# Interstellar Guardian — Defender style space shooter > Retro arcade space shooter defending humanoids from alien hordes. (iPhone/iPad app by Carl Moss.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interstellar-guardian/id1323000127 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Carl Moss](https://appshunter.io/developer/1323000126) - Category: Games, Action - Price: Free - Rating: 4.80/5 from 36 App Store ratings · 10 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 10.0 · 74 MB - Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, European Spanish - Released: 2019-05-29 - Data updated: 2026-08-16 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interstellar-guardian/id1323000127/reviews.md ## What is Interstellar Guardian? Interstellar Guardian is a retro 80's-style arcade game inspired by Defender and Dropzone. Enhanced gameplay without messing around with the formula too much to retain that classic feel. Can you protect the humanoids from the invading alien hordes? Game Features: - Fast paced arcade action. - Awesome graphics and particle effects. - Retro music and sound effects. - Power-ups. - Casual and classic gameplay modes. - 3 different planets. - Hundreds of levels. ***** AppAdvice best games of the week 21/06/2019 ## Key features - Fast-paced arcade action - Retro 80s-style graphics - Power-ups - Casual and classic modes - Hundreds of levels - Three different planets ## Recent user reviews (10 of 10) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/interstellar-guardian/id1323000127/reviews.md ### 3/5 — Needs an update *2025-07-22, version 1.0.2* This is a good game but I think I might need an update as it has started to crash regularly but apart from that it’s not bad and close to the defender game I loved when I was young. ### 4/5 — Excellent work. Brings back great memories. *2024-10-13* Thanks, Carl, for providing this version of a great classic arcade game. I can’t remember how many quarters the original cost me. It’s fantastic to be able to play for free. Thanks again. After playing this game a few dozen times, I find it to be every bit as fun and enjoyable as the original with only a couple exceptions. I found that it ABENDS frequently after level 18. Not sure why. It takes a while to get there and I’m not good enough to make that every game but that seems to be about my average. Not my high score as I’ve made it to level 20, maybe higher with a score just over 200,000. Nothing to brag about. But when you spend a half hour getting there it’s certainly disappointing to have it ABEND. I’m using an iPhone 13 Pro Max with full memory so maybe it has something to do with that. IOS is 17.5.1 and I realize this code is 5 yo. So if you care to let me look at the code, maybe I can help. Been coding for 40 years. Thanks. Again, great game! Continued: I’ve now played 67 of the 72 levels and they just keep getting better. However, the a bend and a few other bugs can detract from the experience. Would like to take over maintenance of the code if possible. Paul Bumgarner Mesa, AZ Ok. So it seems impossible to get past level 67 because of the ABENDs. I have narrowed down the problem to the spawning of the Bater enemies. There seems to be a point when they are spawning and the games jumps forward, skipping a split second of game time and then the game dies. The action is almost always the same. Every single time I get to the third wave a a bater screens into the screen, and I whip around to deal with it, the game dies. Please let me look at the code. **Developer response:** Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, glad you enjoyed the game! ### 4/5 — Excellent work. Brings back great memories. *2024-10-10* Thanks, Carl, for providing this version of a great classic arcade game. I can’t remember how many quarters the original cost me. It’s fantastic to be able to play for free. Thanks again. After playing this game a few dozen times, I find it to be every bit as fun and enjoyable as the original with only a couple exceptions. I found that it ABENDS frequently after level 18. Not sure why. It takes a while to get there and I’m not good enough to make that every game but that seems to be about my average. Not my high score as I’ve made it to level 20, maybe higher with a score just over 200,000. Nothing to brag about. But when you spend a half hour getting there it’s certainly disappointing to have it ABEND. I’m using an iPhone 13 Pro Max with full memory so maybe it has something to do with that. IOS is 17.5.1 and I realize this code is 5 yo. So if you care to let me look at the code, maybe I can help. Been coding for 40 years. Thanks. Again, great game! Continued: I’ve now played 67 of the 72 levels and they just keep getting better. However, the a bend and a few other bugs can detract from the experience. Would like to take over maintenance of the code if possible. Paul Bumgarner Mesa, AZ Ok. So it seems impossible to get past level 67 because of the ABENDs. I have narrowed down the problem to the spawning of the Bater enemies. There seems to be a point when they are spawning and the games jumps forward, skipping a split second of game time and then the game dies. The action is almost always the same. **Developer response:** Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, glad you enjoyed the game! ### 4/5 — Excellent work. Brings back great memories. *2024-10-08* Thanks, Carl, for providing this version of a great classic arcade game. I can’t remember how many quarters the original cost me. It’s fantastic to be able to play for free. Thanks again. After playing this game a few dozen times, I find it to be every bit as fun and enjoyable as the original with only a couple exceptions. I found that it ABENDS frequently after level 18. Not sure why. It takes a while to get there and I’m not good enough to make that every game but that seems to be about my average. Not my high score as I’ve made it to level 20, maybe higher with a score just over 200,000. Nothing to brag about. But when you spend a half hour getting there it’s certainly disappointing to have it ABEND. I’m using an iPhone 13 Pro Max with full memory so maybe it has something to do with that. IOS is 17.5.1 and I realize this code is 5 yo. So if you care to let me look at the code, maybe I can help. Been coding for 40 years. Thanks. Again, great game! Continued: I’ve now played 67 of the 72 levels and they just keep getting better. However, the a bend and a few other bugs can detract from the experience. Would like to take over maintenance if the code if possible. Paul Bumgarner Mesa, AZ **Developer response:** Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, glad you enjoyed the game! ### 5/5 — Excellent work. Brings back great memories. *2024-07-12* Thanks, Carl, for providing this version of a great classic arcade game. I can’t remember how many quarters the original cost me. It’s fantastic to be able to play for free. Thanks again. After playing this game a few dozen times, I find it to be every bit as fun and enjoyable as the original with only a couple exceptions. I found that it ABENDS frequently after level 18. Not sure why. It takes a while to get there and I’m not good enough to make that every game but that seems to be about my average. Not my high score as I’ve made it to level 20, maybe higher with a score just over 200,000. Nothing to brag about. But when you spend a half hour getting there it’s certainly disappointing to have it ABEND. I’m using an iPhone 13 Pro Max with full memory so maybe it has something to do with that. IOS is 17.5.1 and I realize this code is 5 yo. So if you care to let me look at the code, maybe I can help. Been coding for 40 years. Thanks. Again, great game! **Developer response:** Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, glad you enjoyed the game! ### 5/5 — Excellent work. Brings back great memories. *2024-06-28* Thanks, Carl, for providing this version of a great classic arcade game. I can’t remember how many quarters the original cost me. It’s fantastic to be able to play for free. Thanks again. ### 3/5 — Fun *2022-07-21* Fun game but the score is cropped at the top on iPad Pro. ### 5/5 — Stargate / Defender *2022-01-09* Cool game! If you played Stargate and/or Defender in the 80’s this is just like it. Lots of levels and 2 game modes. Have fun! ### 5/5 — Awesome Game! *2019-07-06, version 1.0.2* Great version of the all time classic Defender. Looks like the original but with sharper graphics. Laser and particle effects are cool. The power ups actually add to the gameplay (so many Defender type games get this wrong). Even the touch controls work surprisingly well! ### 5/5 — Such a fun n addictive game *2019-06-09, version 1.0.1* Awesome - absolute best Defender style game on the App Store! Loved the classic funky 80s background in-game music too :) Loved reliving flying over those landscapes again zapping the aliens and saving the little guys. Easy to master the controls but of course gets more challenging each level. Have fun blasting! ## Frequently asked questions about Interstellar Guardian ### What is Interstellar Guardian? Interstellar Guardian is a free-to-play retro arcade space shooter inspired by classic games like Defender and Dropzone. It features fast-paced action, retro graphics, and hundreds of levels. ### Does Interstellar Guardian have ads? No, Interstellar Guardian does not contain advertisements. It is a completely ad-free experience for uninterrupted gameplay. ### What devices support Interstellar Guardian? Interstellar Guardian is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. It is designed for iOS platforms. ### What is the age rating for Interstellar Guardian? Interstellar Guardian has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players. It is designed to be accessible and enjoyable for younger audiences. ### How many levels are in Interstellar Guardian? Interstellar Guardian offers hundreds of levels for players to conquer. These levels are spread across three different planets, providing a vast amount of content. ### What gameplay modes does Interstellar Guardian offer? Interstellar Guardian features both casual and classic gameplay modes. This allows players to choose their preferred style of engagement with the game's mechanics. ### When was Interstellar Guardian last updated? The latest version of Interstellar Guardian, 1.0.2, was last updated on July 1, 2019. The game was initially released on May 29, 2019. ### What do users think of Interstellar Guardian? Users generally have a very positive opinion of Interstellar Guardian, reflected in its high rating of 4.8 stars from 36 ratings. Players appreciate its classic feel and engaging gameplay. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.0.2 — 2019-07-01 - Improved Annihilator explosion. - Added ratings prompt. ### 1.0.1 — 2019-06-03 Fixed issues: - Discrepancy between star rating on sector completed and sector summary screens. - Humanoid radar blip left behind when rescued. - Humanoids didn't die when on board exploding ship. ### 1.0.0 — 2019-05-28 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Interstellar Guardian | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [AQ: First Contact](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aq-first-contact/id1321816752) | 4.6 (174) | Free | Games | | [Asteroids 3D - space shooter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/asteroids-3d-space-shooter/id1667354873) | 5.0 (4) | Free | Games | | [Galaxiga Saturn: Strategy Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/galaxiga-saturn-strategy-game/id1564299853) | 3.3 (6) | Free | Games | | [Asteroid Defender](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/asteroid-defender/id6463864588) | — | Free | Games | | [Creepy Aliens : The Invaders!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/creepy-aliens-the-invaders/id963062758) | 4.3 (150) | Free | Games | | [Paper Plane vs Trash Balls](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paper-plane-vs-trash-balls/id6443685840) | 3.4 (37) | Free | Games | ## More apps by Carl Moss - [Jumping Jack - Halloween](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jumping-jack-halloween/id1485382057) All apps by Carl Moss: https://appshunter.io/developer/1323000126 ## Related topics [defender arcade](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/defender-arcade) · [defender arcade game](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/defender-arcade-game) · [stargate](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/stargate) · [interstellar](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/interstellar) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-16.*