Space Blaster — A Retro Arcade Shooter

The Brief

We wanted to create a fast-paced, pick-up-and-play arcade game inspired by classic space shooters. The game needed to work on both iOS and Android, feature global leaderboards, and keep players coming back with daily challenges.

The Approach

Unity was the natural choice for cross-platform mobile game development. We used C# for all game logic and Firebase for real-time leaderboards and player data.

Design Philosophy

• Simple controls — one-thumb gameplay suitable for mobile
• Escalating difficulty — enemies get faster and more numerous over time
• Short sessions — perfect for a quick game on the commute
• Daily challenges — unique challenge parameters each day to keep players engaged

Key Features

• Smooth 60fps gameplay on both iOS and Android
• Global leaderboards with daily, weekly, and all-time rankings
• Daily challenges with unique modifiers
• Power-ups and weapon upgrades
• Retro pixel art aesthetic with modern particle effects
• Offline play support with score sync when back online

Technical Highlights

• Object pooling for projectiles and enemies — eliminates garbage collection stutters
• Firebase Realtime Database for instant leaderboard updates
• Scriptable Objects for enemy wave definitions — designers can create new levels without code changes
• Addressable Assets for efficient memory management on lower-end devices

The Result

Space Blaster launched on both app stores and achieved strong retention rates thanks to the daily challenge system. The game runs smoothly on devices as old as iPhone 8 and equivalent Android hardware.

Tech Stack

• Unity 2022
• C#
• Firebase (Auth, Realtime Database)
• iOS & Android deployment