Tempest: 6 Open Source Clones Compared
Several of these Tempest clones have documented, distinct lineages or feature differences: ArashiJS is adapted from an existing Macintosh clone (Project ARASHI) rather than built directly from the arcade original, and remains incomplete. SpaceTwitch adds collectible power-ups (cloned ships, faster and additional shots) not present in the original arcade game. wbta is a later Android port of wbt that adds a restriction not present in wbt's Java version: the superzapper special weapon can only be used once per round.
Comparison table
Availability
- Status
- Semi-playable
- Platforms
- Web
- Play in browser
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Archived
- Last updated
- 16y ago
- Stars
- 21
- Contributors
- 1
- License
- GPL-2.0
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- None
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 12y ago
- Stars
- 18
- Contributors
- 1
- License
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- NoThis is a clone/homage to Tempest with original gameplay implementation.
Availability
- Status
- Semi-playable
- Platforms
- Web
- Play in browser
- YesPlay in Browser
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Halted
- Last updated
- 12y ago
- Stars
- 2
- Contributors
- 4
- License
- —
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
Availability
- Status
- Semi-playable
- Platforms
- Arcade
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Not tracked
- Last updated
- Not tracked
- Stars
- Not tracked
- Contributors
- Not tracked
- License
- Not tracked
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
Availability
- Status
- Playable
- Platforms
- Atari
- Play in browser
- No
- Mobile
- No
Project health
- Development status
- Not tracked
- Last updated
- Not tracked
- Stars
- Not tracked
- Contributors
- Not tracked
- License
- Not tracked
Compatibility
- Requires original assets
- —
| Title | Arashi-JS | wbta | wbt | SpaceTwitch | Tempest Code Project | tenpest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Semi-playable | Playable | Playable | Semi-playable | Semi-playable | Playable |
| Platforms | Web | Android | None | Web | Arcade | Atari |
| Play in browser | No | No | YesPlay in Browser | No | No | |
| Mobile | No | Android | No | No | No | No |
| Project health | ||||||
| Development status | Archived | Halted | Halted | Halted | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Last updated | 16y ago | 11y ago | 12y ago | 12y ago | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Stars | 21 | 21 | 18 | 2 | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Contributors | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| License | GPL-2.0 | — | — | — | Not tracked | Not tracked |
| Compatibility | ||||||
| Requires original assets | — | NoThis is a clone/homage to Tempest for Android with original gameplay implementation. | NoThis is a clone/homage to Tempest with original gameplay implementation. | — | — | — |
| Preview | | | | |
Known limitations
Frequently asked questions
Are the Tempest clones on this page open source?
Yes — every clone catalogued here is an open-source project. Availability, license, and development-status details for each one are listed in the comparison table above.
What license do these Tempest clones use?
Arashi-JS (GPL-2.0).
Do I need to own the original Tempest to play these clones?
wbta and wbt run standalone, no original files needed.
Can I play any of these Tempest clones directly in a browser?
Yes — Arashi-JS and SpaceTwitch have a browser-playable build linked in the comparison table above, no install required.
See the full write-up for each clone, or go back to Tempest.