Dark Matter

Dark Matter was one of those games you'd find in the late 2000s, tucked away on a Flash game portal. It came out in 2008, a time when simple, single-screen action was common. The developer, Nitrome, had a recognizable style, and this game fit right in with their other work.

You control a lone, shadowy figure in a city at night. You move left and right with the arrow keys, navigating the streets as enemies pour in from both sides. Your main goal is to survive the waves and find the boss to defeat him. You have a few basic actions: one button lets you swing a melee attack, another fires a projectile, and a third makes you jump. The pacing is relentless; enemies keep coming, and you have to keep moving and attacking to stay alive. It feels tense and straightforward, a quick burst of arcade-style combat where every mistake costs you.