For arcade gaming fans, there is nothing quite like a good shoot-'em-up to test those reflexes. It's a genre that started in 1978 when Taito released Space Invaders to an unexpecting arcade audience.
Since then the genre has been a mainstay of video games and has evolved from simple single-screen games to complex bullet-hell assaults to the senses. The genre has thrived on Steam, so let's take a look at some of the best available on the platform.
10 Sophstar
Brazilian developer Banana Bytes has taken everything that makes a shoot-'em-up fun and then thrown lots of modes, playable ships, and challenges on top to create an excellent shooter. Sophstar strips away power-ups to focus on nine different ships, each with a unique weapon system.
There is a lot of replay value due to the nine ships that require different strategies to perfect. The beautiful pixel art is eye-catching as well as detailed and the music has a great pace that suits the action perfectly. Sophstar is a modern classic th♛at even casual fans of the genre will enjoy.
9 Zero Wing
Once you get past the terrible translations in the cutscenes featuring the famous 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:All Your Base Are Belong To Us line, Zero Wing still holds up as an excellent shooter since its release in 1989. This Steam release from Bitwave Games features many modern options that improve on the ▨original.
From save states, difficulty options and gameplay enhancements, this is the best way to experience this arcade masterpiece. Those that want the original, hardcore arcade experienc🧜e can just switch off all the new features.
8 𒉰 Dead End🐲 City
If you ever wondered what would happen if you mashed together Mad Max with Galaga, then Dead End City might be close to what you would expect. With its zany characters and easy-to-get-into gameplay mechanics, this is a great example of♔ a modern shmup with a slick presentation.
Instead of e🌳xtra lives, you keep the game going by picking up fuel for your vehicle. The well-thought-out weapons system will please those looking for h🥂igh scores, but Dead End City is also the perfect pick-up-and-play shooter that anyone can enjoy.
7 Ikaruga
Sometimes shoot-‘em-ups take you on a different kind of adventure and provide a unique expe𒉰rience that is nothing like what has come before. Ikaruga is one of these games by layering puzzle-like gameplay that must be solved to master the game.
The polarity-switching mechanic makes you think about every enemy wave and, with practice, there is so much depth to discover beyond the usual shooting and explosions. Ikaruga also has high-quality artwork and a soundtrack🎶 that is good enough to listen to by itself.
6 Steredenn
A modern twist on the genre that utilises randomly generated levels to keep the gameplay fresh, Steredenn was the winner of multipl♛e awards on its release in 2015. The roguelike elements give this shooter some depth that would not normally be expected, and it has a range of distinct weapons that add strategy to the mix.
It pays homꩲage to the golden era of the genre with small yet detailed pixel art that is bold, bright and animated superbly. It also has a base-heavy sou꧋ndtrack that pumps along at a rate that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
5 Eschatos
The shoot-'em-up genre can seem daunting to newcomers with all its complex scoring systems and unforgiving gameplay, but there are titles out there that can ease you in. Eschatos is the perfect entry point for those who may not know where to start.
It has an easy mode that gently introduces the genre gam👍eplay staples and allows you to just sౠhoot away without worrying about advanced techniques. There are plenty of extra lives, and you don’t get sent back to the start of a level if you die. Eschatos is also a high-octane visual treat that is exciting and polished.
4 ꧅ Steel Empire
Most shoot-'em-ups are set in space and have laser guns and aliens all over the place. Steel Empire is set in an alternate steampunk world that loosely fits into World War One. Giant steel skyships, machine guns and steam trains are the order of the day. The presentation is wonderful and uses old-school black-and-white effects to introduce the story.
You have two ships to choose from, a robust yet slow blimp or a zippy propeller plane, which each has their own attack style. The Steam version is a remaster of the original console game from the '90s and has all the gameplay features you would expect from a modern shooter.
3 Truxton
This arcade classic from masters of the genre Toaplan has had the modern treatment with added save states, difficulty options, and gameplay options to customise your experience. It’s a simple game at heart but has all the c🍌hallenges needed to test your skills.
Not one for casual fans or those looking to start their journey with shooters, Truxton♈ is unforgiving and veterans will enjoy the tough action. Its graphic style and classic power-up system may put this one in the retro category, bu🐻t it still packs a mighty punch.
2 Super Galaxy Squadr✅on EX Turbo ♛
With its tight gameplay and striking pixel art, Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo tak𒈔es everything great about shooters and provides an experience that will suit newcomers as well as hardened veterans. It also has a fleshed-out story with full voice acting that is impressive for a shmup.
There is lots of replay value in Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo as well thanks to the extra modes that complement the main story. This Steam version also inclu⛦des the original game, Super Galaxy Squadron, so ther✅e is more than enough to satisfy you for a long while.
1 🎉 R-Type Dimensions EX ꦛ
The R-Type series 🧸is synonymous with the shoot-‘em-up genre and this Steam remaster features the first two in the series. You can choose to play with either the shiny new 3D graphics or switch back to the original 2D pixel art. No matter which style you use, the tough-as-nails gameplay will require you to learn the waves and keep practising to succeed.
It’s not just the graphics that have been enhanced either; new gameplay options allow you to customise the ▨experience and slow down or speed up the action. R-Type is still one of the best shooters and the Steam version adds so much more.