‘Atoms’ Teaches the Periodic Table Through Space Ship Combat

Atoms is on the subtle range of educational games, teaching you about the abbreviations for the Table of Elements through space shooter action.  

You’ll be controlling a ship that automatically shoots, taking on enemy after enemy. These foes fly in, following different paths and shooting out patterns of bullets. These bullets harm your ship, but if you can guide your own shots to the enemies first, you should be able to take them out.

At the top of the screen there is the name of an element, which changes as you play, almost as if on a timer. As you float around space, elements in the form of atoms appear here and there. These atoms have different abbreviations stating what element they are. You must collect the atom that matches the element listed on the top of the screen. When the element appears for the first time, you’ll be shown the abbreviation, but over time these hints disappear. 

If you pick up the wrong atom, you’ll lose your multiplier, but if you pick up the correct atom, you’ll end up with better shields, weapons, and become stronger overall. Big batches of power-ups and atoms appear in the form of balls in the sky, which you can destroy and collect. 

Atoms, like most space shooters, also has boss fights which take the form of powerful creatures looking to gun you down. This game is a very nice space shooter that feels good to play, while also rewarding you for knowing exactly what atoms you’re meant to be picking up.

Atoms is available now on Google Play and The App Store.

About The Author

Jupiter Hadley

Jupiter is a prolific indie game journalist, writing for Metro UK, Big Boss Battle, AlphaBetaGamer, and many more, all with a focus on smaller indie gems. She covers thousands of game jams and indie games on her YouTube channel, letting every game have a moment in the spotlight. She runs indiegamejams.com, a calendar of all of the game jams going on in the world, judges many jams and events.

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