A Deep Dive Into 68 Shmups: Tier Lists, Beginner Picks, & Hidden Gems
By DigitalHawk9933 · ISSUE · About Nintendo Switch 2
**Tl;dr**
Skip to ‘THE RATINGS’ section if you want my tier list, with mini-reviews for all the games I played. Skip to ‘THE RECOMMENDATIONS’ section if you want specific recs based on what *you* may like. All games have links to their gameplay.
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**BACKSTORY:**
(skip this section if you only want recs)
A while back, I decided to deep dive a genre of games I’d hardly ever played: Shmups. If you aren’t familiar with what Shmups are, [click this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlXH8iaW274&t=72s) and you’ll get it within 30 seconds. I’ve played games like [Raiden](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owPQViXnGfo&t=89s) at the one arcade in my rural hometown growing up, and sometimes in arcades as an adult. That’s about it. Until I found [System11’s yearly polls](https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=77449) of the [Top 25 Shmups of All Time](https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?p=1594799), [The Electric Underground](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvKZvZ-AGxI&t=786s)’s in-depth YouTube channel, & AzorMX who [reviews a ton of Shmups](https://www.azormx.com/azormx/reviews/the-search-for-the-greatest-switch-shmup-episode-33-esp-ra-de/) for the Switch. Through this, I learned that this genre of games (and, really, every genre of everything) is surprisingly deep, and has sub-genres inside of it that appeal to completely different tastes.
System11 recently held their [final voting](https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?t=77525) for the 'Top Shmups of All Time' list. So I went back and replayed all ~68 of mine, and voted. I’ve had more time since then to adjust my opinions, and I decided to write this out in the hopes that it may be useful for others to enter the genre, or find some new games.
**Note:** Shmups *can* be an overall difficult sub-genre of games. If you don’t like that, I’ll point out games in ‘THE RECOMMENDATIONS' section that are welcoming to newer players. The community also has [their own resource for beginner friendly shmups](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MZz8Q_8HdGyh2QU9BX4lNgyVAP9JZxxuy_YYbOLf1CM/).
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**THE PROCESS:**
(skip this section if you only want recs)
I came into every single one of these 68+ Shmups with an open opinion. Trying to find what is enjoyable about each one. My rating / ranking can boil down to 1) my *personal assessment* of the strength of each game + 2) my pure enjoyment of the game (I should naturally want to play the game and continue playing it when I pick it up).
I won’t be calling any of these games ‘bad’. Even many of the games that I didn’t mesh with have tons of people who love them and who will very much disagree with me. Some games simply didn’t click with me. That’s ok. Some of these games play **SO** differently to one another. Shmups have their own flavor and you’ll have your own tastes.
**Note:** I don't feel like an expert in Shmups **at all**, I just did my best to create a useful post for others to find ways to explore the genre like I did. I haven’t spent a ton of time with every game on this list. These are not in-depth reviews. Many of them will feel surface level to a Shmup veteran and I might repeat some phrasing.
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**SHMUPS THAT WON’T MAKE THE LIST:**
(Skip if you aren’t a *huge* Shmup nerd)
**Top rated shmups I haven’t played yet:** Armed Police Batrider, Axelay, Battle Bakraid, Battle Garegga, Border Down, Cho Ren Sha 68k, Dangun Feveron, DonPachi, DoDonPachi, Einhander, EspGaluda, Gate of Thunder, Gradius Gaide, Gradius V, Guwange, Ibara, Blazing Lazers, Mushihimesama Futari, Mars Matrix, Muchi Much Pork!, Musha Aleste, Raiden DX, Soldier Blade, Soukyugerentai, Thunder Force V, Winds of Thunder, & Zanac Neo.
**Shmups I played that didn’t mesh with me:** Salamander, Salamander II, Flying Shark, Under Defeat, Deathsmiles I, Deathsmiles II, Cotton Fantasy, R-Type, R-Type Delta, Gradius, Gradius III, G-Darius HD, Darius Burst EX / AC, Strikers 1945, 1941 Counter Attack, 1943 Battle of Midway, Zero Gunner 2, & Samurai Aces III.
---
**THE RATINGS:**
(tier list, mini-reviews, & gameplay links)
I’m including links to play-throughs for all of these, timestamped at the start of gameplay. This way, you’ll get an idea of how the game looks, sounds, & plays to gauge your interest. Every game other than my honorable mentions will have mini reviews.
Finally: these are all **IN MY OPINION!**
**Honorable Mentions**
Strikers 1945 II, Gunbird 1, Tengai, Samurai Aces (for beginners), Thunder Force IV, Darius Extra, Darius 2, Gradius II Gofer, R-Type II, Raiden Fighters II, & Thunder Dragon 2.
**B- Tier**
**[Hazelnut Hex](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdNzvv_q_5U&t=16s):** This one made the cut out of honorable mentions because of the bonus points it got for being the **only** game that my significant roommate asked me to play of her own accord. She got to play as a squirrel that can’t take damage and *actually* helps (but not too much). This was her gateway into Shmups. This *could* get that one person in your life who will never touch a Shmup to play with you. And the soundtrack is solid. The color design of this cute’em-up is a little intense, while still done fairly well. The story is also adorable. Making sure your friends eat a healthy trademarked balanced breakfast because “you’re not you when you’re hungry” is a great premise for a silly story.
**[Fire Shark / Same Same Same!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slsJtc9kJF4&t=40s):** The oldest Shmup I played that I also thoroughly enjoyed. Double checked, and it came out in 1989? It absolutely nails a simple & fun arcade experience. It's a less punishing game than many on this list. And I loved 2 of the 3 weapon types. Fire Shark isn’t afraid to make you feel *completely* overpowered once your gun gets upgraded enough. And I enjoyed that. The red fire laser was one of my favorite weapons in all of these games from a pure ‘over-the-top’ fun perspective. Worth mentioning that this game is on the simpler and slower side and takes a while to build up.
**[Sol Divide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv69uxXs9Vs&t=53s):** This is one of my favorites. It’s like they turned Mortal Kombat 1 into a Shmup. I rated it a B- because I can clearly see its flaws, but I *still* continue to play it over many of the games much higher on this list. That being said, it is **criminally** easy to dismiss this game after only a few plays. I almost did the same. It feels bad when you get wrecked in a Shmup and don't understand how to stay alive. Playing it when you understand the mechanics is awesome and none of the other games here gives me a similar feeling. You have a sword/weapon attack in this game that is incredibly useful. To the point that my roommate looked up to watch me play and asked “how is this a Shmup?” until I finally fell back and started shooting again. You also have a list of magic attacks that you discover over the course of the run that you can build up a magic meter to use. They all have different effects and each character has a few unique spells. The 3 characters feel markedly different to use and all have their own play-styles and strengths. The gameplay I included for this game will really help you understand how Sol Divide plays in a way that even playing it for yourself may not.
**[Thunder Force III / AC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTqKvA092pA&t=21s):** This one *feels* like an old-school handheld game I would’ve played growing up. Also, the sound effects are perfect. This game definitely rewards you for learning how it plays because death sets you back. A game of Thunder Force III / AC with you never losing a life vs. you dying *sometimes* are honestly quite different games. While I’m not sure of the relative strength between all the different weapons, they are certainly some of the coolest weapon mixes among these games. Enemy design and stage design are also solid. Ultimately, it fell off for me because a couple stages in I noticed that my hunter shot allowed me to basically do nothing and survive the entire stage. That happens a few times.
**B Tier**
**[Gunbird 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOEhlKvKE2I&t=5s):** Admittedly, the main reason that Gunbird 1 wasn’t in B- tier was because I didn't want to spend a paragraph talking about Gunbird 1 (as much as I enjoyed it) when I could talk about this game and more. Deceptively simple for sure. All the characters in this game are so different that you will likely find 1 or a few that you enjoy playing as, and at least one that you don’t. Their special abilities (bombs) are also wildly different. You have a meter in this game that can be used either for a physical attack or a charged shot that will unleash it all at once. Distilled fun in this one. **Note:** when Psikyo game’s difficulty levels say “baby” or “monkey”, they are goading you into being overconfident.
**[Strikers 1945 III / Strikers 1999](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvCfFmCgnEU&t=14s):** If you want to buy 1 inexpensive Shmup and have some quick fun: get this one, go to the ship select screen, and choose the secret character ‘X-36’ by hovering over the random selection question mark and holding up. X-36 makes this game even more enjoyable. It’s like controlling a badass Power Ranger-style mecha suit that transforms into a plane. The level designs themselves aren’t amazing. However, the bosses are all bug-styled transformer ships & the bullet patterns as you increase in difficulty (it has 7 difficulty levels) *are* awesome.
**[Cotton Reboot! X68000](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPdh6ry9bWs&t=19s):** Now, Cotton Reboot actually has a main game that is completely different (at least visually) that you can also play. The [normal mode of Cotton Reboot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9bjMYxIPDk&t=9s) is extremely flashy and over-the-top in its colors, presentation, and scoring. I didn’t find it bad; it appeals to different players. The X68000 mode feels like it would be a gbc/gba era Shmup. It had a more relaxing feel to play and I appreciate how they pulled off having a Shmup in a Castlevania/Ghouls & Goblins setting. I personally genuinely did not like how some Shmups attempt to have actual ‘stages’ to go through. As it often felt clunky and like it was taking even more of my already limited space on the screen away from me. This one was fine. Not amazing IMO. Fun & relaxing.
**[Eco Fighters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnA4HwZFY3k&t=63s):** You’re a futuristic killer of those that are destroying the planet. It takes a vaporwave-esque art direction, especially with the stage announcer before every level. You have 4 weapon choices with increasing power levels, and most of them are pretty wacky. The weapons and unique art were what really stylized this game for me. You have an arm that throws out in a sort of Yo-Yo motion and comes back to you, a beam sword, and the scatter shot that also shoots a rotating circle that lingers at an angle. It controlled a little janky to me compared to other Shmups with a full 360 degrees of aiming. Some personal shortcomings to me, but I still enjoyed it.
**[Eschatos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKFaJMTD7sE&t=18s):** This game starts with an Independence Day type fight where you shoot your way through an alien invasion only to come up to the mothership and circle around it continuously while taking out its weak points. This is another game that feels on its own in certain ways compared to all these other shmups. The way it uses its limited screen space (or, at least it feels limited with the sides being restricted and the sprites being bigger) is really smart. While this game *can* be challenging, you mostly use a straight shot and a split shot and the way the game throws bullets at you makes sense. It didn’t hit my tastes, but I still see a great game here.
**[1944 Loop Master](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHMccCIJ8sM&t=22s):** Simple fun. I would play this game with a friend at the arcades (if they’re newer to Shmups) over many games on this list. The movement in this game felt smooth to me. It can go on quite long with 15 stages. The stages & bosses all have such character for what it is. This game doesn’t try to do much, and that’s fine. As with some of the games on the lower end of this tier list, while it may be one of the simpler games on this list, it was pure fun every time I played it.
**[Razion EX](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj1SYIrDobA&t=1s):** One of my favorite art styles/directions in all of these games. I came back multiple times almost trying to love it more. Your B is a charge shot that replenishes every few seconds rather than having a bomb. And other than that, it does range on the easier side of Shmups comparative to the rest on this list. The 3 difficulties actually scaled well and the first one feels approachable to newer players. It also really paces itself well in that completing the entire game felt like the exact right amount of time I wanted to spend on it. And while the level design is solid, the bosses stuck out to me.
**B+ Tier**
**[Salamander III](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nAkyfr2yn4&t=15s):** It surprises me that this game has not only never featured on System11’s top 25 of all time or honorable mentions, but I was also the *only* one to vote for III this year. This game ramps up so quickly! And I don’t mean in difficulty, I mean your ship ramps up so quickly in this game. You immediately start stacking up powers from killed enemies like upgrading your gun into a laser or pulse, copies that shoot multiples of your weapons, shields that attach to you, and you can gather speed increases until you like how fast your ship controls. The level designs and the way they transition into each other to keep infinite loops going that increase in difficulty is awesome. And this game lets you painlessly pick up your power-ups after you die and continue your run from right where you left off, rather than a complete reset after a game over. While I had positive feelings about I & II, III stuck the landing on ship maneuverability & graphics.
**[RayForce / Layer Section](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrAwb2TFBnE&t=67s):** Take a gbc/gba-era metroid game and make it into a Shmup. There you go. I absolutely love this game and respect how well it is made and how great it looks for its simple graphics. You have a smaller screen to work with, and you can hold both your shot & laser button at the same time which could make it easier to get into for non-gamers IMO. The main gimmick of this game is that you have a separate laser that can lock-on and shoot background enemies or the weak points of bosses. Did I mention the graphics are killer? They are. And the music nails it. The game even makes a point to transition you into the separate levels and boss battles using the background rather than just throwing you from level to level.
**A- Tier**
**[Rolling Gunner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXrKa3Rf5D8&t=25s):** I believe 1 of only 2 on my tier list that lets me block bullets to this extent (showcased in the linked gameplay). While that other game (in my S- Tier) lets you repel them back every few seconds, this one has a constant controllable shield. I dig it. I like being able to control some of the onslaught coming at me. I played it a few times even after realizing it didn’t mesh with me because the concept was well executed and I liked the unique design style they went with for this game. I can’t even really describe it. And it was one of the few Shmups that made me feel like the entire screen space was mine and that I could and may need to use it without being trapped or killed from a random enemy popping out.
**[Ikaruga](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rkwq5Jtcn0&t=35s):** A bullet hell that I would oddly describe as having a similar feeling to rhythm games. The main mechanic in Ikaruga that completely separates it from other shmups on my list is how you can reverse the polarity of your ship to soak up bullets of one color while you dodge bullets of another color. There is also a ton of use of environmental factors rather than only dodging bullets. I can tell there was a lot of precision and care put into this game. Maybe I’ll come back to this in the future when I’m better at Shmups and see if I can enjoy this in a way that I wasn’t able to in my multiple play-throughs. And don’t let my lackluster review sway you, lots of people see this as one of the best shmups ever made.
**[Shikigami no Shiro II](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guBR5QnH22M&t=71s):** What turning a shonen anime like Naruto or JJK into a Shmup gets you. All 7 of the base characters of this game are not only unique from each other and even to other shmups, but some of them are wild even in concept. I was not expecting being able to slice with 3 giant blades in circles in the middle of a Shmup while erasing the bullets on the screen to be so satisfying. There is definitely a character for everyone. The bosses are also creative. This game still felt like it was lacking for some reason that made it feel like I was trying too hard to enjoy it. Great game; not for me.
**[Akai Katana Shin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeOc63rZaTE&t=12s):** Scoring is absolutely awesome in this game. And the way it plays feels inspired by a game in my S- tier. You have a unique laser gun that is tethered to your ship that controls separately from your ship. It’s hard to explain and also hard to understand at first. It can leave you getting your tethered gun trapped in places that don’t really help you while you focus on dodging. Which forces you to think about your movement ahead of time. You also gain energy off of dead enemies that give you the ability to Soul Shift / Phantom Form Change into an anime fighter that can use a special weapon to deal more damage and stack up huge amounts of points at once. It’s a lot.
**A Tier**
**[Raiden Fighters Jet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX9VsPsK--w&t=75s):** Now, If I judged this game purely on the strength of the game, it wouldn’t be in A tier (IMO). But, half my criteria is enjoyment and how much I wanted to play it. I played this one so many times back-to-back. With 16 ships to choose from that actually felt unique in the way that their lasers & missiles worked, it was basically the only game where I could choose the ‘random’ ship selection and I didn’t really care which one it landed on. It barely got cut from my final games list at the bottom because the actual levels and bosses were a little stale to me. I’m sure tons of casual players would love this one. I mean, I did too. This is another I wish was in more arcades.
**[Darius Gaiden](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QBBUk3bBYs&t=14s):** An absolutely esoteric and psychedelic Shmup that merges sea-life bosses with a space theme and almost eerie background music. Allows you to choose from multiple branching paths & bosses on each play-through that completely open up the scope of this game. Nearly every stage and boss has a unique feeling to it, not just from other bosses in the game but from other Shmups in general. Knowledge of the game feels required to fully enjoy it. Until you understand how the game works and get a feel for how all the bosses fight (it does show you their weak points and how much health they have left) you can easily feel overwhelmed. Still, I played a few games that had an overall feeling that is similar to Darius. And to me, none of them nailed the formula as well as this one did.
**[Batsugun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2J84EhS5nU&t=31s):** Every ship choice makes you feel overpowered immediately. Which is a great choice. Incredibly vibrant with a design aimed at everything popping off the screen. This includes not only the intense shot patterns of your ship, but even the little ‘+2’s that show up after enemies and the giant “+100” after a boss kill. The gameplay itself is rather simple; not easy. The looks & music of a Shmup I would’ve played on my gba in the best of ways. The art & sound effects in Batsugan definitely carried it up a tier.
**A+ through S+ Tier**
Anything that I’ve rated **A+** to **S+** is a strong recommendation from me. Every one of them has multiple different well made aspects that come together to be a highly enjoyable game and a great representation of the genre (to me). I’m solidly confident that many people *are* going to love these games.
**A+ Tier**
**[Gunvein](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7JPDYfAMXU&t=42s):** The 3rd highest placing game on my tier list that hasn’t made System11's Top 25 All Time or honorable mentions. Although, many people voted for it. One of the few that felt like it was teaching me how to play a Shmup over the course of the game. It has different difficulties to choose from (simple to punishing), 3 very different ships to choose from, and has a comeback mechanic that allows you to use your score to purchase extra shields, restarts, or even lives / continues. This one definitely grew on me over time. At first, I wasn’t enjoying it that much while playing, but then I kept continuing over and over after my deaths. It has one of the most modernized graphics of any of the games on this list with crazy bullet patterns & designs and exaggerated scoring with giant gold stars & massive numbers that feels *similar* to a game that I have in my S Tier.
**[Espgaluda II](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8jzibD4yVw&t=49s):** The art in this game is astounding. Even the art of the bullet patterns and the gems for scoring are some of my favorites in all the games. This game also has 2 important mechanics to mention. One of them allows you to slow down time periodically to help you dodge bullets and score more points. The other is a sort of bullet shield that you have in front of you, that will slide smaller bullets out of the way of your hurtbox to keep you from dying as long as you aren’t surrounded. This game has plenty of mechanics built in that allow you to learn how the game is played without being punished for every pixel of mistake you may make. Espgaluda II also transitions seamlessly in between fights to an even greater effect than Layer Section. Ultimately, the bullet patterns, art, and its unique mechanics are what draw me back to this game. Like another game further down this list, I get lost in a trance as I’m playing it.
**[Dragon Blaze](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZHq6rGYvmE&t=22s):** This one is incredible. You fly on dragons where all 4 of them actually play differently (only 1 I don’t like to use), and your dragons not only can be thrown out in front of you to do massive ‘physical’ damage when they fly into an enemy, they can also stay out and keep shooting in a different area of the screen than you until you call it back. Bosses & bullet designs are my absolute favorite aspects. In this game, you are rewarded for being aggressive at the top half of the screen and constantly killing with your dragon’s physical attack to get gold coins from their deaths. And it also gives you the ability to push your luck during the bosses and get a technical bonus kill that feels so juicy to pull off. It’s also reasonable to sit back at the bottom of the screen on lower difficulties and play it as a more casual experience. Though, Psikyo games are always a little hard, even at their base difficulties.
**[NeverAwake](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQQJXuvalFA&t=181s):** The 2nd highest placing game on my tier list that has never made System11's Top 25 All Time or honorable mentions. In fact, no one voted for it other than me 🙁. So, hear me out: it’s ‘Tim Burton’s Hollow Knight: the Shmup”. It has a unique charm system like Hollow Knight where you can gain power-ups over the course of the game (70+ levels with 10 levels per world) and the ability to dash through enemies, attacks, & bullets to dodge them or create space. It also has a mechanic of gaining ‘souls’ from killed monsters to complete the levels faster that I enjoyed a lot. Did I mention the art is this incredible Tim Burton (Nightmare Before Christmas) / Tadahiro Uesugi (Coraline) style? And it actually *does* have a story: you’re stuck in a coma trying to conquer nightmares you’re having about your real life anxieties. Delightful, yea? NeverAwake gave me the same feelings of playing a well-made genre-bending grim tale like Dredge or Inscryption. The gameplay I linked does a great job of selling this game’s visuals.
**[Radiant Silvergun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXhZxhPcowY&t=41s):** It absolutely oozes style. I felt like I was playing a Starfox 64 spinoff. It plays like a Shmup that is all on its own. You have multiple different weapons you can use on a single ship (they are all unlocked at the beginning and have different buttons to use them). A sword to repel bullets, a homing shot, a split shot, a multi-shot, etc. It can be a lot at once when many Shmups play with only 3 buttons. The individual weapons all level up over the course of the game based on how often you use them, and your scoring depends on killing only enemies of the same color (if you choose to play for scoring instead of survival). And the bosses absolutely nail the overall aesthetic. A game that certainly pays off your effort.
**S- Tier**
**[DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Con2hDzzf1o&t=39s):** My lowest rating of the three DoDonPachis that I played. I can’t rate it any lower because not only are there so many amazing aspects to this game that I’ve mentioned in some of these other reviews like incredible bullet patterns, the colors & modern design, the satisfying scoring system, and many other reasons, but the way the [Type-B (green)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqhoJMKO3y4&t=175s) ship controls in this game is my #1 favorite ship in any of these games. Including my S+ tier and my personal favorites. I wish I could bring the Type-B ship from this game into every other Shmup on this list in some capacity. It’s all personal taste with Dodonpachi games I’m sure, all 3 of them are executed impeccably.
**[Giga Wing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va8WuRu_aS0&t=9s):** “How many points should we be awarding the players in our game?” “All of them.” Absolute scoring heaven with bright colors and catchy sound effects. You get to store up a shield that reflects all the bullets around you back onto the opponents and it feels so satisfying. It’s not only a mechanic for being able to get revenge against the CPU for using too many bullets, the more you reflect the more you score. Absolutely killer representation of what a brilliant & fun arcade shmup experience can be.
**[Danmaku Unlimited 3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgi0M5DWekY&t=33s):** The last game I played and rated before posting this, and the highest placing game on my tier list that has never made System11's Top 25 All Time or honorable mentions. After playing 68 Shmups now, it was amusing to come in and almost 1CC this on medium on my first try. Less so indicative of my skill and more so to how much this game does things right. This may upset some by comparison, but this felt like the one and only Shmup on my list that truly integrated its music (metal) as part of the experience. I said Ikargua had the feeling of a rhythm game in some weird way. This feels like a perfectly executed version of what a rhythm Shmup would be. Another game that controlled exactly how it wanted to the moment I picked it up, and you can choose how you want your ship’s weapons to work before starting. This one is an absolute banger and a great note to end on.
**[Progear](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4REIXNedYCk&t=20s):** I didn't care how brutally difficult it was, it still felt like the failure was on me and that I wasn’t being aggressive enough. The art was like playing inside a bullet hell Studio Ghibli movie. The design of the bosses, bullet patterns, and character portraits are amazing. I didn’t let the difficulty stop me from constantly dying and trying to figure it out. This would be one of my absolute go-tos for someone who has played a bunch of shmups and somehow hasn’t tried this one yet. Still worth trying even if you’re bad cause it feels absolutely incredible when you dodge a series of bullets in this game.
**S Tier**
**[DoDonPachi Dai-Fukkatsu](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPt7CI9k3b4&t=36s):** Honestly, many of the things that I say in my review of the DoDonPachi game below in my S+ Tier I could also say about this game. So go read that one. The only ‘drawbacks’ to this one in comparison that made me put this one under the other DoDonPachi is I actually didn’t enjoy the use of the beam mechanic to stop the CPU’s beams. And there’s a level in the game ~15 minutes in that relies heavily on it. The bosses in this game were also *slightly* weaker to me.
**[Crimzon Clover World Explosion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Q-ua_j62U&t=28s):** This game was made by one of the best Shmup players in the world who holds a few records, and it **shows**. Fully exploring and understanding a subgenre allows you to create inside of it much more complete than someone without that specialized knowledge. Controlling the ship in this game felt better than almost any other Shmup I played. It immediately felt like I was in control of my ship and all my deaths felt fair. The bright colors and absolutely exaggerated scoring system are addictive. I will say, I didn’t personally enjoy this game as much as many of the other games on this list. A game I played a few times to try and let it grow on me. *You* reading this, on the other hand, may love this game. Especially as a starting point into the genre. If you are the type of gamer that already likes exploring amazing games in multiple genres, this could be the game to start with. It showcases so much of what makes this genre great.
**[ZeroRanger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRV_YCRa5pY&t=160s):** The gameplay & soundtrack are immaculate. What will clearly be one of my go-tos to introduce people to the genre. I’m almost disappointed in myself for not beating this one completely, but I have other tougher ones I’d rather focus on. Slowly progress through stages while collecting 1 of 2 powerups after every boss. Until eventually you dawn your supersuit and gain the ability to switch back and forth from your ship into a mecha fighting suit? And this game never stops ramping up. Every time you think you may be close to beating the game it gives you more and more to feast on. And don’t worry, if you die, this game has restarts that you can accumulate as you play the game more. You can even play in different modes depending on if you want to try and get a high score in every ‘section’ of the run (a great way to practice) or storm through a more unforgiving version of the game that pushes you to survive. Impeccable.
**S+ Tier**
**[Mushihimesama (Bug Princess)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm5J52CCjJ4&t=36s):** From a purely art direction / design perspective this game was **it**. Mushihimesama is the one I would present as a game like ‘Gris’ that represents video games as visual art. As the title suggests, you fight through different stages of beautifully designed bug enemies and giant bug bosses while you collect helper beetles that fly next to you and shoot beams. It has multiple modes / arrangements to play in (different ways to play the game) and the music is absolutely solid all the way through. I really got into a trance playing this game where I got lost in the bullet patterns and the stage design and would almost forget I’m playing. This game also *feels* forgiving with the hitbox. Which leaves you often looking like a pro when you dodge some wild patterns by the edge of your hurtbox.
**[DoDonPachi DaiOuJou](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dPzcVJeXnE&t=10s):** This is basically perfect to me as far as Shmup gameplay goes. Everyone will have different definitions of a ‘perfect’ shmup that completely depends on what they enjoy about shmups. The vibrant colors, the design of the beams, the bosses, the bullet patterns, the control of the ships, and that final boss is epic! DOJ’s final boss is the coolest boss to fight on this entire list (IMO). It feels way too strong. I love it. Also, I’m failing to mention that some of these games have absolutely amazing training modes. This one lets you go through and practice sections of stages and let you retry parts and earn medals for how well you do.
**[Ketsui Deathtiny](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSivsrTNdho&t=121s):** Perfection. I can’t do this game justice. The Controls, Scoring, Colors, Music, Sound Effects, Voice Lines, & Bosses all... where is [the meme with the hands up](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/megapedia/images/2/23/Absolute_Cinema.png/revision/latest?cb=20250921020702)? I wish Ketsui Deathtiny was available for every major platform. What’re we doing? If you play one game on this list, play Ketsui. Somehow. Please figure it out. I’ve played multiple ‘versions’ of this game including a [DS Ketsui game](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHhOj3WE-Q0&t=21s) and even a [G-mode version made for flip phones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nkQxziGSFo&t=43s) on the Switch - all incredible. I would recommend Ketsui Deathtiny in the same breath that I do with Slay the Spire & Outer Wilds as near-perfectly designed games amongst their respective subgenres. IMO Ketsui is what Shmups are. (I’m a Shmup nobody, what do I know?) Go play Ketsui.
**[Esp Ra De Psi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR8A8b-CXPk&t=14s):** My personal favorite Shmup. If I only get to keep one, if I’m only allowed to play one for the rest of my life, I’d still choose Esp Ra De Psi over Ketsui. Probably. All 3 of the base characters of the game are among some of my favorite feeling ships / characters to use in this entire tier list. Not only the way they control but all of 3 of their 2 main attacks. And this tier list has tons of ships that feel unique & amazing to use. The game controls exactly on-the-dot how I want my characters to move when I move them. Which is a theme with 3 of the games in my S+ tier. Also one of the few Shmups where I naturally feel like playing it all the way through every time I play it. And the timing of your character slowly powering up over the course of the run to highlight their separate powers is also perfectly paced. The playthrough I’ve included does an amazing job of highlighting 1 of the characters in the game. There’s also a [‘Supereasy’ mode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjR3cAyUdg0&t=20s) that acts as a realistic entry point and possibly my favorite of the training modes as well.
---
**THE RECOMMENDATIONS:**
(games to consider playing)
I'm including links to high quality gameplay for all of these. I wrote mini reviews for each of them in ‘THE RATINGS’ section above. And [here is System11’s final top 25 Shmups of All Time](https://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?p=1594799) that was posted just 2 days ago. Also, **it’s OK** to die in these games. Treat it like you have infinite quarters at the arcade. Don’t beat yourself up. Have fun.
**The Best:**
**#1** [Esp Ra De Psi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR8A8b-CXPk&t=14s) & [Ketsui Deathtiny](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSivsrTNdho&t=121s)
**#2** [DoDonpachi DaiOuJou](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dPzcVJeXnE&t=10s) & [Mushihimesama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm5J52CCjJ4&t=36s)
**[For Beginners](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MZz8Q_8HdGyh2QU9BX4lNgyVAP9JZxxuy_YYbOLf1CM/):**
[Esp Ra.De. Psi (Super Easy)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjR3cAyUdg0&t=20s) [Switch/PS4]
[Mushihimesama (Novice Original)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm5J52CCjJ4&t=36s) [Switch/PC]
[Mushihimesama Futari (Novice Original)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LREqaCvHsPE&t=5s) [Xbox360]
**Gamer’s First Shmup:**
[Crimzon Clover World Explosion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Q-ua_j62U&t=28s)
[Danmaku Unlimited 3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgi0M5DWekY&t=33s)
[Dragon Blaze](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZHq6rGYvmE&t=22s)
[ZeroRanger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRV_YCRa5pY&t=160s)
[Gunvein](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7JPDYfAMXU&t=42s)
**For Shmup Nerds:**
[Salamander III](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nAkyfr2yn4&t=15s)
[Darius Gaiden](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QBBUk3bBYs&t=14s)
[Progear](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4REIXNedYCk&t=20s)
**Significant Roommate’s Recs:**
[Mushihimesama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm5J52CCjJ4&t=36s)
[Esp Ra De Psi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjR3cAyUdg0&t=20s)
[Dragon Blaze](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZHq6rGYvmE&t=22s)
[Gunbird 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOEhlKvKE2I&t=5s)
**Unique Ideas Executed Well:**
[Radiant Silvergun](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXhZxhPcowY&t=41s)
[NeverAwake](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQQJXuvalFA&t=181s)
[Sol Divide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv69uxXs9Vs&t=53s)
**Satisfying Arcade Shmups:**
[Strikers 1945 III](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvCfFmCgnEU&t=14s)
[Giga Wing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va8WuRu_aS0&t=9s)
[Gunbird 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOEhlKvKE2I&t=5s)
[Batsugan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2J84EhS5nU&t=31s)
**Amazing Art & Design:**
[Mushihimesama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm5J52CCjJ4&t=36s)
[Layer Section](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrAwb2TFBnE&t=67s)
[Espgaluda 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8jzibD4yVw&t=49s)
[Razion EX](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj1SYIrDobA&t=1s)
---
**MY PERSONAL FAVORITES:**
(games that I’ve kept)
These are all of the Shmups that I continue to play, in order of how much I enjoy them. To compare your video game tastes to mine, some of my favorites are: Outer Wilds, Slay the Spire, SSBM, OSRS, Hollow Knight, Hades, Geneforge, & Shattered Pixel Dungeon.
| Title | System(s) | Price
-|-|-|-
#1 | **[Esp Ra.De. Psi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR8A8b-CXPk&t=14s)** | (Switch / PS4) | ~$60
#2 | **[Ketsui Deathtiny](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSivsrTNdho&t=121s)** | (PS4 / DS) | ~$75
#2 | **[DoDonpachi DaiOuJou](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dPzcVJeXnE&t=10s)** | (Switch / PS2 / Xbox 360) | ~$60
#3 | **[Mushihimesama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm5J52CCjJ4&t=36s)** | (Switch / PS2 / Xbox 360 / PC) | ~$10
#3 | **[NeverAwake](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQQJXuvalFA&t=181s)** | (Switch / PS4 / PS5 / Xbox XS / PC) | ~$25
#3 | **[Espgaluda II](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8jzibD4yVw&t=49s)** | (Switch / Xbox 360) | ~$40
#3 | **[Danmaku Unlimited 3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgi0M5DWekY&t=33s)** | (Switch / PS4 / PC) | ~$10
#4 | **[Strikers 1945 III](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvCfFmCgnEU&t=14s)** | (Switch / PS4 / Xbox One / PC) | ~$5
#4 | **[Sol Divide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv69uxXs9Vs&t=53s)** | (Switch / PS2 / PS4 / Xbox One / PC) | ~$5
***Almost* Kept:** [ZeroRanger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRV_YCRa5pY&t=160s), [Dragon Blaze](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZHq6rGYvmE&t=22s), [Progear](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4REIXNedYCk&t=20s), [Raiden Fighters Jet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX9VsPsK--w&t=75s), [Gunbird 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOEhlKvKE2I&t=5s), & [Salamander III](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nAkyfr2yn4&t=15s).
**Note:** Some Switch ports have [1-3 more frames of input lag than their other ports](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIsRouV2-tE&t=14s).
Thanks to the Shmup community for showing me all of these amazing games! This was a dope experience getting to play some of the absolute best this genre has to offer all at once and find my favorites. If **you** have a Shmup that really stuck out to you, or you believe deserves an S tier placement, recommend it to others in the comments.
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