The Videocart-26 game is an action-packed variant of Space Invaders. The player controls a gun turret at the bottom of the screen, firing missiles at incoming alien ships. The turret can move left and right, hide behind three protective barriers, and shoot at aliens to score points. The game's objective is to destroy all alien ships in each attacking wave while scoring as many points as possible. If an alien ship lands on the planet surface, the player loses their lives. The game features a unique twist with occasional appearances of an alien mothership that can be shot for extra points.
The gameplay is versatile, allowing players to compete alone or with a friend in turn-based or simultaneous modes. Depending on the chosen mode, there are different numbers of missiles and aliens on the screen at any given time.
There are 10 game modes to choose from, each with its own set of rules and challenges:
Mode 1: Single player, 1 missile, 2 alien missiles
Mode 2: Single player, 1 missile, 4 alien missiles
Mode 3: Single player, 2 missiles, 2 alien missiles
Mode 4: Single player, 2 missiles, 4 alien missiles
Mode 5: Two players, 1 missile, 2 alien missiles
Mode 6: Two players, 1 missile, 4 alien missiles
Mode 7: Two players, 2 missiles, 2 alien missiles
Mode 8: Two players, 2 missiles, 4 alien missiles
Mode 9: Two players, 1 missile, 2 alien missiles
Mode 10: Two players, 1 missile, 4 alien missiles
Game modes 5-8 offer turn-based gameplay, while modes 9 and 10 feature simultaneous turns.