Space Shooter v2.0.0

My first PICO-8 game, created in the week leading up to the  Pioneer Valley Game Developers Pico Jam 2025! Experience a classic space delivery roguelike where you'll transport tech packages across dangerous sectors, earn credits, and upgrade your ship to survive increasingly hostile space.

Features

• Mission-based gameplay loop: Accept delivery contracts, navigate hazards, and return to station
• 6 Ship Upgrades: Customize your playstyle at the station shop
• 3 Unique space hazards: Each with distinct behaviors and strategies
• Dynamic difficulty: Challenges scale with each successful delivery
• Original chiptune soundtrack: Created entirely in PICO-8's sound editor
• Optimized for web: Smooth browser play with pixel-perfect rendering

✨ New in v2.0.0

• Three Difficulty Modes Choose between Easy, Normal, and Veteran.
• Collectible Money Drops Asteroids now drop money pickups that must be collected during the round. This makes resource gain more transparent and updates your total instantly—no more end-of-round surprises.
• Persistent Per-Difficulty Leaderboards Each difficulty maintains its own high-score table. Leaderboards now persist between runs.
• Breakable Comets + Powerups Comets can now be destroyed, and each color has a chance to drop a unique powerup.

How to Play

• Move: Arrow Keys / D-Pad
• Shoot: 🅾️ (Z/C/N)
• Shield: ❎ (X/V/M) - Hold to activate

Complete deliveries, earn credits, upgrade wisely, and see how many rounds you can survive!

Ship Upgrades

• Fire Rate: Faster weapon recharge for rapid shots
• Shield: Energy barrier that blocks all damage when held
• Spread Shot: Fire multiple projectiles in a wider arc
• Hull+: Add extra hull segments for more health capacity
• Repair: Restore damaged hull segments between missions
• Thrusters: Enhanced acceleration for nimble maneuvering

Space Hazards

• Asteroids: Slow-moving but durable; split into fragments when destroyed
• Comets (Color-coded): Fast and indestructible—your only option is to dodge
• Black Holes: Powerful gravity wells that pull everything toward their center

About

This game was my introduction to PICO-8 development, built from scratch in just one week. It combines classic arcade action with roguelike upgrade progression, all within PICO-8's cozy 128x128 pixel constraints.

Feedback Welcome!

As my first PICO-8 game, I'd love to hear your thoughts! What worked? What could be better? Did you discover any strategies for surviving longer?

Ideas I'm considering for future updates:

• New hazard types (solar flares, space mines, alien pirates?)
• Additional ship upgrades (auto-turret, warp drive, cargo scanner?)
• Mission variety (rescue operations, time-critical deliveries, bounty hunting?)
• High score leaderboard
• Co-op or versus modes

Drop a comment below with your suggestions, bug reports, or just to share your best delivery streak! Your feedback helps shape what comes next.

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