Every now and then, a new Amiga game pops up that makes you stop, squint at the screen, and think: hang on… this is doing something interesting. Invanoid is very much one of those games.
Available now on itch.io, Invanoid is an experimental arcade title for the Amiga 1200 that fuses two absolute all-time classics: Space Invaders and Arkanoid. As someone who is a lifelong fan of both — and yes, someone who still owns an Amiga 1200 — this immediately had my attention.
The concept is simple but inspired. You control a paddle at the bottom of the screen, Arkanoid-style, batting projectiles upward while ranks of enemies descend from above in true Space Invaders fashion. You’re defending, attacking, reacting, and surviving all at once, and it very quickly becomes intense in that “one more go” arcade way.
New takes on Breakout/Arkanoid are nothing new, of course. The Intellivision Amico survivor Breakout Beyond was released in early 2025, while Bomb Bee was doing Breakout on multiple planes in 1979.
And, of course, Space Invaders has been pushing its own boundaries in recent years, while games like Zenvader attempt to do something different with the concept.
So, this is all fair game, and ripe for revisiting.
Classic arcade ideas, mashed together the right way
What makes Invanoid work is that it doesn’t overcomplicate the idea. There’s no fluff here — success comes down entirely to reflexes, timing, and awareness, just like the coin-op games it draws inspiration from.
Enemies keep pushing downward, shots bounce unpredictably, and the screen fills with danger surprisingly quickly. It’s challenging, but crucially, it always feels fair. When you mess up, it’s on you — and that’s exactly how games like this should be.
If you grew up loving the pressure of Space Invaders and the precision of Arkanoid, this feels like a natural (and slightly unhinged) evolution of both.
Pure Amiga demoscene vibes
Visually, Invanoid absolutely leans into its Amiga roots — and then some. Neon colours dominate the screen, scanlines and CRT-style flicker add texture, and the whole thing has a distinctly underground demoscene atmosphere.
You’ll spot copper bars, palette cycling, and glitch effects throughout, all created using AMOS Pro. It’s the sort of presentation that feels like an Amiga game that could have been released in 1995, with the game embracing the platform’s hardware limitations rather than trying to hide them.
The developer even describes Invanoid as a kind of philosophical experiment, and while that might sound lofty, it fits. This is a game that’s clearly about exploring what can be done with simple mechanics, tight constraints, and raw creativity.
If you still run real hardware, you’ll want an Amiga 1200 with a turbo card for the best experience, though it’ll also run fine via emulation (and presumably an A1200 when it comes out). Either way, it’s refreshing to see new Amiga software that understands both the machine and the culture around it.
For fans of classic arcade games, the demoscene, or just clever retro experiments, Invanoid is well worth your time. And if, like me, Space Invaders and Arkanoid helped shape your gaming tastes — and your Amiga 1200 still hasn’t been boxed away — this one feels right at home.
Youu can check out Invanoid on itch.io now, and trust me: it’s dangerously easy to lose an evening to it.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
