Inspired by Space Invaders and Breakout, Zenvader features minimalistic graphics with modern elements, namelike roguelite and bullet hell… and it looks superb!
We all like Space Invaders, a game that has certainly held its own over the years. Breakout, not so much, thanks mostly to Arkanoid. But in truth, Zenvader‘s relationship with Breakout is pretty scant; it is, at heart, a bullet-hell Space Invaders.
This is the synopsis:
ZENVADER is a bullet-hell roguelite shooter inspired by classic shooting games in the 80s.
You pilot a “Battle Unit”, the last hope for mankind, and take on an army of powerful aliens.
Nice and simple!
The game has been developed by Ryu Ito, also known as RyiSnow, a professional Japanese–English game localizer. You might have seen his work on numerous indie games, including Salt and Sanctuary, and even Half-Life: Alyx.
What is Zenvader?
While it might look like a standard shmup, Zenvader is more advanced than that. It boasts two game modes, Campaign in which you progress through 25 waves to defeat a giant boss at the end, and ZEN. This mode is more demanding, with endlessly tougher enemies and bullet patterns, but no boss. Both options are timed, so you’re playing against your self…
Four “Battle Units” can be selected:
- FIGHTER: A balanced, easy-to-handle unit with high mobility and rapid fire.
- BANDIT: Durable and capable of piercing attacks.
- BISHOP: Specializes in guided missiles and wall-mounted turrets.
- NINJA: A tricky unit for advanced pilots.
These can be upgraded as you progress through Zenvader.
Dynamic Power-Ups
Collect orbs dropped by aliens to boost attack power, defense, speed, and more. Clear waves quickly to earn bonus cards for further upgrades. Choosing the right upgrades according to your playstyle and the situation is key to surviving the increasingly intense bullet hell and defeating tough alien foes. If you have enough coins dropped by enemies, you can re-roll power-up choices.
Upgrade in the Space Hangar
After each wave or at the end of a game, players earn “Alien Materia” based on their performance. In the “Space Hangar” menu, Alien Materia can be exchanged for permanent upgrades like additional weapons or improved parameters. Even enemies that were once overwhelming can be conquered over time—making it hard to resist jumping back in for “just one more run” after a game over.
Here’s a look at Zenvader in action — I think you’re going to like it!
You can buy Zenvader on Steam now, and while it is very competitively priced, a downloadable demo is also available.
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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.
