Dodge, shoot, survive: games where you fight through waves of enemies and bullets, from classic space shooters to bullet hell.
♥
How to find games that really suit you:
Select up to 5 games you have played and enjoyed. Playalike compares 36 traits such as combat, story and atmosphere and suggests games that hit exactly the same spot, even across genres.
A tough, pun-filled bullet-hell roguelike where you dodge-roll and flip tables through procedural floors with hundreds of wildly creative guns. Every run plays differently, and mastering the dense projectile patterns is deeply rewarding.
A brutally tough boss-rush shooter animated like a 1930s cartoon, where precise dodging, parrying and shooting decide every fight. A swinging big-band jazz score and local co-op round it out.
A remake of Star Fox 64 where you pilot Fox McCloud and his team through fast-paced space shooter missions, now with a fresh look, full voice acting, an orchestral score and Joy-Con 2 mouse controls.
A tough, pun-filled bullet-hell roguelike where you dodge-roll and flip tables through procedural floors with hundreds of wildly creative guns. Every run plays differently, and mastering the dense projectile patterns is deeply rewarding.
A tough, pun-filled bullet-hell roguelike where you dodge-roll and flip tables through procedural floors with hundreds of wildly creative guns. Every run plays differently, and mastering the dense projectile patterns is deeply rewarding.
A brutally tough boss-rush shooter animated like a 1930s cartoon, where precise dodging, parrying and shooting decide every fight. A swinging big-band jazz score and local co-op round it out.
A brutally tough boss-rush shooter animated like a 1930s cartoon, where precise dodging, parrying and shooting decide every fight. A swinging big-band jazz score and local co-op round it out.
A remake of Star Fox 64 where you pilot Fox McCloud and his team through fast-paced space shooter missions, now with a fresh look, full voice acting, an orchestral score and Joy-Con 2 mouse controls.
A remake of Star Fox 64 where you pilot Fox McCloud and his team through fast-paced space shooter missions, now with a fresh look, full voice acting, an orchestral score and Joy-Con 2 mouse controls.
Earthion is an upcoming shoot-'em-up built in the spirit of classic Mega Drive arcade shooters, with physical retro releases planned. You get old-school arcade action with retro charm and a 16:9 version for modern platforms.
2025PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified17.99 €95 % positive
Very positive, 485 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Distinctive, stylised art style
Action-packed real-time combat
Earthion is an upcoming shoot-'em-up built in the spirit of classic Mega Drive arcade shooters, with physical retro releases planned. You get old-school arcade action with retro charm and a 16:9 version for modern platforms.
You defend Earth in a chaotic third-person shooter against giant bugs and alien machines, ideally with up to four players in co-op. Its campy B-movie charm and sheer scale of destruction make the series stand out.
2022PCPlayStationNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable−56 %59.99 € 26.39 € 2 days left69 % positive
Mixed, 6,281 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Playing together in co-op
Action-packed real-time combat
You defend Earth in a chaotic third-person shooter against giant bugs and alien machines, ideally with up to four players in co-op. Its campy B-movie charm and sheer scale of destruction make the series stand out.
Habroxia is an arcade-style scrolling shooter where you fight through fifteen levels of alien incursions, boss battles and rescue missions. Customizing your ship and unlocking endless side modes gives the classic shoot-em-up loop some extra variety.
Habroxia is an arcade-style scrolling shooter where you fight through fifteen levels of alien incursions, boss battles and rescue missions. Customizing your ship and unlocking endless side modes gives the classic shoot-em-up loop some extra variety.
You pilot one of three STORK ships through six stages drowned in bullets and screen-filling bosses. The Rolling Gun and replay and training modes make this bullet hell shooter a demanding, precisely tunable challenge.
2018PCNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable16.79 €90 % positive
Very positive, 73 reviews on Steam
Challenging difficulty
Action-packed real-time combat
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
You pilot one of three STORK ships through six stages drowned in bullets and screen-filling bosses. The Rolling Gun and replay and training modes make this bullet hell shooter a demanding, precisely tunable challenge.
A fast isometric arcade shooter where you blast through swarms of eldritch horrors with a hefty arsenal. Quick reflexes and constant movement are key, wrapped in a grim dark-fantasy look.
2024PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified14.79 €94 % positive
Very positive, 1,576 reviews on Steam
Dark, serious atmosphere
Action-packed real-time combat
Fantasy setting
A fast isometric arcade shooter where you blast through swarms of eldritch horrors with a hefty arsenal. Quick reflexes and constant movement are key, wrapped in a grim dark-fantasy look.
A frantic top-down Wild West shooter where every hit is lethal. Short, punishing missions reward quick reflexes, careful positioning and plenty of retries.
2015PCNintendo Switch83 % positive
Very positive, 7,369 reviews on Steam
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Distinctive, stylised art style
A frantic top-down Wild West shooter where every hit is lethal. Short, punishing missions reward quick reflexes, careful positioning and plenty of retries.
A humorous, extremely bloody run-and-gun platformer in which mobster Vinnie Cannoli blasts his way through World War 2 battlefields. Fast arcade action with over-the-top dark humor, playable in co-op.
2018PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified12.99 €94 % positive
Very positive, 4,952 reviews on Steam
Lots of humour
Action-packed real-time combat
Distinctive, stylised art style
A humorous, extremely bloody run-and-gun platformer in which mobster Vinnie Cannoli blasts his way through World War 2 battlefields. Fast arcade action with over-the-top dark humor, playable in co-op.
You plummet down a well with gun boots, blasting enemies while collecting gems. This minimalist roguelike thrives on fast reflexes, precise air control, and a striking limited-palette look.
You plummet down a well with gun boots, blasting enemies while collecting gems. This minimalist roguelike thrives on fast reflexes, precise air control, and a striking limited-palette look.
A classic vertical 2D shooter in the vein of Raiden and Twin Cobra, built around arcade action, reflexes and dodging bullets. A no-frills retro throwback from the makers of Gigantic Army and Satazius.
2016PCNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable5.89 €87 % positive
Very positive, 108 reviews on Steam
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Sci-fi setting
Challenging difficulty
A classic vertical 2D shooter in the vein of Raiden and Twin Cobra, built around arcade action, reflexes and dodging bullets. A no-frills retro throwback from the makers of Gigantic Army and Satazius.
A vertical arcade shoot 'em up with frantic bullet-dodging action, where you upgrade your plane between missions and replay stages to hit every objective and earn all the stars.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified9.75 €93 % positive
Very positive, 2,457 reviews on Steam
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Action-packed real-time combat
A vertical arcade shoot 'em up with frantic bullet-dodging action, where you upgrade your plane between missions and replay stages to hit every objective and earn all the stars.
A fast-paced 2D twin-stick shooter with platforming elements where you pilot a spider-tank through hordes of robots. Hacks let you alter enemy behavior, and a tongue-in-cheek tone keeps things light.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable10.75 €84 % positive
Very positive, 999 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Action-packed real-time combat
Challenging difficulty
A fast-paced 2D twin-stick shooter with platforming elements where you pilot a spider-tank through hordes of robots. Hacks let you alter enemy behavior, and a tongue-in-cheek tone keeps things light.
A fast 2D arcade shooter in the vein of Pang, where exterminator Harry blasts swarms of bugs falling from above in a research facility. Short, intense levels, power-ups and a tongue-in-cheek tone make for quick fun, including co-op.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable7.99 €90 % positive
Very positive, 1,194 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Action-packed real-time combat
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
A fast 2D arcade shooter in the vein of Pang, where exterminator Harry blasts swarms of bugs falling from above in a research facility. Short, intense levels, power-ups and a tongue-in-cheek tone make for quick fun, including co-op.
A bright, cartoonish vertical shoot 'em up from Konami where you shoot clouds to reveal bells that power up your ship, with two-player co-op. A charming arcade classic built around short, reflex-driven runs.
A bright, cartoonish vertical shoot 'em up from Konami where you shoot clouds to reveal bells that power up your ship, with two-player co-op. A charming arcade classic built around short, reflex-driven runs.
You weave your ship through dense bullet patterns where every millisecond counts. DoDonPachi Resurrection is an uncompromising CAVE shmup with a time-travel plot and a steep difficulty curve.
2008PCXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified−50 %28.99 € 14.49 € 6 days left95 % positive
Overwhelmingly positive, 989 reviews on Steam
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Sci-fi setting
You weave your ship through dense bullet patterns where every millisecond counts. DoDonPachi Resurrection is an uncompromising CAVE shmup with a time-travel plot and a steep difficulty curve.
A young girl with a revolver and a cat companion wanders a spirit-haunted world and faces mythic bosses in fast bullet-hell duels. Moody pixel art and a restrained, atmospheric story define the adventure.
2020PCNintendo Switch14.79 €90 % positive
Very positive, 368 reviews on Steam
Fantasy setting
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Distinctive, stylised art style
A young girl with a revolver and a cat companion wanders a spirit-haunted world and faces mythic bosses in fast bullet-hell duels. Moody pixel art and a restrained, atmospheric story define the adventure.
BroodStar is an arcade shoot-em-up with roguelike twists, where you fight through swarms of alien creatures gathering upgrades along the way. Each run builds your ship up against towering bosses on the way to destroying the living planet at the heart of the story.
2020PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable8.99 €93 % positive
Very positive, 82 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Sci-fi setting
Challenging difficulty
BroodStar is an arcade shoot-em-up with roguelike twists, where you fight through swarms of alien creatures gathering upgrades along the way. Each run builds your ship up against towering bosses on the way to destroying the living planet at the heart of the story.
You pilot a nimble fighter through jewel-colored alien worlds, blasting swarms of crystal enemies with dashes and combo chains. Its appeal is the fast, rhythmic shoot-'em-up flow, where precise timing and evasion keep you in control.
You pilot a nimble fighter through jewel-colored alien worlds, blasting swarms of crystal enemies with dashes and combo chains. Its appeal is the fast, rhythmic shoot-'em-up flow, where precise timing and evasion keep you in control.
You pilot your starship through waves of enemies and projectiles, picking from a range of weapons in this modernized take on the classic side-scrolling shooter. Its 3D-rendered stages keep the demanding, pattern-reading gameplay of the original intact.
You pilot your starship through waves of enemies and projectiles, picking from a range of weapons in this modernized take on the classic side-scrolling shooter. Its 3D-rendered stages keep the demanding, pattern-reading gameplay of the original intact.
A fast-paced anime-style mecha shooter that blends on-rails shooting sections with close-range hack-and-slash combat. You pilot a giant war machine in a war against a mechanical alien race.
2013PCPlayStationNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified19.99 €88 % positive
Very positive, 1,570 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Action-packed real-time combat
Lavish presentation
A fast-paced anime-style mecha shooter that blends on-rails shooting sections with close-range hack-and-slash combat. You pilot a giant war machine in a war against a mechanical alien race.
A chaotic rogue-lite shooter where mutated animals battle in a bizarre TV game show. You pick a beast, load up on weapons, and blast through arenas with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.
2022PCNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified16.99 €88 % positive
Very positive, 762 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Lots of humour
Distinctive, stylised art style
A chaotic rogue-lite shooter where mutated animals battle in a bizarre TV game show. You pick a beast, load up on weapons, and blast through arenas with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.
You play a friendly but deadly mech searching for your missing pilot, tearing through hordes of hostile AI in fast roguelite runs. Between missions you upgrade weapons, plugins and skills, and even customize your look.
2023PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable−90 %9.99 € 0.99 € 12 days left68 % positive
Mixed, 215 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Strong character progression
Sci-fi setting
You play a friendly but deadly mech searching for your missing pilot, tearing through hordes of hostile AI in fast roguelite runs. Between missions you upgrade weapons, plugins and skills, and even customize your look.
A fast twin-stick shooter where you play as a brain piloting robot bodies, constantly scavenging weapons and parts from fallen enemies to craft new builds. Features permadeath and co-op for up to four players.
A fast twin-stick shooter where you play as a brain piloting robot bodies, constantly scavenging weapons and parts from fallen enemies to craft new builds. Features permadeath and co-op for up to four players.
You pilot a freelance ship through colorful space levels, blasting enemies to stop the warlord Xoxx and his universe-destroying cannon. Its appeal lies in the over-the-top humor and frantic arcade shooting.
2004PCNintendo Switch7.79 €87 % positive
Very positive, 1,252 reviews on Steam
Lots of humour
Sci-fi setting
Distinctive, stylised art style
You pilot a freelance ship through colorful space levels, blasting enemies to stop the warlord Xoxx and his universe-destroying cannon. Its appeal lies in the over-the-top humor and frantic arcade shooting.
You fight your way through hordes of grotesque flesh beasts in this bullet hell dungeon crawler, switching between a wide arsenal of guns, giant mechs and adorable kittens. Its charm lies in the clash between chaotic carnage and absurd cuteness.
2022PCPlayStationXboxNintendo Switch14.99 €65 % positive
Mixed, 82 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Action-packed real-time combat
Distinctive, stylised art style
You fight your way through hordes of grotesque flesh beasts in this bullet hell dungeon crawler, switching between a wide arsenal of guns, giant mechs and adorable kittens. Its charm lies in the clash between chaotic carnage and absurd cuteness.
You pilot a space ship through side-scrolling levels packed with chaotic firefights and explosions. The arsenal of wild weapons and gadgets is the main attraction, wrapped in a playful, comedic tone.
2020PCPlayStationNintendo Switch15.79 €90 % positive
Very positive, 1,169 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Action-packed real-time combat
You pilot a space ship through side-scrolling levels packed with chaotic firefights and explosions. The arsenal of wild weapons and gadgets is the main attraction, wrapped in a playful, comedic tone.
A survivor-like set in the Deep Rock universe where a lone dwarf auto-shoots through alien swarms while carving through destructible rock for minerals. Synergizing weapon upgrades and persistent unlocks deliver that one-more-run pull.
2025PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified12.99 €87 % positive
Very positive, 36,558 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Strong character progression
Sci-fi setting
A survivor-like set in the Deep Rock universe where a lone dwarf auto-shoots through alien swarms while carving through destructible rock for minerals. Synergizing weapon upgrades and persistent unlocks deliver that one-more-run pull.
A vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up where you swap between four fighters mid-battle, upgrade your squadron between missions and take down huge alien capital ships in hectic boss fights.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo Switch9.75 €89 % positive
Very positive, 98 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Action-packed real-time combat
A vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up where you swap between four fighters mid-battle, upgrade your squadron between missions and take down huge alien capital ships in hectic boss fights.
A retro arcade shooter inspired by the 8-bit era, mixing classic blasting with modern upgrades and mechanics. Fast reflexes and pixel visuals take center stage.
2018PCPlayStationXboxNintendo Switch84 % positive
Very positive, 64 reviews on Steam
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Sci-fi setting
Challenging difficulty
A retro arcade shooter inspired by the 8-bit era, mixing classic blasting with modern upgrades and mechanics. Fast reflexes and pixel visuals take center stage.
2018PCPlayStationNintendo Switch−30 %15.99 € 11.19 € until tomorrow92 % positive
You play as the ominous Black Bird, a calamity born from a girl's death, and fight through fast-paced shooting action in a fantastical world bent on bringing down a kingdom. Expect a dark, stylized take on fantasy with a demanding challenge.
2018PCPlayStationNintendo Switch−30 %15.99 € 11.19 € until tomorrow92 % positive
Very positive, 97 reviews on Steam
Fantasy setting
Distinctive, stylised art style
Action-packed real-time combat
You play as the ominous Black Bird, a calamity born from a girl's death, and fight through fast-paced shooting action in a fantastical world bent on bringing down a kingdom. Expect a dark, stylized take on fantasy with a demanding challenge.
A cute-yet-brutal top-down roguelike shooter where you play a gun-toting axolotl, blast through animal-themed levels, collect power-ups and raise a squad of baby axolotls.
A cute-yet-brutal top-down roguelike shooter where you play a gun-toting axolotl, blast through animal-themed levels, collect power-ups and raise a squad of baby axolotls.
You pick either the Grim Reaper or a girl and hunt escaped yokai from limbo to free the souls they have absorbed, then reseal them. It is an intense bullet-hell shooter steeped in Japanese myth and demanding reflexes.
2017PCPlayStationXboxNintendo Switch84 % positive
Very positive, 213 reviews on Steam
Fantasy setting
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
You pick either the Grim Reaper or a girl and hunt escaped yokai from limbo to free the souls they have absorbed, then reseal them. It is an intense bullet-hell shooter steeped in Japanese myth and demanding reflexes.
An arcade shooter where you fight to survive as the Blue Rider in a valley flooded with bullets. It nods to classic console heroes and leans on fast reflexes.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo Switch88 % positive
Very positive, 100 reviews on Steam
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Challenging difficulty
Action-packed real-time combat
An arcade shooter where you fight to survive as the Blue Rider in a valley flooded with bullets. It nods to classic console heroes and leans on fast reflexes.
A twin-stick shooter in the spirit of classic shoot-'em-ups, featuring many enemy types, weapons and power-ups. Fast arcade space action with a solid challenge.
A twin-stick shooter in the spirit of classic shoot-'em-ups, featuring many enemy types, weapons and power-ups. Fast arcade space action with a solid challenge.
You defend humanity as its last pilot against overwhelming odds in a bullet hell shooter. It blends the strengths of classic danmaku games with an approachable design that welcomes newcomers as well as veterans.
2017PCPlayStationNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable9.99 €86 % positive
Very positive, 232 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Challenging difficulty
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
You defend humanity as its last pilot against overwhelming odds in a bullet hell shooter. It blends the strengths of classic danmaku games with an approachable design that welcomes newcomers as well as veterans.
Jet Lancer is a fast arcade aerial dogfighting shooter where you play a mercenary pilot hunting enemy aces and tearing apart giant robots. Pixel art, high speed and short story scenes define the experience.
2020PCNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified14.79 €92 % positive
Very positive, 1,169 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Distinctive, stylised art style
Action-packed real-time combat
Jet Lancer is a fast arcade aerial dogfighting shooter where you play a mercenary pilot hunting enemy aces and tearing apart giant robots. Pixel art, high speed and short story scenes define the experience.
A frantic arcade shooter roguelike where you run backwards through waves of enemies and bosses while blasting everything in sight. Destructible environments, wacky weapons and co-op with friends make for chaotic fun.
A frantic arcade shooter roguelike where you run backwards through waves of enemies and bosses while blasting everything in sight. Destructible environments, wacky weapons and co-op with friends make for chaotic fun.
You blast through a series of varied planets in this roguelike shooter, where bullet-hell chaos meets tower defense. You rescue teammates and gather traps to build your defenses.
2019PCXboxNintendo Switch−50 %12.49 € 6.24 € 2 days left91 % positive
Very positive, 122 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Runs that play out differently every time
Action-packed real-time combat
You blast through a series of varied planets in this roguelike shooter, where bullet-hell chaos meets tower defense. You rescue teammates and gather traps to build your defenses.
A roguelite bullet-hell shooter where you fight through randomly generated labyrinths inside a star, weaving through waves of projectiles while collecting weapons and upgrades. Each run feels different thanks to varied item combinations.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable11.79 €89 % positive
Very positive, 286 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Sci-fi setting
Action-packed real-time combat
A roguelite bullet-hell shooter where you fight through randomly generated labyrinths inside a star, weaving through waves of projectiles while collecting weapons and upgrades. Each run feels different thanks to varied item combinations.
A heavy 2.5D side-scrolling shoot 'em up where you pilot the mecha Therion through grim, metal-soaked sci-fi worlds. Fast, demanding action meets dark aesthetics and a driving metal soundtrack.
2023PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified24.50 €94 % positive
Very positive, 308 reviews on Steam
Dark, serious atmosphere
Sci-fi setting
Action-packed real-time combat
A heavy 2.5D side-scrolling shoot 'em up where you pilot the mecha Therion through grim, metal-soaked sci-fi worlds. Fast, demanding action meets dark aesthetics and a driving metal soundtrack.
A fast-paced 2D side-scrolling shoot-'em-up set in the 1980s, where you play a super cop blasting through gangs and corruption. It's arcade-style, quick and delivered with a wink.
A fast-paced 2D side-scrolling shoot-'em-up set in the 1980s, where you play a super cop blasting through gangs and corruption. It's arcade-style, quick and delivered with a wink.
You fly with a squadron of Luftwaffe aces through a vertically scrolling air war full of bullet hails and boss fights. Grab massive power-ups, time your special abilities, and grow each pilot along their own skill tree.
You fly with a squadron of Luftwaffe aces through a vertically scrolling air war full of bullet hails and boss fights. Grab massive power-ups, time your special abilities, and grow each pilot along their own skill tree.
A fast-paced top-down roguelike shooter that sends you through a monster-infested mansion with a Halloween flavor. A large pool of weapons and items makes each run play out differently.
A fast-paced top-down roguelike shooter that sends you through a monster-infested mansion with a Halloween flavor. A large pool of weapons and items makes each run play out differently.
A fast-paced comic-book shooter platformer where you blast through ever-changing pages, chain combos and collect ink to permanently upgrade your hero. Roguelike and Metroidvania elements add variety and replay value.
2017PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified19.50 €88 % positive
Very positive, 2,651 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Jumping and platforming
Strong character progression
A fast-paced comic-book shooter platformer where you blast through ever-changing pages, chain combos and collect ink to permanently upgrade your hero. Roguelike and Metroidvania elements add variety and replay value.
A neon-soaked reimagining of the Atari classic that blends arcade shooting with bullet hell, demanding that you read boss patterns and audio-visual warnings. It is backed by a driving electronic soundtrack.
2022PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable8.99 €87 % positive
Very positive, 97 reviews on Steam
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
Sci-fi setting
Distinctive, stylised art style
A neon-soaked reimagining of the Atari classic that blends arcade shooting with bullet hell, demanding that you read boss patterns and audio-visual warnings. It is backed by a driving electronic soundtrack.
An arcade-style space shooter with roguelike structure: you fly through a randomly generated galaxy, collecting perks and stacking them into outrageous builds to take down the galactic overlords.
An arcade-style space shooter with roguelike structure: you fly through a randomly generated galaxy, collecting perks and stacking them into outrageous builds to take down the galactic overlords.
A 2D side-view shooting-defense game where you hold off waves of zombies from a terrace. Simple, classic arcade-style gameplay with light upgrade elements.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo Switch1.99 €92 % positive
Very positive, 442 reviews on Steam
Action-packed real-time combat
A 2D side-view shooting-defense game where you hold off waves of zombies from a terrace. Simple, classic arcade-style gameplay with light upgrade elements.
A fast arcade space shooter with roguelike runs: you blast alien swarms, collect scrap to power up your ship mid-run, and unlock new pilots and weapons between attempts.
2022PCNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified3.99 €89 % positive
Very positive, 573 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Sci-fi setting
Strong character progression
A fast arcade space shooter with roguelike runs: you blast alien swarms, collect scrap to power up your ship mid-run, and unlock new pilots and weapons between attempts.
You pilot a side-scrolling fighter that can absorb enemy energy bullets and turn them against the swarms of ships zipping through space. Its appeal lies in the tight timing between dodging and absorbing.
2022PCNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified−50 %12.49 € 6.24 € 2 days left96 % positive
Overwhelmingly positive, 1,125 reviews on Steam
Sci-fi setting
Action-packed real-time combat
Timing and reflexes matter (parrying, dodging)
You pilot a side-scrolling fighter that can absorb enemy energy bullets and turn them against the swarms of ships zipping through space. Its appeal lies in the tight timing between dodging and absorbing.
You pilot one of three planes with a single life through island skies to take on the Baron and his pilots. Each run is a tense, arcade-style roguelike challenge where every mistake counts.
You pilot one of three planes with a single life through island skies to take on the Baron and his pilots. Each run is a tense, arcade-style roguelike challenge where every mistake counts.
You hop between planets, blast strange creatures, and save the galaxy solo or with a friend. Its main twist is the ability to flip gravity, which gives familiar arcade shooting a fresh spin.
You hop between planets, blast strange creatures, and save the galaxy solo or with a friend. Its main twist is the ability to flip gravity, which gives familiar arcade shooting a fresh spin.
In this twin-stick shooter you unleash an absurdly overpowered laser beam on polygon enemies and charge the SUPERBEAM to wipe out whole screens in an instant. Chasing high scores amid the colourful explosion of geometry and light is where the appeal lies.
In this twin-stick shooter you unleash an absurdly overpowered laser beam on polygon enemies and charge the SUPERBEAM to wipe out whole screens in an instant. Chasing high scores amid the colourful explosion of geometry and light is where the appeal lies.
Greedland is a top-down shooter in the vein of Crimsonland and Vampire Survivors, where you play an interstellar mercenary fighting waves of enemies while growing stronger across runs.
2025PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified12.79 €83 % positive
Very positive, 2,987 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Strong character progression
Sci-fi setting
Greedland is a top-down shooter in the vein of Crimsonland and Vampire Survivors, where you play an interstellar mercenary fighting waves of enemies while growing stronger across runs.
A colorful shoot-'em-up roguelike with procedurally generated dungeons, endless weapon and item upgrades, and huge bosses. Cheeky humor and punishing difficulty define the revenge hunt against the Empress.
2016PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck playable−35 %5.99 € 3.89 € 9 days left89 % positive
Very positive, 158 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Distinctive, stylised art style
Challenging difficulty
A colorful shoot-'em-up roguelike with procedurally generated dungeons, endless weapon and item upgrades, and huge bosses. Cheeky humor and punishing difficulty define the revenge hunt against the Empress.
A fast bullet-hell roguelite where you play as a tiny tooth blasting through procedurally built stages, powering up with upgrades and even diseases. Its quirky dental theme and humor give it a distinct personality.
2022PCPlayStationXboxNintendo SwitchSteam Deck verified12.79 €95 % positive
Very positive, 96 reviews on Steam
Runs that play out differently every time
Distinctive, stylised art style
Action-packed real-time combat
A fast bullet-hell roguelite where you play as a tiny tooth blasting through procedurally built stages, powering up with upgrades and even diseases. Its quirky dental theme and humor give it a distinct personality.
Shoot 'em ups on Nintendo Switch cover a wide range. Some are classic scrolling shooters where you read patterns and memorize stages, while others borrow the core idea of dodging and shooting and mix it with roguelikes, platforming or action RPG progression. The appeal is the same either way: quick runs, clear feedback and the satisfaction of getting a little better every attempt.
When choosing, check the difficulty first, since most games on this list are tagged Difficult. If you want a gentler start, Sky Force Reloaded is a colorful, straightforward shmup. Habroxia adds action RPG elements to a sci-fi shooter, which suits players who like some progression. If you want a stricter, pattern-focused challenge, Earthion and Wolflame are both pixel art shmups tagged Difficult, and Rolling Gunner adds a great soundtrack to its stylish action.
Also think about how you play. Enter the Gungeon and Cuphead both offer co-op, which makes them better picks for playing with a friend. Downwell is a good fit for short sessions, as a pixel art roguelike where you shoot your way downward. Since the Switch works both docked and handheld, short-run games like these fit easily into either style.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best shoot 'em up on Nintendo Switch for beginners?
Sky Force Reloaded is a good starting point, as it is a colorful shmup without the Difficult tag. Habroxia is another option if you enjoy light action RPG elements.
Are there co-op shoot 'em ups on Nintendo Switch?
Yes. Enter the Gungeon, Cuphead and Guns, Gore and Cannoli 2 are all tagged Co-op, so you can play them with a friend.
Which Switch shoot 'em ups are true bullet-hell style shmups?
Earthion, Wolflame and Rolling Gunner are tagged Shmup and Difficult, making them the closest to the classic challenge. Habroxia and Sky Force Reloaded are also shmups, but with less emphasis on difficulty.
Not quite your taste?
Tell us your favourite games and we'll find recommendations that fit you exactly.
