Why waves are so addictive
- Clear goals: survive this wave.
- Built-in rhythm: tension, release, tension.
- Visible progress: "I got to wave 12" is easy to beat next time.
- Natural stopping points, which somehow never feel like stopping points.
Types of wave based game
| Type | What you do between waves |
|---|---|
| Arena shooter | Nothing, or collect a pickup; pure skill |
| Survival arena | Buy upgrades or items |
| Tower defence | Build and upgrade defences |
| Horde mode | Regroup with a team |
Captain Star: a pure wave shooter
Captain Star is our top-down space shooter: you pilot a UFO through escalating alien waves, reach the star to clear each wave, and chase a high score. One pointer both moves and aims the ship. It is US$0.99 on the Mac App Store, on Steam for Windows, and on Apple TV and iPad.
Each wave places a star somewhere on the field. Reach it and you clear the wave; the next brings a new enemy formation, faster movement and eventually hazards. There are no shops or upgrade screens between waves, so a run is all skill and all momentum.
Getting further in wave games
- Use the calm at the start of each wave to position yourself.
- Learn which enemy type to deal with first.
- Do not chase score early; survive, then optimise.
- Note the wave you die on: that is the one to study.