Your tower stands in the middle and shoots the nearest enemy by itself. Enemies come from every side, in waves that keep getting stronger.

Destroyed enemies burst into pixels. Spend pixels on the upgrades under the game. You start with Damage and Tower HP; Fire rate, Range, Pixel absorber (armor) and Pixel magnet (more pixels per kill) unlock as you reach new waves.

Tap the screen, the NOVA button or Space to blast every enemy on screen. It takes a while to recharge, so save it for emergencies.

Every 20 waves a boss arrives (every 10 from wave 100). Destroy it to earn a boss core and bonus chips. Wardens are shielded: NOVA breaks the shield for a few seconds.

Boss cores and chips pay for Bit Theory: timed research that unlocks extra bullets, piercing shots, critical hits, faster Nova and stacking damage. Research keeps running while the game is closed.

Each cleared wave also gives pixel chips. Chips stay between runs: spend them in the Foundry for permanent boosts.

Pause with the Pause button, P or Esc.

Study the pixels to find their deeper meaning. Research runs in real time, even when the game is closed. One study at a time.

Highlighted rows set a new best wave.

Pixel chips come from clearing waves: 1 per wave, plus 1 more for every 5 waves reached. Spend them here on permanent boosts that carry into every future run.