Starfire

Starfire is one of those games that feels like it came from a specific moment. It was part of the wave of Flash games you'd find on portals in the early 2000s, a time when a quick browser game could eat up an afternoon. It's a remake of the older PC shooter Tyrian, adapted for that simpler, more accessible format.

You pilot a small ship from a top-down perspective, moving it with the mouse or keyboard across scrolling starfields. Your main job is to survive waves of enemy craft and larger formations, shooting them down while dodging their return fire. You collect the credits they drop, which you can spend between missions to upgrade your ship's weapons, shields, and engines. The pace is steady, building from manageable skirmishes to screens filled with projectiles that require careful weaving. It feels like a straightforward test of reflexes and resource management, where a good run leaves your ship noticeably more powerful for the next fight.