In the early 1980s, a time capsule containing footage of classic arcade games is sent into space with the hope of contacting extraterrestrial life. Decades later, Earth is attacked by aliens who misinterpret the video feed as a declaration of war. These aliens use the pixelated characters and tactics from the classic games to mount their assault. Sam Brenner, once an arcade gaming champion, is now a home theater installer. He realizes that the key to defeating these invaders lies in his old gaming skills. Reunited with his childhood friend and current U.S. President, Will Cooper, Sam teams up with a team of fellow gamers to combat this bizarre and unprecedented threat.

The team includes Ludlow Lamonsoff, a conspiracy-theory-loving genius, and Eddie Plant, Sam's former arcade rival, alongside military specialist Lieutenant Colonel Violet Van Patten, who provides advanced weaponry inspired by the games. When the aliens deliver an ultimatum—a series of challenges directly based on arcade classics—these unlikely heroes must rise to the occasion. As they face increasingly difficult levels of gameplay brought to life in real-world environments, they strive to save humanity from pixelated annihilation. Their journey involves navigating personal grudges, tapping into their unique talents, and ultimately understanding that their only hope lies in mastering the games they once loved.