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What are the best Shoot 'Em Up games on Steam?

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May 23, 2018

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A shoot 'em up game (or a shmup) is a game where the player character engages in a lone assault, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks.

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14 Games Considered

14 Options Considered	Price	Steam Rating	Genre
-- Enter the Gungeon	$14.99	Very Positive	–
-- Beat Hazard	$9.99	Very Positive	–
-- Jamestown	$9.99	Overwhelmingly Positive	–
-- Nex Machina	$19.99	Very Positive	Shoot 'Em Up
-- Drifting Lands	$18.99	Mixed	–

Enter the Gungeon

Top Pro

Gameplay is balanced well

Often in a roguelite game there can be the chance of getting delt a bum hand on any particular run, luckily Enter the Gungeon does not suffer from this issue as there is a good balance of the gunplay mechanics that sees any death by you as your own fault of not playing to your max ability. Never is it some cheap shot or some item that was not able to be picked up this run, it is just your skill and awareness of wht is being shot at you that matters the most. See More

Top Con

High difficulty

The game can be difficult, especially when first starting out. This may mean a lot of deaths and a feeling of no progressions due to having to start over a lot. While the game is not unmanageable for players who enjoy the games genres, it may be a bit of a turn off for newcomers. See More

Top Pro

Cool collection aspect

There are 190 guns available in the game that the player can collect through purchasing them in an in-game shop as they progress through the game. Most likely this will take multiple playthroughs with all four of the available characters, which means tons of playtime for those that like to collect everything in a game. See More

Top Con

Co-op feels tacked on

Co-op in the game is only local (no online co-op at all), which limits who you can pay with. On top of this the way one has to go about starting a co-op game feels a bit unintuitive, which can be frustrating. Stages can also feel cramped when in co-op mode, meaning players bump into walls and objects too much. See More

Top Pro

Satisfying replayability

Thanks to the roguelite aspects of the game, there is randomly generated levels, which means fresh gameplay each time the game is played. There is also 4 different characters available in the game, each of which has a different boss fight at the end of the game as well as different characteristics while being used. This also makes for a good bit of replayability for those that would like to see all the different bosses in the game as well as experience the different type of gameplay for each character. See More

Top Pro

SHMUP like gameplay

A lot of the shooting elements in this game revolve around SHMUP like mechanics. Players will need to doge a juke many bullets on screen at ones. Luckily there is a roll capability that allows the player to doge when in a precarious position. This roll feature though is not just some way to make the game easier but is a tool to be used as the game is specifically designed to need this roll in certain places. See More

Top Pro

Easily stay in the action of the game

There are a few small features in the game that add up to making sure the player is never too distracted or pulled out of the action. Things like once a stage is cleared and all coins dropped by your fallen foes will be magnetically pulled to you, just to make sure time is not wasted running around picking up currency. Another is that each map has numerous teleporter nodes, which makes for fast and easy travel. And lastly there is a quick start in the main menu that allows the player to jump right back into the action the next time they start up the game. All these things add up to an ease of use that makes sure the player is never too distracted by the un-fun elements of play. See More

Top Pro

Unique tone

The game is often silly with many humorous elements such as every character is based around being a bullet, that in turn own guns and fire other bullets. There is no mistaking that the game is about shooting, and the game is somewhat 4th wall breaking by taking advantage of this fact and hilariously throwing it into the players face. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Beat Hazard

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Top Pro

Easily change strobe effects

There is a setting in the game that allows users to change the strobe effects in the game, which may help those that do not enjoy the effects or find them medically dangerous. See More

Top Con

Default settings are very flashy

The default strobe settings may not suitable for people with a sensitivity for strobe effects. Though this can be changed in the setting to lower how much strobing is going on in the game. See More

Top Pro

Multiple ships/characters for replayability

Several characters and their ships are available to choose from in order to change up the gameplay. See More

Top Pro

Bragging rights through Steam achievements

Players can compete with one another through Steam achievements in the game. There are global leaderboards where one can compare their score against all other players making for a good method to judge how good one is as well as allows one to have some bragging rights. See More

Top Pro

Multiple difficulty modes

There are multiple difficulty modes in the game allowing for anyone's preferred skill level of gameplay as well as Insane, and suicidal if you really want to fail or experience a challenge See More

Top Pro

Music based gameplay

Use your own music to change gameplay and spawning enemies, which allows for endless replayability through the way it generates random content. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Jamestown

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Top Pro

Starts off easy

The difficulty curve is fair and can be scaled to suit your needs. See More

Top Con

Forced to play higher difficulty settings

In order to unlock new levels you "have" to play the higher difficulty setting on all previous levels. See More

Top Pro

Fun multiplayer mode

To share the fun with your friends is easy through the multiplayer mode that is offered in Jamestown. See More

Top Pro

Multiple ship/character choices

There are several characters and their ships to choose from which allows for one to change the gameplay up. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Overwhelmingly Positive

Nex Machina

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Top Pro

Difficult yet rewarding gameplay

Nex Machina's bullet hell gameplay is fast-paced and challenging, with dozens of robotic enemies rushing at you while you use every skill at your disposal to survive and increase your score. Not only do you have to avoid enemies, but you also have to use your ability to dodge hazards on the field such as laser beams. There are also optional human NPCs to save who are usually taking damage by waves of enemies. Clearing the surrounding robots while dodging any nearby lasers to save these humans will award you with extra points to your score, so it's worth it to go after them whenever you can. As you defeat enemies, they'll sometimes drop power-up items, such as shields that will absorb damage that would normally kill you, and tools to increase the range of your bullets. Clearing a level with no deaths earns you a nice score boost at the end, encouraging you to run through the game as best as you can. It takes a lot of precision to dodge lasers while killing the enemies that come at you from all directions, but pulling it off is a rewarding, addicting experience. See More

Top Con

The game is very short

Your first playthrough will only take about an hour or two, which may not be worth it. There are plenty of new paths and secrets hidden across the levels, so a completionist playthrough will take about five or six hours. See More

Top Pro

Responsive controls

Since you only have a short window to dodge hazardous laser beams on the field and maneuver your character around swarms of enemies, it's great that the controls are tight and accurate. You can pull off dodges and risky swerves to save a human NPC with ease as long as you master the angles and timing. With a challenging game like this, you don't need to worry about input lag getting in the way of more aggressive playstyles. See More

Top Con

Deaths can be too punishing at times

In Nex Machina, you'll die after a single hit from an enemy, causing you to drop one of your power-ups, like your ability to dash three times in a row or increased weapon spread. You'll then have to return to the spot where you died to collect the power-up that you dropped. If you lose all of your lives, you're forced to use a continue, leaving you with only power-up. It'a a punishing system that makes you work harder with fewer tools after continuous deaths. See More

Top Pro

Great synthwave soundtrack

Complimenting Nex Machina's speedy, chaotic gameplay, the soundtrack matches the sci-fi setting with hard-hitting, energetic synths and modulations. The electronic beats are catchy and fun to listen to while blasting through the game's metallic levels and robotic enemies. The tracks fit into the idea of what it would have been like to play any retro sci-fi game without the musical constraints on games in the 80s and 90s. See More

Top Pro

Boss battles truly test your skills

At the end of each level are difficult boss fights that crank out bullets and beams in all directions that you have to dodge while dealing damage at the same time. The bosses are all different in design, such as a giant ape that lumbers around the field and throws obstacles at you, to a more stationary tower that bombards you with other enemies that you're forced to prioritize instead. Each boss is a comprehensive test of the skills you've learned up to that point, encouraging you to make the best use of your power-ups and dodge timings. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Genre:Shoot 'Em Up

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Drifting Lands

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Specs

Steam Rating:Mixed

Blue Revolver

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Top Pro

Several Soundtracks

You can switch to different soundtracks in the options, or even mix and match the tracks. See More

Top Pro

Many Graphics Options

You can tweek screen size, resolution, even rotation to suit how you play. There's even a Kiosk mode that presents the game like an Arcade title. See More

Top Pro

Mission Mode

Completing challenges helps you learn and practice the mechanics of both this game and shoot 'em ups as a whole. See More

Top Pro

Tight and Focused Gameplay

Enemy Waves are well designed and fun to shoot and dodge. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Bullet Heaven 2

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Top Pro

Multiple ships and character allow for changing up the gameplay

Several characters and ships to choose from which allows for one to change up the gameplay. See More

Top Con

Should have been named bullet hell

Because there are so many bullets, you'd have to be a pro in order to finish this game on max difficulty. See More

Top Pro

Free on kongregate

No cost if you play the flash game, so no harm in trying. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Graceful Explosion Machine

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Top Pro

Exciting online leaderboards

Being able to compare your scores with other players is awesome. It can amp up the in-game excitement and make the action feel even more intense since you're competing with others. See More

Top Con

Difficulty spikes can ruin the fun

After the first world, there are some very sharp difficulty spikes where it's possible to hit a wall. These bottlenecks make it hard to progress and the resulting frustration can ruin the fun. See More

Top Pro

Scoring system encourages fast-paced arcade action

Getting the highest score on each level encourages fast-paced play thanks to the metrics of the scoring system. For example, going too long without a shooting an enemy or not rotating between weapons fast enough will cause your score to be lower. Flying your ship around, making full use of your various weapons, and shooting enemies quickly in an attempt to get the highest score possible results in some pretty intense arcade action since it pushes you to be aggressively involved at all times. See More

Top Con

Getting hit by respawns doesn't feel fair

When new enemies spawn into the maps, sometimes they spawn way too close to your position. As a result, they'll get a few cheap hits in before you can evade them which feels highly unfair. See More

Top Pro

Excellent visual appeal

The visuals are minimalist but bright and colorful. When blasting aliens to pieces, watching them explode into geometric shapes with bold lines and vibrant colors is super appealing. Weapon effects look great, and the animations on everything are incredibly smooth. Seeing the screen fill up with all kinds of well-defined shapes and bright colors compliments the action well. Despite all the colorful action taking place, it never feels cluttered or chaotic. The simple style makes it easy to track what's happening on-screen, resulting in a great visual experience. See More

Top Con

Many levels feel the same

Most levels are basically just a color swap from the one prior. There aren't a whole lot of enemy types either, meaning you'll be encountering the same ones throughout most of the game. Additionally, all weapon types are available from the start, so you'll be using the same ones for every level. See More

Top Pro

Very interesting shooter-style gameplay

You have one basic weapon and three special weapons, and strategically managing them can be quite interesting. The only way to use the three special weapons is through killing enemies and collecting their energy. Since this energy is finite, your firepower is ultimately limited. Different enemies are weak against different weapons, but you can't just spam them constantly since they will also overheat from too much use. Knowing when to use each weapon, conserving energy, and rotating among your arsenal to unleash maximum damage can be quite a fun experience. See More

Top Pro

Rewarding replayability

Taking what you've learned over time, and then playing challenge mode versions of older levels for a higher score is where the game truly shines. Learning how to properly manage your weapons, dealing with various enemy types, and learning to control your ship to evade attacks can all feel especially rewarding when you finally beat an old high score or take top position on the online leaderboards. See More

Specs

Genre:Action, Arcade

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Mushihimesama

Top Pro

Many customizable options

The PC port of Mushihimesama is very tweakable. You can orient the screen for different monitor positions, expand the game window, move it around, have extra windows for displaying score, etc. See More

Top Con

Moe Artsyle

While not necessarily a Con, the cute anime artstyle and theme won't be to everyone's taste, especially if you're not a fan of bugs. See More

Top Pro

Finely balanced level design

The levels are difficult and challenging, but never truly unfair. They encourage you to practice and increase your skill. See More

Top Pro

Bright and colorful

Top Pro

Many difficulty levels

Allows players of all skill levels to enjoy the game. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Overwhelmingly Positive

Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours

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Top Pro

Many ship choices

Different ships based on previous games in the Darius series, including game mechanics from those titles. This allows you to choose what playstyle you enjoy most. More ships available from different game series' via DLC. See More

Top Con

Expensive

$50 is a lot for one game in the shmup genre, and it can cost even more when you consider the DLC. See More

Top Pro

Many many levels

A ton of content, guaranteeing many hours of playtime. See More

Top Pro

4 player support

Play with up to 3 friends at once. Powerful combination moves can only be done with more than 1 ship. See More

Top Pro

Dual Screen and Ultra Widescreen support

If you have 2 monitors or a 21:9 resolution monitor, you can play using the full width of your setup, making the experience almost identical to the original arcade cabinet. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Crimzon Clover World Ignition

Top Pro

Well balanced and polished

Crimzon Clover may have begun as a fan title ("doujin") but has become exceptionally well made with the release of World Ignition, on par if not better than many recent professional releases. See More

Top Con

Visually busy

There are always a large amount of bullets and enemies on screen, making it sometimes difficult to be able to tell what's going on. See More

Top Pro

Easy to learn, hard to master

The mechanics to the game are simple: A normal wide shot, and a focus shot which can also lock on to enemies to increase your multiplier. There is a bomb gauge which can be partially used to clear the screen, or once full can launch you into Boost mode, increasing your ship's power and score multiplier. You can even do this again for Double Boost Mode! Learn to effectively use all of these to maximize your score once you've cleared the game. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Overwhelmingly Positive

Eschatos

Top Pro

Beginner Friendly

The learning curve starting from the easiest difficulty levels is very easy to follow. The bullet density starts off light and cranks up when you're ready to challenge yourself with a higher level of difficulty. This helps you learn about your hitbox. Also, 1UPs are quite plentiful, letting you play longer on one credit. See More

Top Con

Features unlocked slowly

Many different options are locked behind a cumulative score. If you're just starting out, things can take a long time to unlock. This includes stage select. See More

Top Pro

Amazing Soundtrack

Both the original and arranged soundtracks for this game are absolutely fantastic and always a joy to listen to. This is very appreciated in a genre where you practice stages many times in order to improve your score. See More

Top Con

Scoring is unforgiving

Scoring is very simple to understand. By destroying enemy waves completely, you build up a multiplier. However, if you lose a life or let an enemy pass, your multiplier will drop by one. If a few ships make it through in a short time span, your multiplier can completely disappear which can be quite unforgiving for a single mistake. See More

Top Pro

2 Different Modes

Normal and Advanced modes play very differently. In Normal mode, your ship's power stays consistent through the whole game. Don't want to worry about powering up your ship? Normal mode is for you. Enjoy shifting between offense and defense depending on the situation? Advanced mode lets you do just that. See More

Top Con

Normal mode is very simplistic

For fans of more complicated systems, normal mode might be too simplistic. Your power doesn't change through the game, so you go through everything with a straight shot, a wide shot, and a temporary shield as well as bombs that drop from enemies. That's it - just 4 mechanics. See More

Top Pro

Easily accessible

Eschatos used to be an Import-friendly Japanese only title for the Xbox 360, but now it is fully localized and easily accessible by anyone on Steam. Runs well on lower end machines as well. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Deathsmiles

Top Pro

Simple, yet In-Depth scoring

The scoring is based on item collection without much complexity. Learning when to collect the items or generate more is where the depth comes from, and learning it can also help novice players by granting Extends, letting them play longer. See More

Top Con

Moe Artstyle

Similar to Mushihimesama, another Cave game, this game's artstyle will not be to everyone's taste. The art is also higher resolution since it's a horizontal shooter, making it more difficult to ignore. See More

Top Pro

Relaxed paced

Compared to other Cave shooters, this game has a more relaxed pace to it, making it easier to recognize bullet patterns and enemy waves. See More

Top Pro

Variable difficulty

Before every stage, you can choose between varying difficulty levels allowing you to tailor the game to your skill level. See More

Top Pro

Forgiving

You get 3 bombs per life stock, which means you can make several mistakes with little to no penalty. It is also possible to be hit more than once per life stock. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

DoDonPachi Resurrection

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Top Pro

Many modes and difficulties

There are almost too many features in this game to list. You will be able to play the content you wish at an appropriate difficulty according to your skill. See More

Top Con

Near perfect port, but not 100%

Like earlier Steam ports of Cave games, the code is taken from the Xbox 360 versions of the game which did not feature an in-game counter for bullets and enemies, but instead slowed down when the number of objects on screen taxed the hardware. Modern gaming PCs are much more powerful than an Xbox 360, which means without an in-game counter keeping track of enemies and bullets there would be almost no slowdown, making these games next to impossible. Degica has addressed many of the concerns and instances brought to their attention by enthusiasts and implemented emulated slowdown, but some issues may and do still exist. See More

Top Pro

First official US release

DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu was released on Japan in the Arcades and on the Xbox 360, and then released in PAL regions as DoDonPachi Resurrection. While the EU version was region-free and thus could be imported, this is still a barrier to entry for many people. There is also a mode which was previously JP-only, titled Black Label Arrange and referred to as Ketsuipachi, as it features the ship and certain mechanics from Cave's Ketsui as well as a re-arranged version of its soundtrack. See More

Top Pro

Classic Cave style

The original DoDonPachi was Cave's debut and signature, essentially creating the Bullet Hell genre of 'Shmups. This game sought to Resurrect the title after a 6-year absence and is a fine example of core Bullet Hell gameplay. See More

Specs

Steam Rating:Very Positive

Genre:Shoot 'Em Up

Controller Support:Full

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Responsive controls

Great synthwave soundtrack

Difficult yet rewarding gameplay

Boss battles truly test your skills

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