Independence Day

About

Independence Day tasks you with piloting fighter jets to thwart alien armadas in a combat flight simulator tied to the 1996 blockbuster. As a pilot, you execute missions ranging from dogfights to stealth strikes, targeting massive alien warships hovering over global cities. The game blends arcade-style shooting with basic flight mechanics, letting you toggle between single-player objectives and split-screen co-op or versus modes. Each mission pushes you closer to launching a nuclear payload at the invaders' central ship. Launched in 1997 for PC and third-gen consoles, the game’s split-screen mode stood out for its time, letting two players team up or battle over control of the same aircraft. While the story diverges from the film’s climax, focusing on blowing up a mothership with a nuclear warhead, the emphasis on chaotic aerial combat and destructible environments kept it memorable. With its mix of co-op play and straightforward shooting, it carved a niche among mid-90s action games.

Storyline

The game's story is only loosely based on that of the movie. The City Destroyers have positioned themselves over the world's major cities, preparing to destroy them. The beginning of the game takes place directly after the canyon chase from the film, however, in the game the plane and Attacker don't crash. The mission is to take out all the City Destroyers, and finally fire a nuke into the Mothership's core.