DEFENDER 1 brings the excitement of classic 1980s arcade action to your mobile device!
Take control of your spacecraft and defend the planet from relentless waves of alien invaders. Your mission is simple—but surviving it won't be.
Protect the astronauts on the planet's surface as alien Landers attempt to abduct them. Destroy the enemy ships, rescue the astronauts, and watch your fire—an astronaut caught in the crossfire is one less person you can save.
Fail to protect the astronauts and the consequences are catastrophic: the planet will be destroyed and the surviving aliens will transform into deadly Mutants!
Battle a variety of enemies, master fast-paced arcade combat, and push your skills to the limit as the action becomes increasingly intense.
Features include:
Classic arcade-inspired space combat
Fast-paced alien battles
Astronaut rescue missions
Multiple enemy types with different behaviors
Touch controls and game controller support
Customizable gamepad controls
High-score tracking
Retro-inspired graphics and gameplay
Defend the astronauts. Destroy the invaders. Save the planet.
How long can you survive in DEFENDER 1?
-
This version
3.50 (2)
Promo video
N/A
Icon
0.5/0.5
Rating quality
0.6/1.0
Rating volume
0.2/1.0
Heuristic score · not affiliated with Apple or Google.
Signals: version bump ≤ 7 days + review velocity ≥ 1.5× the 7-day median. Both ⇒ Active event; version only ⇒ Recent update; spike only ⇒ High engagement.
Update History
v7.0
Apple
released 9/9/2026
Release notesHide notes
DEFENDER 1 has been completely rebuilt in Unity!
This major update brings smoother, faster, and more responsive gameplay while staying true to the classic arcade experience.
Completely rebuilt in Unity for improved performance and responsiveness
Redesigned touch controls for better mobile gameplay
Added support for wireless PlayStation and Xbox controllers
Improved gamepad controls for a more authentic arcade-style experience
Brand-new menu system
General gameplay improvements and refinements
Get ready to defend the planet like never before!
v5.1
Apple
released 11/8/2020
Release notesHide notes
Updated for iOS12
- New Virtual Joystick
- Destroying enemies bullets scores points.
- New Info panel with social media, mail and website
- New Settings panel
Versions observed by AppWolf's store pollers · newest first · up to 50 shown. History begins when an app enters our catalog - earlier versions aren't retroactively visible.
Reviews
Sentiment
Filter·
36 of 36 loaded reviews
Apple
9mo ago
Nostalgia only
Bringing back the old school classic was a great idea but a failure in execution. I like the joystick option for right or left hand play but it’s just not responsive at all. Needs another update to fix it and app shows last update a year ago….
- OldSchool70! · v5.1
Apple
1y ago
Crashes to often
Love this game, thanks for putting it together. Unfortunately it crashes often. Have to unload and reload to get rid of cache. Also little known hack of saving 3 or more astronauts then warping to a star gate isn’t included.
- Lardbass · v5.1
Apple
1y ago
Don’t Waste Your Money
The controls are awful in my opinion. They needlessly made the entire joystick one small area of the screen and same with fire button. Your finger will stray away from the tiny joy stick and fire button every time. I played twice and deleted it. Sorry to be harsh but want to save people money.
- Couch Pot8o · v5.1
Apple
2y ago
Great game but no audio.
Please update this game, it’s super fun but the sound works intermittently on all my devices. The app is due for an update!
- HabibiArt · v5.1
Apple
2y ago
Excellent!
nt but no sound on my iphone 13. Is there a fix?
- Jim007TC · v5.1
Apple
2y ago
Controls are awful
Controls are awful, too sensitive for small screens and no way to adjust.
Don’t waste your money.
- Johnny SciFi · v5.1
Apple
3y ago
Defender
I’ve loved this game since I was a kid. It would be awesome if you could add support for controllers like Backbone.
- RBSemones · v5.1
Apple
3y ago
Controls touchy but not really a problem
Just like I remember except I thought it was possible to rescue survivors on the floor. Not possible here
- fragPUP · v5.1
Apple
3y ago
No audio on iPad
Great on iPhone but audio does not work on iPad
- BravoKiloVictor · v5.1
Apple
4y ago
Literally the worst
This is literally the worst game I’ve ever downloaded. The controls are lackluster and the Audio doesn’t even work. Not muted. Just no sound. You are playing in silence.
- Arondale · v5.1
Apple
4y ago
Absolutely terrible
Slow paced, terrible response, and a huge waste of time and money
- Nknowles123 · v5.1
Apple
4y ago
Retro Fun!
This is a faithful reproduction of the defender I played as a kid. Lots of retro fun to be had!
I know some people didn't like the old joystick. I never used that one so I can't say, but the newer 8 direction virtual joystick works great.
- GM Scott · v5.1
Apple
4y ago
Like being back in 1982!!!!!
Omg! Whoever says this game isn’t like the old one and the controls are too hard, they weren’t good at it in the first place! I LOVE this game! I mean I FREAKING LOVE it! It took me about an hour to start to figure it out. It’s probably as close as we will ever get to having the game in our basement. The ONLY thing is it’s a little hard to go up and down sometimes but what do you expect on a phone screen???? I miss the hyperspace unless you can tell me how to do it. I’m up to 100,000 so far and it’s so fun remembering the old days and the sounds are incredible!!!! Thank you for bringing this back from the past and to the future!!!!!!!!! 5 stars!!!!!
- Michael Czaplewski · v5.1
Apple
4y ago
Good memories rough execution
The game is fun but the control is lag a little and the lasers don’t react properly when you change direction they do not streak across the screen but stop when you move at first.
- uhprofeng · v5.1
Apple
5y ago
gun sound
the machine gun doesn’t sound like original.
- dalstonton · v5.1
Apple
5y ago
Don’t buy it
Horrible - ship doesn’t continue moving after thrusters stop. Controls are badly spaced.
- Chris Brookins · v3.7
Apple
6y ago
Controls need work
Needs to be more like the original. They are too unresponsive and too far apart.
- Seniorjeffypoo · v3.7
Apple
6y ago
The game I grew up with
This is awesome, the game I grew up with. Controls a bit clunky like someone said but THATS DEFENDER. Really well done and appreciated.
- Reed Richards 1000 · v3.7
Apple
6y ago
Don’t waste your money
I was so excited to find Defender. This was my favorite game growing up but THIS Defender is a rip off. Not worth the one star I just gave it.
- RBG- · v3.7
Apple
6y ago
Controls ruin the experience !
I read the reviews and still bought it. WHAT WAS I THINKING 🤷🏼♂️ I played for less then 5 minutes and deleted the game. It was the biggest waste of $$$$ ever !
- Gamezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz · v3.7
Apple
7y ago
👎👎👎 warning do not by !!!!!
This game is a total rip off the controls is awful awful awful ! It’s also super slow
There’s way better defender apps but not on apple
Do not buy you will be disappointed
I had to give one star or I could not send my warning message but it gets zero star from me
- Robat3359 · v3.7
Apple
7y ago
Shocking
I really couldn’t believe my luck when I found this game for sale after looking for years......Then I made the mistake of buying it!! The controls are absolutely terrible and the game play is both slow and anything but enjoyable. If you want to waste 1.99 on a game you’ll never play for more than two minutes then go ahead and buy this one. Such a shame that a simple game like this has been ruined by such bad controls :-(
- I can hear you Clem Fandango. · v3.7
Apple
7y ago
Terrible purchase
If I could give this game a less-than-a-star rating I would. I was so excited to see this game in the App Store, but after purchasing it and playing, or should I say trying to play, I realized I just gave away $1.99. This game shouldn’t even be for sale.
It’s hardly responsive and the controller buttons are barely useable. The only good thing is the graphics. They are almost identical. However, in this day and age, this game could be designed with much better non-pixelated graphics like we had back in the 80s.
I doubt I’ll ever get the money I spent on this game back. So I’ll chalk it up as a lesson learned. Buy no games that I can’t play first then buy and/or games designed by this company unless they make changes to this game and upgrade everything.
- KansaiConnect2 · v3.7
Apple
7y ago
Waste what a joke. Not worth a penny
Save your money ugh!
- tbisque · v3.7
Apple
7y ago
Controls to far apart
This game was literally my teenage years the game graphics are not to bad but the actual controls the up and down buttons are to far apart that and the lack of responsiveness in the middle part of the direction buttons that makes it difficult to play with the vigor this game is famous for. Hopefully the developer may fix the spacing between the direction buttons until then two stars with hope for updates. It’s a great game on an arcade mechanic and is difficult to replicate especially without actual buttons.
- paulsl45 · v3.7
Apple
8y ago
It is a scam😡
It only lets you shoot in the first scene ant it’s 1.99
It is scam do not buy
- xxyyyzzzz · v3.7
Apple
8y ago
No
Controls are way to Slow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- MikeGenius · v3.7
Apple
8y ago
Joystick needs desperate improvement
The authenticity of the game is pretty good, but even on my 8+, the joystick control is terrible. Please update it to be more user friendly! If that were to happen, it would be a 5 ⭐️
- shuterbug · v3.7
Apple
8y ago
Junk
Loved the original. This game is unplayable.
- Rbrehm · v3.7
Apple
8y ago
Bad
This game is a waste of money.
- NeoPriest · v3.7
Apple
8y ago
Playability Severely Limited
I guess it was worth $1.99 just for the hope that it would be as enjoyable as the original. The bottom line is that for a paid app, the controls are unacceptably poor.
- tjkarl · v3.7
Apple
9y ago
More stages please!
I love the game as it brings me back but why does it only go up to stage 5!!?? I’m paying for a game that I thought went further than stage 5. Not fair! I’m eagerly waiting an update ASAP!
- luannjones09 · v3.3
Apple
10y ago
Love It!
While you can't have a joystick, this is as close as it gets and still a blast to play. Tap the screen anywhere to fire, that took me an inquiry to figure out. A great flashback play anytime.
- Sad Links · v3.3
Apple
10y ago
Cute but not quite playable
The behavior (when in auto-thrust mode) and appearance are quite authentic but the translation of the original controls to the touch screen is not working well.
If memory serves, the original game had a very direct up-down control and the direction reversal button very close by, within thumb reach I think.
As it is on screen, the up-down control is way too slow, it should be a slider or something, and the reverse direction is as far as can be from it, and on the same side, so it isn't even possible to use the other hand for it.
Can't play that game like that. I'll be eagerly waiting for an update that has better control.
- jicemagoo · v3.3
Apple
11y ago
Smooth
Smooth and complete, such an awesome time killer. Hop right into the app!
- The Shadows · v3.3
Apple
11y ago
Awesome game!
Great game and a lot of fun!
- thecatsmilk · v3.3
Player Voice for this app
Complaint themes, feature requests, churn signals, and CSV export - on the Pro and Agency plans.
