Last updated on January 17th, 2026 at 03:34 am
Star Fortress – Action Game Review
Star Fortress is a Action/Casual game from Sean Barenz, first launched in 12th November 2009.
It’s rated 9+ and currently has 14+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes Star Fortress Stand Out
Star Fortress is a colorful, faster paced homage to a 1980's classic that pits you against the Star Lord and his Star Fortress. The objective is to destroy the Star Lord that sits in the center of three spinning rings before he becomes fully mobile and gives chase.
You will need to blast away at the rings surrounding the Star Lord in order to create the opening needed to destroy him. During all this the Star Lord will constantly track you, and firing as soon as there is an opening available to it. If you manage to destroy the Star Lord, you will earn 5000 points plus a bonus for the number of ring segments remaining on the screen and time elapsed.
There are three sparks that will harass you throughout the level and will destroy you on contact. You can destroy the sparks with your own bullets but the sparks are not worth any points.
As stated before, you must destroy the Star Lord before he becomes mobile. An audible and visual alert is triggered about 10 seconds before the Star Lord becomes mobile. Once mobile, your bullets will no longer destroy it nor the fortress rings and your only choice is to escape. If you are destroyed while trying to escape, the level ends and you move on to the next level.
To control the game, position your thumbs over the controller overlay at the bottom of the screen. You can rotate your ship left and right with the left thumb. You control your thrusters and fire control with your right thumb. If you happen to run into the Star Fortress, your ship will bounce harmlessly (unless there's a spark attached to that particular ring segment). While your ship is fading in, you are free to move and are invulnerable for a few seconds.
Before the start of each game, you're free to select the level of your choosing. Veteran players need not be forced to start from the first level. Star Fortress has unlimited levels much like the original that inspired it. Unlike the original, the Star Lord has a few extra tricks up his sleeve as you advance through the levels.
Score Table:
Wall Segment – 33 points
Star Lord – 5000 points + time and ring segment bonus
Escape – 5000 points (no time nor ring segment bonus)
Extra Ships at 5000, 15000, 25000, 50000, and every 50000 thereafter
Tips:
-Stay moving. Remaining stationary can quickly become deadly once there's an opening in the fortress. It will also keep you ahead of the sparks
-Shoot the Star Lord quickly for better time bonuses. These bonuses can make the difference on earning that next extra ship
-Shooting out all the segments for a ring will cause a new ring to be regenerated from the center
This Action game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, Star Fortress is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 26th November 2019
Recent improvements include:
- Updated for iOS 13
- Fixed the controls to be much more forgiving
- Repositioned the controls closer to the corners
- Game balance tweaks
Download & Availability
Star Fortress is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get Star Fortress on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
This is an awesome game and well done port. Dont know why there arent more reviews.
Great adaption of the original. Agree with other comments about better game control. We would love to see this game work with an external game controller. It looks like the developer has moved onto work for Amazon so Im not sure if hes still updating these games. We hope he keeps at it and comes up with a few more.
Star Castle was our game when we were a kid! They nailed it with this one! So happy we found it.
We love retro-styled vector games on iPhone. This one was one of the first, based on a truly classic arcade game, and the inspiration for Yars' Revenge. Awesome.
We have loved this game for 38 years. This is a great recreation. One request: please add keyboard control. This game plays well on the iPad, but needs a keyboard for fine control.
We love this "blast" from the past. This was a favorite game from our teenage years! Thanks for the update.
Great app. We loved the arcade game its based on. Ive been playing this for several years on our phone, But we are disappointed with the recent update. Wish we hadnt updated. New version scales down the Fortress and the fighter ship. This gives more space but on small devices the size of fighter and fortress seem too small, also the controls are now more sensitive in a negative way.
We loved this game as a kid so we were thrilled to see you ported it to IOS. Can you make the buttons taller? They're too small on an iPhone and too easy to miss at critical moments .. We want to see thd new staf lord tricks but can't get far enough without the small controls foiling us… Otherwise everything feels like back in the day… Except to need for quarters.
We're so old we remember this game! We used to play this at the roller rink every wknd. Great job on graphics and added touches. Well worth the 99 cents Don't tell our wife!! Lol.
Thank you for bringing back the memories.
Yars Revenge was based off something similar to this game. This is perfect. The controls work well too.
Star Castle was one of the very first arcade games we played as a kid back in 1981, 1982. The only place we ever found it was tucked away in a small arcade room in the back of the local Sears store diner. Anyone else remember those diners? Hilarious.
Great replica of the classic Star Castle. Good Job Mr Barenz! Having lots of fun with this one.
Loved this game as a kid. Sucked at it too. Love the old graphics. But, with the recent update, the game won't end! We're up to 350 million, and the game will not end. We've been committing suicide, and the game won't end!! It's ridiculous.
Love the game, but, as another reviewer said, it won't end. And it needs an update. Badly. It's cheap and fun for us old timers. Just don't take it too seriously. -sprayrr.
We just bought this and we also have Infinity Wars. These are the kinds of games we have been looking for since first getting an Iphone! Please keep developing more, we'll keep buying them! Thanks Craig.
This brings back memories. Thanks for a nicely done remake of the classic Star Castle. ;) we enjoyed the game play. Well done.
Awesome re-make of star castle. Oooo those sounds. You got them!! Whoever made this: you did great. NOW you need to do a re-make of Phoenix, the game that was better than Gallaga.
Cool game have to get used to the controls.
Making it easier to thrust. The control setup is cumbersome to control the ship.
Its like an arcade game. Our uncle made this game and we think its pretty good for 99c.
Just like SC. We couldn't believe it. Takes some getting used to again, but just like the old days. How about space duel, star wars arcade game, battle zone, black widow, tempest etc. We think you guys would do all those games awesome justice.
A very good and challenging remake of the original arcade game! Worth 5x more, easily.
Developer thank you for making this game. The game play, controls and sounds are like we remember in the arcade. StarCastle was always one of our favorites.
Our shots should go much faster than our ship can fly. Speed them up, please!!! In fact, the pace of the game could stand some speed increases. Good controls. We'd rather see the ship bounce off and turn around the side walls instead of just stop dead. Fun and much like the original. Ok for $0.99.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 1.5
- Size: 5.06 MB
- iOS: 13.0 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory: Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
- Developer: Sean Barenz
Last updated: 26th November 2019 | Genre: Action, Casual | Developer: Sean Barenz