It’s a modern spin on the stone-cold Atari arcade classic, but can Astro Busters bring Asteroids up to date?
I’ll be honest: when I first skimmed the description for Astro Busters, I wasn’t convinced. Asteroids is one of those games that’s been “reimagined” so many times that most new takes feel like a spin of the same rock. The original port on the C64 was one of my go-to classics growing up, and these days I usually dip back in via the Atari 50 collection. So when something claims to reinvent that formula, it needs to do a lot to impress me.
Then I watched the trailer — and yes, it did.
Indie developer Michael Prymus, publishing as Astrobuster Studios, is launching Astro Busters into Early Access on Steam on December 5th, and it’s shaping up to be a seriously slick evolution of the classic Asteroids-style shooter.
A modern spin on a stone-cold arcade classic
Rather than simply dropping you into a field of floating rocks, Astro Busters blends classic arcade physics with mission-driven gameplay, responsive controls, and a surprising amount of depth. The Early Access version ships with:
- 3 single-player levels
- 3 multiplayer modes (Deathmatch, Co-Op Survival, and Co-Op Waves)
- 2 playable ships
- 7 weapons, each with its own flavour of destruction
And yes — it’s fully cross-platform, so PC and mobile players can jump into PvP and co-op together.
The movement and momentum in the trailer evoke the feel of Asteroids but with a modern punch: tighter control, cleaner visuals, and the kind of smooth physics that only really became possible long after the 8-bit era. The addition of warp-dodging, boarding larger ships, and hoovering up coins for upgrades gives the game a much more tactical edge.
Upgrades, bosses, leagues… and a random level generator on the way
While Early Access launches with a decent amount of content, the full version is planned to expand significantly next year, with:
- More levels
- More weapons
- Smarter AI
- Player achievements
- Integrated chat
- A fully dynamic random level generator
- A Capture the Flag multiplayer mode
That last one has serious potential — CTF in a physics-driven Asteroids-like could be chaotic in all the best ways.
Retro roots, modern energy
Visually, Astro Busters leans into clean, neon-lit arcade style with a synthwave soundtrack humming in the background. It’s clearly drawing from Asteroids, Gravity Force, and X-Pilot, but it strives for more than imitation — it’s trying to expand the entire idea of the genre.
After watching the trailer, I’m sold on the concept. It’s fast, punchy, and just different enough to stand out from the usual crop of retro-inspired shooters.
Astro Busters enters Early Access on Steam from December 5th, so check out the Steam page. And look out for the mobile version. iOS and Android releases are also on the way, and there’s even a playable Android demo available right now.
If you’re a fan of classic arcade shooters — and especially if Asteroids ever had its hooks in you — this is definitely one to watch.
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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.
