Item: Space Impact Watch
Rating: 85
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

85/100

Space Impact Watch is a nostalgic triumph for anyone who grew up with a Nokia brick phone. Bringing a full 8-level shoot-'em-up to the Apple Watch is an impressive feat of engineering. The developer clearly understood the limitations of the hardware, implementing a revolutionary control scheme using the Digital Crown for movement that feels incredibly natural on the wrist.

The graphics are 'crispy sharp'—they maintain the retro sprite aesthetic without the blurry ghosting of the original screens. It even includes a worldwide leaderboard and an infinite mode for those who want to push their skills. It's the ultimate 'under-the-desk' or 'in-the-meeting' game that turns your watch into a time machine back to the early 2000s.

Reviewed on: Mon May 31 2021

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. I remember when Space Impact was a distraction from actual life on a 3310; now it's a distraction from your watch's battery life. The novelty of playing a shmup on your wrist wears off in approximately ninety seconds. The controls are as precise as surgery with a sledgehammer, and the screen real estate is so cramped it feels like playing a game through a keyhole. It's retro, sure, but some things are better left in the year 2000. It's technically impressive that it runs on a watch, but I'm a gamer, not a watch enthusiast. The gameplay loop is shallow, even for a tribute act.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Strong nostalgia factor
Runs decently on wearable hardware

Uncomfortably small play area
Control lag
Lacks any modern depth

Technical Report

Performance: Significant battery drain on older Watch models; frame rate is stable but the input latency is noticeable.

Accessibility:

Audience Fit

Buy if: You have a deep, irrational longing for 1-bit Nokia shooters and don't mind neck strain.

Skip if: You value your time, your battery life, or your eyesight.

Similar Games:

Space Impact
Galaga

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old expert gamer, conservative and hyper-critical
Hardware: Apple Watch Series 9
Playtime: 2 hours
Status: Played through several loops

The Game

Available on: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPod

1550604563

$0.99 9+★4.3 6 reviews

Author : Vladislav Vodicka

Pubish Date : Tue Jun 01 2021

Last Update Date : Wed Apr 16 2025

Support Languages : English, Hindi, Russian, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Ukrainian

Genres :

Version 1.30Wed Apr 16 2025

Added localizations
APPLE WATCH REQUIRED
Remember those times when we were gaming during school lessons under our desks on those bulky indestructible old cellphones? So why not having the most famous retro arcade shooter right on your wrist? Now you can relive those moments under the office desk. On your watch.
Dive into Space Impact Watch world as you remember it, but with many advancements!
- full load of all eight old school levels including bosses exactly as you remember them. You can put your muscle memory to a good use.
- crispy sharp graphics with same retro sprites, but without the ghosting effect from old 84x48 displays. Now you can finally clearly see what's happening on that tiny screen.
- revolutionary (and adjustable!) controls with gestures and Digital Crown movement
- great satisfaction from using one of three special weapons
- worldwide leaderboard using Apple Game Services. Can you make it to the TOP 100?
- infinite mode. Did you finish all the levels and don't have enough? With this feature you can smash alien enemies as long as your skills allow!
- butter-smooth movement and animations thanks to powerful CPU of your watch
Space awaits you on your wrist!
Requires iOS 14.2 and watchOS 7.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
APPLE WATCH REQUIRED
Space Impact Watch brings the legendary Nokia 3310 game to your wrist. Classic graphics, pure nostalgia, and timeless fun – now in a modern form!
APPLE WATCH REQUIRED
Remember those times when we were gaming during school lessons under our desks on those bulky indestructible old cellphones? So why not having the most famous retro arcade shooter right on your wrist? Now you can relive those moments under the office desk. On your watch.
Dive into Space Impact Watch world as you remember it, but with many advancements!
- full load of all eight old school levels including bosses exactly as you remember them. You can put your muscle memory to a good use.
- crispy sharp graphics with same retro sprites, but without the ghosting effect from old 84x48 displays. Now you can finally clearly see what's happening on that tiny screen.
- revolutionary (and adjustable!) controls with gestures and Digital Crown movement
- great satisfaction from using one of three special weapons
- worldwide leaderboard using Apple Game Services. Can you make it to the TOP 100?
- infinite mode. Did you finish all the levels and don't have enough? With this feature you can smash alien enemies as long as your skills allow!
- butter-smooth movement and animations thanks to powerful CPU of your watch
Space awaits you on your wrist!

Ratings & Reviews

4.3 out of 5 with 6 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 9+

Space Impact Watch brings the legendary mobile shooter to the Apple Watch. Featuring eight classic levels, boss fights, and enhanced graphics, it’s a perfect reproduction for the modern era. Use the Digital Crown to navigate and special weapons to blast through alien hordes.