$5.99Is Chicken Invaders 5 worth it?
Chicken Invaders 5 is worth it if…
- you want a fast arcade shooter you can finish in an evening
- you like humor that takes its absurd premise completely seriously
- you want an easy game to play with friends or family on one screen
- you grew up on classic arcade shooters and want that feeling back
- you enjoy chasing high scores and unlocking extras across replays
Screenshots
Saving the world between meals
The plot is exactly as serious as it sounds. Humanity has oppressed Earth's chickens for centuries, and their intergalactic cousins have had enough. Their revenge plan: block out the sunlight and freeze the planet solid. You play the hero, who was just about to order spicy chicken wings at the Space Burger when the sky went dark. Rude timing.
Your job is to fly around the galaxy, piece together an ancient artifact and undo the feathered conspiracy. The writing plays it all with a straight face, which is most of the joke. A hero's log, dashboard lights flashing red, a postponed dinner: the game never lets you forget that world-saving is an inconvenience to someone who is very hungry.
Waves, weapons and bullet hell
The campaign runs 120 waves, grouped into chapters that each end with a boss. Enemies range from ordinary chickens to giant combat broilers, army chickens in helmets, and an egg-firing gatling contraption that will not leave you alone until it is scrap. Bosses throw grenades, knives and plasma, so standing still and shooting is not an option.
You dodge slow, drifting enemy fire while returning your own, and the screen fills up fast. Collect food, coins and power-ups to build your score, and grab keys, which unlock goodies like perks and cosmetics. Three new weapons join the arsenal, including a hypergun and a corn shotgun. Three difficulty settings, from Rookie to Superstar Hero, decide how spongy the chickens get.
Four ships, one screen of chaos
You can play solo, but this is a game built for sharing. Local and online co-op support up to four players, and the waves get no easier just because there are more of you, which is where the fun lives. One player drifts left to catch falling keys, another gets cornered by a boss, and suddenly the plan is gone and everyone is laughing.
Sessions are short and easy to join: a run takes roughly an hour or so, so it works as a quick game with a friend or a family member rather than a commitment. It is simple enough that anyone can pick up a ship and start shooting within seconds, and chaotic enough that no two runs fall apart the same way.
Can you play it solo?
Can you play it solo?
Yes. The whole campaign works solo, and a full run takes roughly an hour or so depending on difficulty. Co-op is there when you want it, not a requirement.
How long is the game?
The campaign is 120 waves across several chapters, each ending with a boss. Three difficulty settings and unlockables you earn by collecting keys give it plenty of replay value once the first run is done.
Is it hard?
It depends on the setting. Rookie is a relaxed intro, while Superstar Hero turns chickens into bullet sponges that take several times the punishment. Higher difficulties also keep enemies on screen longer, which means denser fire to dodge.
Do you need to know the earlier games?
No. The story is a fresh scheme by vengeful space chickens, and everything you need to know arrives in the opening scenes. Longtime fans get extra nods, like unlockable weapons and backgrounds from earlier entries, but newcomers can jump straight in.
