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Older Excel releases hid games inside the software; a newer community project brings an arcade shooter to a macro-enabled workbook. The two are related by their setting, not their origin: the historical Easter eggs were associated with Microsoft releases, while Excel-SpaceInvader is an independent VBA project. A 2026 account describes its workbook, called “Space Defenders,” as playable in desktop Excel, but current compatibility and maintenance have not been established.
What the “24 years ago” claim means
The 24-year figure counts back from 2026 to 2002, the year commonly associated with Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing shift. A recent account links that change in priorities toward security and reliability with the disappearance of software Easter eggs. It is best understood as historical framing, not a documented cutoff date proving that every Microsoft Easter egg ended in 2002.
Former Microsoft executive Ed Fries discussed the culture around software Easter eggs, including Excel 97’s flight simulator, in a 2022 interview. That retrospective is useful context, but it is not a formal Microsoft policy record: Ed Fries interview.
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Three separate Excel releases are associated with hidden games. They were undocumented features within older Microsoft software, rather than downloadable workbooks.
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- Excel 95: Hall of Tortured Souls.
- Excel 97: a flight simulator.
- Excel 2000: Dev Hunter.
These examples help explain the nostalgia behind “Excel Easter eggs,” but they should not be conflated with the later Space Invaders-style game. The historical games were associated with Microsoft product development; the modern project is credited to the Evanml2030 GitHub account.
What Excel-SpaceInvader is
Excel-SpaceInvader is described as an open-source VBA implementation of a classic arcade shooter. A recent article calls its macro-enabled workbook “Space Defenders” and says it can be played directly in desktop Excel. The player moves left and right with the arrow keys and fires with the Spacebar.
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- Headphone Jack: 3.5mm headphone jack lets you enjoy SPACE INVADERS on the go on your own privately.
- Portable Gameplay: Powered by 4 AA batteries (not included) or by a USB-C cable (not included).
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The distinction is important: this is not an official Microsoft Easter egg or a game built into current Excel. It is community-made code that runs in a workbook. The project repository is Excel-SpaceInvader on GitHub. Older Code Review discussions also point to that repository, but their 2018 setup comments—including references to hard-coded image paths and choosing the correct workbook file—are historical and should not be treated as current installation instructions: Code Review discussion of the Excel game.
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How the workbook is described as working
According to the recent account, VBA manages the game state and the moving parts: enemies, projectiles, collisions, and repeated updates. Its loop uses DoEvents so Excel can process events while the game is running.
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For input and timing, the account says the project calls Windows APIs: GetAsyncKeyState from user32.dll reads keyboard input, while QueryPerformanceCounter and QueryPerformanceFrequency from kernel32.dll support timing. These are descriptions in the article, not independently verified tests of the current workbook or repository.
How the old eggs and the new project differ
| Aspect | Older Excel Easter eggs | Excel-SpaceInvader |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Associated with Microsoft product developers and specific older Excel releases. | Attributed to the independent Evanml2030 GitHub project. |
| How it was delivered | Hidden inside a software release. | A downloadable macro-enabled workbook, described as “Space Defenders.” |
| What is established | Excel 95, 97, and 2000 are associated with the named games above. | A recent account describes its gameplay and implementation; current compatibility and maintenance are not established. |
Safety and compatibility before opening a macro-enabled workbook
Macros can execute code, so a workbook should not be treated as safe merely because it is a game or is publicly hosted. The recent article says its author opened the file in Safe Mode and inspected the VBA before playing. That is the author’s account, not a general security assurance about the repository or any copy a reader downloads.
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- Only consider a workbook from a source you trust, and inspect its macros or have someone qualified review them before enabling content.
- Follow your organization’s security policy; managed devices may restrict macros or ActiveX controls.
- The article advises restoring ActiveX settings after play. Excel labels and available controls vary by version and policy, so do not assume one set of steps applies to every installation.
The available account does not establish the project’s current maintenance status, license, workbook download structure, or compatibility across present Excel versions. Windows API calls are part of the described implementation, but no tested operating-system or Excel-version matrix is provided. As a result, readers should not assume it will run on every computer.
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