Dark Planet

About

Dark Planet is a 1983 arcade shooter with two-player co-op that tasks you with blasting swarms of bugs and robots guarding a mysterious alien spire. You control a ship from a third-person perspective, strafing across split-screen levels while dodging hazards and picking off enemies with rapid-fire lasers. The game’s biggest hook is its ahead-of-its-time 3D-like visuals, which create a pseudo-isometric battlefield that felt fresh in early 80s arcades. What sets Dark Planet apart is its polished dual-player mode, which remains tight and balanced decades later. Though rare and mostly forgotten, it earned a cult following for its frantic action and pioneering visuals. With simple controls and escalating difficulty, it’s a short but punchy experience, ideal for quick rounds or competitive banter. Players who revisit it often cite its charm and challenge as a hidden gem of 80s arcade design.