do I lose?
You lose when 4 troopers land and stay on one side of the gun, or when a bomb hits the gun.
Can I shoot the troopers on the ground?
Yes. Shooting landed troopers keeps the count down and keeps your gun safe.
Is this the original DOS game?
No. It is our own game inspired by that classic, with new art and sound.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Drag to aim and hold to fire, or use the on screen arrows and Fire button.