Space Invaders is a classic arcade game developed by Tomohiro Nishikado and released in 1978. Players control a laser cannon that moves horizontally across the bottom of the screen, shooting at descending aliens. The objective is to eliminate all the aliens before they reach the bottom, while avoiding their projectiles. The game was revolutionary for its time, introducing concepts like high scores and levels of difficulty. Its simple yet addictive gameplay has made it a cultural icon, influencing countless other games and spawning various sequels and adaptations over the years.