The Shoot 'Em Up Zone

Shooters about dodging waves, firing constantly, and clearing patterned enemy attacks.

Latest Standouts

Recent releases that landed well, newest first, filtered to games with enough reviews to trust the score.

Future Knight - Frenetic action and LCD aesthetic! In this 2D Shoot 'Em Up, switch between a robot hero and his benign tumor to stop a bizarre cult. You have 8 hours to save humanity's memory: defeat grotesque bosses, ride the skies on your Future Board, and master the chaos in a retro-futuristic Tokyo.
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Aug 13, 2026
99% 👍
of 162
Soulforge Lost Path - In ’Soulforge Lost Path ‘, become a legendary hunter slaughtering endless Corrupted Souls. Scavenge Sacred Remains to forge Exorcist Artefacts, manage limited inventory strategically, and uncover the world's festering corruption truth.
Ogre Chambers 2222 - SURVIVE in a transforming arena against ALIEN OGRES in this ROGUELIKE BULLET-HELL 💥 MODIFY your gun, make smart upgrade decisions and master your spaceship's controls to conquer the OGRE CHAMBERS !
Alien Strike: Blasting the Intruders - Slide, jump and shoot in 8 directions in this explosive Run 'n Gun for up to 3 players! Swap weapons in real time, activate insane specials and take on alien bosses in an action-packed invasion of retro mayhem!
HUNTDOWN: OVERTIME - Players say: As bounty hunter John Sawyer, fight through gang territory in side-scrolling runs, then return from death with cybernetic upgrades. Players like: Responsive Run-and-Gun · Detailed Pixel Art · Music and Sound ·
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Corporations turned crime-infested streets into profit margins for bounty hunters and John Sawyer is going to make a killing. Hunt, die, upgrade, repeat in this explosive roguelite prequel where every strategic upgrade strips away more flesh and builds a cybernetic fighter one chrome limb at a time.

Touhou Lensed Night Sky, Kaseigai - "I want you to go to the moon."
Nautical Survival - Captain an armed sea vessel to fight off hordes of oceanic terrors! Navigate between outposts to upgrade your boat, equip powerful weapons, manage your economy and hire crew members to your aid in this unique take on the survivors-like formula.
Kritter: Defend Together - Explore, loot, and rush back to defend your ship against alien hordes. Solo or 4-player coop, grow stronger run after run in this frantic action roguelite with a touch of tower defense.
Haunted Lands - Slay grim cultists, infernal minions, and nightmarish creatures in this dark and bloody retro-inspired action platformer. Uncover secrets, acquire powerful artifacts, and face challenging bosses in the Haunted Lands.
Genome Guardian 2 - COMBINE WEAPONS in the microscopic shooter with macroscopic depth. BUILD YOUR NANOBOT from hundreds of parts. SURVIVE the microbial onslaught once more in this psychedelic dive to the Abyss, full of mutations, minerals, anomalies and powerup polyps. SHMUP mode turns it into a vertical shoot 'em up!

On Sale Now

Discounted 25% or more right now, limited to well-reviewed games, steepest cuts first.

CPU Invaders - Players say: Defend your computer from invading enemies in a desktop-overlay shooter, dodging attacks and clearing ten stages. Players like: Desktop Overlay · Quick Arcade Sessions · Challenging Stages ·
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Invaders are living inside your computer. You shouldn't let that happen! Interact with your desktop while playing, watch Youtube videos, chat with your friends and more! CPU Invaders overlaps the game itself with your computer screen.

Duke of Alpha Centauri - Players say: Pilot an upgradable spacecraft through enemy waves and boss fights, balancing two weapon systems, ship abilities, and survival. Players like: Approachable Arcade Action · Ship Upgrade Options · Space Graphics ·
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Duke of Alpha Centuri is a space shooter with amazing graphics. The main goal of our game is to have a lot of fun while blowing up hordes of different types of enemies. Engage in boss fights, upgrade your ship and ship systems until you are able to show off in an endless mode.

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Dec 28, 2016
76% 👍
of 556
RIVE - Players say: Trapped aboard a mysterious starship, scavenger Roughshot pilots a spider tank through 360-degree shooting, platforming, and robot hacking. Players like: Fast Arcade Combat · Satisfying Controls · Shooter-Platformer Mix ·
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This 360-degree shooter/platformer hybrid lets you choreograph a ‘dance of destruction’ in insanely spectacular battles and set-pieces. RIVE feels like the explosive games of yore, pumping megapixels in true 21st century style.

Saints Row®: The Third™ Remastered - Players say: Lead the Saints against the Syndicate in Steelport, seizing rackets through open-world gunfights, wild missions, and co-op. Players like: Absurd Humor · Chaotic Action · Memorable Missions ·
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The Full Package, Remastered – With enhanced graphics, improved lighting, reworked environments, and visual effects, Steelport and The Third Street Saints have never looked so good.

Planes, Bullets and Vodka - Players say: Pilot a plane through randomized tunnels, shooting enemy waves and dodging bullets and walls as you chase a higher score. Players like: Fast Arcade Action · Easy To Learn · Retro Presentation ·
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Fly through danger filled procedurally generated tunnels, avoiding thousands of enemies, on this throwback to the golden age of arcade games.

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Dec 13, 2016
85% 👍
of 3.1k
Out There Somewhere - Players say: Stranded on an alien world, use a teleport-firing device to solve platforming puzzles and reach the planet’s core to escape. Players like: Teleporting Puzzles · Clever Room Design · Retro Pixel Art ·
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You play an explorer stranded on a dangerous alien planet. Low on fuel, your only hope for escape is to find the planet’s core in this incredibly clever action-puzzle-platformer.

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Mar 14, 2016
93% 👍
of 6.9k
The Knight Witch - Players say: Fly through a hand-drawn underground world, shoot War Golems, and cast deck-built spells as Rayne investigates an invasion. Players like: Distinctive Genre Blend · Hand-Drawn Art · Spell-Card Combat ·
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The Knight Witch is a metroidvania adventure game with fast-paced, shoot 'em up combat set in a beautifully hand-drawn world. Cast devastating card-based spells, forge close bonds, and make moral choices all in your quest to save your home and discover who's behind the War Golem invasion.

Renegade Ops - Players say: Drive an armed vehicle through top-down battlefields, blasting Inferno’s forces alone or with up to three co-op partners. Players like: Explosive Arcade Action · Co-op Play · Destructible Environments ·
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Blast your way through enemy lines to defeat Inferno, a madman intent on global domination. Destruction just got awesome.

Insect Swarm - Players say: Pilot an aircraft across an alien desert, blast insect hordes, gather crystals, and switch to a mech for close combat. Players like: Satisfying, fast-paced combat against large insect swarms. · Mech combat and the range of weapons offer enjoyable ways to attack. · Simple, easy-to-pick-up gameplay that some players find relaxing or absorbing. ·
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The insect swarm is a swarm consists of millions of alien insects, and you, as the only survival on this barren planet, will have to fight against them dauntlessly. Good luck!

Shooty Shooty Robot Invasion - Players say: As mercenary Shooty, explore six cartoon levels, talk with eccentric locals, and fight a robot invasion with guns and dashes. Players like: Absurd Dialogue · Hand-Drawn Art · Distinctive Characters ·
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An absurdist FPS/interactive fiction game where you murder stupid robots, chat with idiot people, and explore a painstakingly hand-drawn and highly animated world!

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Jul 10, 2025
89% 👍
of 501
Time Wasters - Players say: Pilot a space-faring ship through enemy swarms, build up auto-firing weapons, and use map outposts and cubes to shape each run. Players like: Map Outpost Objectives · Captain Weapon Variety · Satisfying Short Runs ·
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Time Wasters is a space shooter bullet heaven roguelite. Equip and upgrade weapons, destroy swarms of enemies, and collect Time & Space Cubes to bend the timeline to your advantage.

Touhou Endless Dream - Players say: Choose a Touhou fighter, dodge bullet patterns, and build with random items while black holes consume each run’s map. Players like: Distinct Character Styles · Frantic Bullet-Hell Combat · Varied Item Combinations ·
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A bullet hell roguelike game. Players can utilize characters with different abilities, collect and assemble powerful items. Dance through an unending barrage of bullets to save both yourself and Touhou Gensokyo from the darkness that is engulfing everything.

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Nov 1, 2021
94% 👍
of 1.9k

Hidden Gems

Well-liked but under-played: strong scores, small review counts.

Contract Rush DX - Every character plays like an entirely different action game in Contract Rush DX. Explore a world inspired by 2000's flash animation, collect powerful upgrades throughout levels, and unleash them to defeat difficult boss battles!
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Jul 30, 2025
100% 👍
of 282
Like Dreamer - A pop and cute bullet-hell shooting game from Cosmo Dreamer "Outside". Both beginners and experts can enjoy speedy and active playing.
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Jul 21, 2022
100% 👍
of 176
DEVIL BLADE REBOOT - Players say: Pilot a fighter through a vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up, dodging attacks and risking close-range kills to boost your score. Players like: Approachable Difficulty · Pixel-Art Presentation · High-Energy Soundtrack ·
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An immersive pseudo-3D shoot 'em up experience that pushes the limits of pixel art. Push your score higher with the innovative Berserk System: the closer they are, the more points you get!

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May 23, 2024
99% 👍
of 847
Platypus Reclayed - Players say: Pilot the F-27 Platypus in a clay-animated side-scrolling shooter, dodging enemy fire and cycling through oddball weapons. Players like: Handmade Clay Art · Nostalgic Remake · Quirky Weapon Variety ·
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22 years after its first appearance, the iconic Platypus is coming back, featuring updated gameplay, new weapons and additional content. Get ready to dive into the heart-pounding action of this fast, frantic, and incredibly fun arcade-style shoot-em-up!

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Sep 17, 2025
99% 👍
of 701
BLUE REVOLVER - Players say: Pilot Mae through five bullet-filled stages, dodging enemy fire, fighting bosses, and using special weapons to survive and score. Players like: Satisfying Scoring · Energetic Soundtrack · Beginner-Friendly Options ·
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Fight, fly, flourish! BLUE REVOLVER is a manic arcade-style shoot-em-up built for newcomers and psychos alike. Powerful special weapons cut through tough areas, while an adaptive difficulty system tailors the game to your skill level as you evade and counter a maniac environmental force!

Chicken Invaders 4 - Players say: Pilot a spacecraft through a chicken-led galactic invasion, shooting enemy waves, dodging projectiles, and upgrading your weapons. Players like: Nostalgic Arcade Fun · Varied Galactic Stages · Memorable Soundtrack ·
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They came without warning, squawking menacingly, their ruffled feathers darkening the sun. Invading intergalactic chickens, out to punish humanity for our oppression of their earthly brethren. Now they're back, and they're having Earth for dinner!

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Jun 6, 2014
98% 👍
of 612
Black Gunner Wukong - Wukong Survivors" is a TPS + ROGUE game where players control Sun Wukong and his friends, sweeping through all visible enemies and rescuing their captured master.
Neko Navy - Flying cats versus 10,000 soothing characters! What awaits them beyond all those furious midair fights...? Witness the world's most shocking ending for yourself!
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Jun 14, 2017
98% 👍
of 164
The Original Moorhuhn Hunt - The Classic Returns!Experience the thrill of The Original Moorhuhn Hunt, a cult classic celebrating 25 years of action with tens of millions of sales and downloads! Aim, shoot, and reload to dominate the leaderboard. Are you ready to become the number one hunter?
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Jun 19, 2025
98% 👍
of 152
ASTROLANCER - ASTROLANCER combines top-down shooter and shoot 'em up gameplay into one action-packed experience! Devise your own playstyle with a huge variety of weapons. Hardcore and casual players alike are welcome!
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Apr 18, 2024
98% 👍
of 150

Top Rated

Defining examples of the genre, all rated 85%+ across 1,000+ reviews.

The Void Rains Upon Her Heart - Players say: Guide an alien girl through a side-scrolling bullet-hell boss rush, choosing fights and earning gifts that power each run. Players like: Distinctive Boss Battles · Satisfying Unlock Progression · Flexible Difficulty Options ·
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Help her heart battle tough bosses in this Boss Rush, Bullet-hell with rogue-like elements. Fight through several randomly chosen boss battles leading up to a final battle. Each defeated monster will give her random gifts that power up her heart. Don't let her heart break!

Mirage Feathers - Players say: Pilot Notari along fixed aerial routes, locking onto enemy waves and dodging bullet patterns as she searches for her missing friend. Players like: Pixel Art And Characters · Fast Rail Shooter Action · Energetic Soundtrack ·
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「Maybe one day, I won't have to fight when I fly.」

I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES 1N IT!!!1 - Players say: A top-down twin-stick arcade shooter where you dodge enemy waves, grab weapon drops, and survive a run set to one song. Players like: Catchy Soundtrack · Xbox 360 Nostalgia · Quick Arcade Action ·
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A top down twin stick zombie slaying shooter that you are sure to play again and again!

Voidigo - Players say: Hunt Void-corrupted bosses in a top-down roguelite, dodging with jumps and stomps while building each run around strange weapons and power-ups. Players like: Creative Weapon Variety · Fluid Movement · Vivid Animations ·
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A vividly animated action roguelite focused on boss hunting. Unleash an array of diverse weapons and powerups to combat the corruption of the Void.

Star of Providence - Players say: Pilot a lone ship through a shifting abandoned facility, dodging bullet patterns and collecting weapons as you descend. Players like: Responsive Combat · Secrets And Unlocks · Challenging Boss Fights ·
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Star of Providence is a top down action shooter with procedurally generated elements. Explore a large, abandoned facility in search of incredible power, fighting dangerous foes and gaining new weapons and upgrades as you progress.

TouHou Makuka Sai ~ Fantastic Danmaku Festival Part II - Players say: A blizzard grips Gensokyo as its heroines weave through bullet patterns and investigate the source of the strange weather. Players like: Beautiful Bullet Patterns · Striking Visual Effects · Memorable Soundtrack ·
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Touhou Makuka Sai ~ Fantastic Danmaku Festival part II is a danmaku shooting game, which is the second part of Touhou Makuka Sai. The repeat of incident is coming again. Can the girls going to the netherworld solve the mystery?

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Mar 18, 2019
97% 👍
of 2.6k
Mushihimesama - Players say: As Reco rides her golden beetle through five stages, shoot giant Koju and weave through bullet patterns to seek a cure. Players like: Distinctive Bug Art · Memorable Soundtrack · Bullet Pattern Design ·
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Battle huge "Koju" bugs in CAVE's beautiful fantasy shooter, Mushihimesama. Experience the thrill of bullet hell from the masters of the genre as you evade visually stunning shot patterns with thousands of bullets.

Shotgun Witch - Players say: A shotgun-wielding witch fights through bullet-filled arena waves to recover her stolen spellbook in Story or Infinite mode. Players like: Funny Shotgun Premise · Cute Pixel Art · Short Arcade Run ·
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Only armed with a double barrel shotgun, go through waves of hell spawns to get your book back! A bullet hell arena shooter!

KUNKUN Defender - Players say: Fight Kun-virus zombies in a wave-based FPS and tower-defense game, upgrading weapons and defenses until helicopter rescue. Players like: Goofy Meme Humor · Satisfying Turret Upgrades · Fast Wave Combat ·
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KUNKUN Defender is an FPS + tower defense game where players need to resist zombie invasions in different regions affected by a virus outbreak until a helicopter comes for rescue.

Nova Drift - Players say: Pilot an inertia-driven spacefighter through enemy waves, choosing weapons and upgrades that reshape each arcade roguelite run. Players like: Build Combinations · Replayable Runs · Arcade Combat ·
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Nova Drift distills the mechanical depth and strategy of an ARPG into classic arcade space combat. Control an endlessly evolving bio-mechanical ship, face legions of strange and deadly foes, and ride the wake of a dying star across the void.