Swarm

About

Swarm is a fast-paced arcade shooter where you pilot a ship in the Praulac Nebula harvesting a rare mineral called EZT while fending off swarms of insectoid aliens. You navigate top-down levels, balancing resource collection with combat using weapons, mines, and shields. Levels alternate between gathering objectives, enemy kill quotas, and short bonus rounds for item collection. Progression carries collected gear between stages but resets on death, with the goal of surviving 100 increasingly chaotic levels. The game blends simple mechanics with escalating tension through its level design and resource management. Launched in 1998 by Reflexive Entertainment, it’s a cult classic with a rigid difficulty curve and a high score system that rewards precision. Its straightforward combat loops and permadeath stakes appeal to fans of old-school shooters. Running on PC since release, Swarm remains a relic of late-90s indie development with a cult following that cites its punishing challenge and minimalistic story.

Storyline

Swarm is set in the Praulac Nebula, which is inhabited by a strange insectoid race called the Clagnor. Negotiations between humans and the Clagnor have failed, leading to an all-out war between the two races. The story follows Rawl Mastesen, a prison convict given the task of fighting the Clagnor for a year. After this, if by any chance he survives, his name will be cleared unless he takes an offer for another year on the job for twice the pay.