Defender puts players in charge of a ship sent to protect mankind from wave after wave of attacking alien forces.
The player must fight against various enemy types, including Bombers, Pods, Swarmers, Baiters, and Landers, which can capture humanoids and transform them into deadly Mutants. If the player fails to save humanoids from freefall or Mutant transformation, the planet is destroyed.
Players will have access to smart bombs and hyperspace, allowing them to quickly move around the planet and gain an advantage in combat.