A vertical shoot-em-up roguelite drawn as a live terminal grid. Out now on the App Store.
Available on iPhone and iPad.
About
ASCII Gunship is an arcade vertical shoot-em-up rendered entirely as a live terminal character grid. Every ship, bullet, boss, and explosion is a glyph in a bright ANSI palette, wrapped in optional CRT scanlines.
Clear a wave, pick one of three upgrade cards, and build a different gunship every run. Every fifth wave a multi-part ASCII boss fills the top of the terminal.
How to play
- Drag to fly while the cannons fire automatically. Use the bomb control when enemy fire crowds the screen.
- After each wave, choose one of three upgrade cards. The card pool includes faster fire, drones, tail guns, and chain lightning, so the build changes during a run.
- Every fifth wave brings a multi-part boss. Destroy its turrets and survive its changing attack phases before continuing through the sectors.
Modes and progression
CADET, VETERAN, and ACE set the difficulty. Five sectors lead into repeating MK tiers. Bank salvage for eight gunships in the hangar, each with its own passive and starting weapon. Ships are earnable through play; the chain multiplier can reach x9.
Release information
iPhone and iPad · iOS / iPadOS 16 or later. First released .
Version 1.0, released , on the US App Store when checked September 23, 2026. See the current listing and version history.
Common questions
Do I have to tap to keep shooting?
No. The cannons fire automatically; dragging controls flight, and the bomb has its own control.
What carries between runs?
Salvage credits, owned ships, high scores, and best wave are saved locally. Upgrade-card choices shape the current run.
Can I play offline?
Yes. The game does not require an account. The App Store listing describes optional tips and ships earnable in-game.
More from Anguished Studio
Support
Questions, bugs, or feedback? Email anguishedturtle@gmail.com and we'll get back to you.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 17, 2026
ASCII Gunship ("the app") is a single-player game. We respect your privacy and keep things simple.
Data we collect: None that personally identifies you. The app does not require an account, does not show ads, and does not include third-party analytics or tracking SDKs.
On-device data: Your game progress, including scores and settings, is stored only on your device using Apple's standard local storage. It is not transmitted to us.
Children: The app is suitable for all ages and does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children.
Changes: We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will always be available at this page.
Contact: anguishedturtle@gmail.com
Anguished LLC