Here are 15 of the very best Shoot 'Em Ups (or schmups) that you can play right now. From older games getting re-released to more modern ones, if you are a fan of this genre you'll find something you're looking for.
15. DoDonPachi Resurrection (Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Arcade video game, Nintendo Switch)
DoDonPachi Resurrection excels with its addictive gameplay
Another great entry in this classic shoot ‘em up franchise. Acting as a sequel to Blissful Death, this frantic shooter offers a multitude of modes to test the skills of the most hard-core players to the newcomers. DoDonPachi Resurrection is a vertical scrolling shoot ‘em up where you control one of the three time-traveling pilots on a mission to reshape the past. In reality, the story is just the backdrop to give the chaotic and exciting gameplay a reason to exist.
Thankfully, the controls are tight as ever and the game feels fluid and addicting to play, just like any good game in this genre should. You get plenty of ways to dispose of hostile aliens, with each character holding a unique style, to keep the gameplay varied. To top it off, it offers multiple endings and local co-op play.
14. Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony (PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Classic Mac OS)
The setting is one of this game’s strongest aspects
Jamestown is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up video game, with all the ingredients needed to make a classic in the genre. Using a top-down camera, you traverse beautiful environments set in 17th-century British Colonial Mars. shooting and fighting your way through a huge variety of enemies, and offering up to 4 players, this game is a guaranteed fun time.
Drawing heavy inspiration from old-school arcade shooters, it also adds the depth and mechanics of more modern day shoot ‘em ups, to make for a great package all around. You’ll be smiling your entire way through this game, especially if you’re playing with your friends
13. Drifting Lands ( Microsoft Windows, MacOS)
horizontal shooter chaos
Intense battles high above ground to get the blood pumping
Drifting Lands is a horizontal shoot ‘em up, with some classic action-RPG elements. Kind of similar to Diablo in a way with a more colorful colour pallet, this title offers an extremely fun experience with some of the tightest controls in the genre.
This game is an absolute blast to get through. You get your classic ‘bullet hell’ sections where it's hard to digest everything that’s happening on the screen at once. However, this doesn’t take away from the game, and in fact, it adds to the overall intensity and speed that it strives for. Even though this game is heavily inspired by different games, it manages to create a unique experience on its own. Though it could have done with more variety in the level design, this is a must play for fans of the genre. Be warned though, it could get super addicting.
12. Blue Revolver (Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux)
Testing your skills to the max
A beautiful throwback for hardcore gamers of the genre
11. Journey To The Savage Planet (PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch)
A vibrant adventure game
An ambitious adventure game with plenty of surprises
Journey to the Savage Planet is a colorful and upbeat co-op adventure game, with heavy inspiration from classic shoot ‘em ups. You step into the shoes of a newly recruited explorer on an uncharted planet. You must explore, discover, and determine if this mysterious planet is safe for humans. The environments can be breathtaking, and finding new flora and aliens is always a treat. The game has a light hearted attitude, and it compliments that with its fun, yet underdeveloped gameplay.
The overall adventure is worth taking, with some puzzles and platforming to mix things up along the way. While not traditionally a shoot ‘em up, there is still plenty to enjoy here for fans of the genre. Because there is enough variety in its gameplay to keep you invested, and tells a compelling story with bits of well-done humor thrown in for good measure. Overall, it’ll be hard to not be pulled in by this game, despite its few shortcomings.
10. Nova Drift (Microsoft Windows, macOS)
Survive, evolve, dominate
Classic arcade space shooter to scratch that itch
This is one of those games where you will get a good idea of what to expect, based on looking at a few screenshots. Nova Drift has the depth of an ARPG, with classic arcade space shooter combat. You control a biomechanical ship, as you shoot, evade and blast your way through hordes of endless enemies.
Sounds simple enough, and what it tries to do it does it effortlessly. However, it’s got a few tricks up its sleeve, the main one being that it really gives you space to play how you want. You have room to experiment with builds, and come up with solutions on your own. This means that choosing what to upgrade and invest in, will determine your experience. Rooted in gaming history with its influences, it manages to bring this classic style of game into the modern era. You’ll be itching to better your high score all the time, which may mean playing until early mornings, as Nova Drift offers plenty of challenges.
9. Beat Hazard 2 (Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows)
Hope you're in the mood to blast some folk
An innovative game about adapting levels to your music collection
Beat Hazard 2 is an exceptional music-driven arcade shooter. It’s got a bombastic combat system where your songs will each have their own unique flow and intensity. This is a very creative system that surprisingly works well with these types of shooting games. The levels are obviously randomly generated to match the rhythm/style of the music, and this keeps things interesting and ever-evolving. Seeing what kind of ships and bosses the game will throw at you based on your favorite songs rarely gets old. And it helps that the game looks, feels, and sounds excellent. This is a solid release to add to your shoot ‘em up library that holds addicting gameplay.
8. Deathsmiles (PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Xbox 360,Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch)
Another classic developed by Cave
A quirky and charismatic shoot ‘em up featuring gothic characters
Deathsmiles is in the long line of excellent shoot ‘em ups developed by Cave, with this being one of their finest hours. Deathsmiles is a campy, supernatural shoot ‘em up, where you play as one of the five colorful characters. You must defend your home from a demon invasion, with frantic and extremely fast, and magic based combat.
This game oozes personality, with tight controls, a great variety of abilities, and enemies to face off against. The combat is explosive, the progression is dynamic, the counter system is satisfying, and the gothic score fits perfectly with the mood of this title. Overall, this is a consistently enjoyable shooter that adds to Cave’s legacy as one of the forefront developers in the genre.
7. Monolith (Microsoft Windows, Linux)
Blast your waythrough this procedurally generated gem
Giving the term ‘procedurally generated’ a good name
The term 'procedurally generated’ is a turn off for some people, but in this case it offers just so much variety that it’s hard to not fall in love with this game. Every loop you play feels fresh, innovative and nothing like what came before. Think of it as going through dungeons where each one has its own unique boss at the end.
Thanks to smooth controls and eye-catching graphics, fighting your way through these levels never feels like a chore. Instead, you look forward to the next run to see how it will change things up. The music fits well with the gameplay and the twin-stick controls are the perfect match. One word I would use to describe this game is: Rewarding. The game knows how to keep you on the hook and make you feel great about each accomplishment. The FPS also stays at a steady 60 FPS which adds to the fluidity that is so important in these types of games.
6. Ikaruga (PlayStation 4, GameCube, Dreamcast, Android, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360)
Return of this all-time classic
An acclaimed classic now available for more gamers to experience
This beloved title originally came out in 2001, and it finally got the deserved PC port 15 years later. Ikaruga perfectly blends classic retro shoot ‘em up aspects with puzzles by implementing a creative color-switching mechanic to spice things up. Basically, you can absorb black bullets when your ship is black, and white bullets when your ship is white. This adds an extra layer to the combat that switches the flow up more than you’d expect. Also, it adds to the excitement and fun.
The game is at its very best when everything is going at a fast pace, and unleashing deadly attacks after repeated successful evasions and blocks feels ever so satisfying. The flying also feels and controls like a dream, ensuring you will never get bored of this explosive and creative gem. This game holds up without a doubt and is an absolute treasure amongst the shoot ‘em up genre that deserves your attention
5. Mushihimesama (PlayStation 2, iOS, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, Arcade video game, Nintendo Switch)
Another home-run by Cave
An over-the-top game to get raise the adrenaline
Another legendary shoot ‘em up developed by Cave that has been ported and re-released to death now. This is for a good reason though, as this is easily one of the most iconic schmups out there, and has been for a while. A game about a princess battling her way through hordes of various insects in a celebration of the genre. This all-out, frantic fantasy shooter offers 3 modes with differing difficulty and they are all worth a try to get the best possible score.
The game itself has a lot of customizable options to set the challenge that you desire as a player. The game’s graphics may not hold up to the more modern games, however, the super-addictive gameplay loop and bullet-hell battles more than make up for that. It feels just as great and responsive to play today, as it did more than 10 years ago.
4. Enter the Gungeon (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Stadia)
A game ALL about shooting the aboslute hell out of everything
A game all about guns, shooting, and bullets
Enter the Gungeon is one of the most likable and quirky shoot ‘em ups out there. This game has a very unique tone, with silly characters, great humor, and a roguelike system. This game is all about shooting, and it doesn’t hide that fact. Actually, it shoves it in the players' faces and embraces its main attraction: shooting the absolute hell out of everything and having fun doing it.
The game offers local co-op, which increases the fun by a mile. Get ready for some seriously challenging sections. Thanks to the excellent roguelike elements, the game feels fresh each time you play, and if you love collecting everything in games, then this one has an abundance of guns to unlock. Once you master the controls, you will feel like the biggest badass in the world, dodging hundreds of bullets while taking out your foes.
3. Nex Machina (PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows)
Fight against the deadly robots in an alternate universe
Combat that is pure action and tests your reflexes on your feet
This gem of a game from Housemarque studios is an arcade style twin-stick shooter. This game is all about pure action that tests your reflexes. It’s great news then that Nex Machina has incredibly responsive controls, where if you die, you can only blame yourself. One of the standout features is the hard-hitting, synth based soundtrack, that matches the game’s energy perfectly.
Since you only have a very short window to dodge incoming attacks on the battlefield, it’s great that the controls are tight and accurate. The frames never drop and the action is always consistent and ups the ante each time. With fast paced gameplay like this, an aggressive playstyle is recommended and the game rewards you for going on the offense. The motto of Nex Machina can be summed up by, ‘challenging yet rewarding gameplay’. Especially when you overcome one of the many memorable boss fights.
2. Cuphead (PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Macintosh operating systems)
One of the most visiually stirking games to have come out in recent times.
Cupheads unique art design is undeniably one of gamings’ finest moments
This highly anticipated title finally came out back in 2017 and exceeded all expectations. Though it's not a typical shoot ‘em up, it still holds elements of it, while excelling in every single department. The eye-catching aesthetic of old Disney animations is spot on and its intense, challenging 2d gameplay complements the visuals effortlessly.
The environments and characters are very detailed, colorful, and all hand-drawn, with a grainy film effect to top it off. The combat and platforming can get super challenging, and you need all of your focus to overcome some of the more difficult stages. Overall, Cuphead raises the bar not only in the gaming world but also puts most modern cartoons to shame. If you enjoy old-school-style 2D action games, you owe it to yourself to play this phenomenal game.
1. Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions (PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Linux, macOS, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3)
A shoot 'em up that contains a diversity of content. You'll be playing this one for a long time.
A game to satisfy all senses. A masterclass in arcade shooting.
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions may be one of the finest shoot ‘em ups to ever come out. It takes the addictive shape-shooting action from the previous games into the third dimension, with jaw-dropping results. This game is a joy to behold, whether that's from playing it, looking at it, or listening to it. Its Daft Punk-influenced soundtrack hits all the right notes and helps set the mood the hectic gameplay is going for.
The game just feels extremely polished in all aspects, and you’ll be staying up until the early morning hours if you’re not careful, trying to go for the high scores. The particle effects are incredible and important. The game is tight and responsive to the max. Once you digest all the chaos going on on-screen, you will appreciate its immaculate design.
