Games like Desperate Times

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

76% User Score Based on 1,237 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 2 reviews

Our mission is clear, our determination strong, and our guns are very, very big. MOTHERGUNSHIP is a bullet-hell FPS hybrid facing you, Earth’s last hope, against the fleets of data-hoarding robotic alien invaders. Take the fight to the enemy, craft gun monstrosities that no reasonable person could ever lift, and experience randomized mayhem as you battle your way to the heart of the fleet to destr… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to MOTHERGUNSHIP.

85%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding

85% User Score Based on 468 reviews

Built for PC, Enemy Mind lets you battle your way through 70+ waves of challenging enemies. Deftly maneuver over twenty unique ships, each with different abilities for you to harness. Backed by an all-new chip-emulated soundtrack by the psychoacoustic artist Rainbow Kitten, Enemy Mind features an adaptive story system as innovative as its gameplay. Are you ready to unlock the secrets of Enemy Mind… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Enemy Mind.

81%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding

79% User Score Based on 370 reviews

Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

Classic color match puzzle meets space shoot'em up action! Hop into your spaceship, open a path through huge waves of aliens and other hazards, and face intense boss battles! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Super Star Path.

94%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

97% User Score Based on 10,045 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Nova Drift distills the mechanical depth of an action RPG into classic arcade space combat. Control an endlessly evolving bio-mechanical ship, face legions of strange and deadly foes, and ride the wake of a dying star across the void. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Nova Drift.

79%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, replayability

80% User Score Based on 102 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Cloud Cutter brings you classic arcade shoot ‘em up gameplay in top notch graphics. Enjoy intense fast-paced explosive action full of epic destruction, arcade style power-ups, lasers and of course huge multi-stage boss fights. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cloud Cutter.

90%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

95% User Score Based on 1,140 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 6 reviews

Jet Lancer is a frenetic aerial dog-fighting game where you hunt enemy pilots, carve up giant robots, and defy death at supersonic speeds as a daring mercenary in the far future. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Jet Lancer.

68%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

68% User Score Based on 702 reviews

Humanity is on the verge of extinction. It's up to you to infiltrate the AI core and win the war against the machines.Start your journey with a simple ship, outfitted with only basic machine guns and air-to-ground missiles. As you take down more and more of the AI’s fighter’s you’ll unlock new technologies like plasma shields, wave beams, and ion cannons. It's totally up to you how you outfit your… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Revolution Ace.

91%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story

91% User Score Based on 8,759 reviews

A futuristic shoot ‘em up designed to challenge your reflexes and wits. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sector Strike.

72%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

68% User Score Based on 213 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 9 reviews

Drifting Lands is an hybrid of classical horizontal shoot'em'up with a lot of strong gameplay elements coming straight from the action-RPG genre. If you want an original diablo-like game or you want a different kind of shoot'em'up, you're in the right place! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Drifting Lands.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

85% User Score Based on 1,092 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 1 reviews

Let Them Come is a fast paced pixel art shoot ‘em up. Twitchy trigger fingers and focused battle tactics are the order of the day as wave after wave of alien-like creatures try to take you down. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Let Them Come.

85%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

89% User Score Based on 727 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 4 reviews

Steredenn is a frenetic and chaotic space shooter, carved in big beautiful pixels, with insane boss battles. Embark in your ship and engage the fight against dreadful space pirates in a never-ending combat for your survival. Steredenn is at the crossroads between a shmup and a rogue-like. Enjoy the infinite replayability of the game with its unforgiving gameplay, intense boss fights, (almost) ran… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Steredenn.

66%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization

63% User Score Based on 333 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 5 reviews

When the evil railroad baron Clayton Boon decided to build a track to Hell, he didn’t reckon on a crazed shaman raising a posse of embittered psychopaths from the dead to stop him. Now they’ll pursue him across the whole Wild West, fighting their way through hordes of bandits, bears, braves and boogeymen just to find Boon and repay their debt with… A FISTFUL OF GUN!Select one of eleven unique play… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to A Fistful of Gun.

40%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, replayability

40% User Score Based on 370 reviews

Shoot your way through intense levels with a swiftly increasing difficulty, in a world completely built with handcrafted models. Invest your score in upgrades, or save it to gain interest with the risk of losing it all. Use your greed wisely to beat your friends and climb up the score table. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Blue Flamingo.

84%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding

89% User Score Based on 1,052 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 11 reviews

You are Roy Becket, a young pilot with dreams of becoming as skilled as his adoptive father. When a galactic war with an ancient mechanical alien race reaches its boiling point, Roy is forced to spring into action and take control of an otherworldly bipedal war machine in hopes of saving what's left of humanity. Joining Roy is a young girl who claims to have escaped the clutches of the nefarious a… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Astebreed.

62%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, music

77% User Score Based on 31 reviews

Gran Vitreous is a PC shmup that combines classic arena shooter gameplay with the mechanics of a loot driven action RPG. Upgrade your ships equipment and level up as you battle through a galaxy filled with randomly generated encounters. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gran Vitreous.

94%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:atmosphere, stability

94% User Score Based on 1,861 reviews

Jamestown: Legend Of The Lost Colony is a neo-classical top-down shooter for up to 4 players, set on 17th-century British Colonial Mars. It features all the intensity, depth, and lovingly handcrafted pixels of a classic arcade shooter, with a modern twist: deeply-integrated cooperative gameplay.Unlike most top-down shooters, which give multiple players a shared pool of lives or continues, Jamestow… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Jamestown.

71%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding

74% User Score Based on 1,276 reviews

Critic Score 60%Based on 1 reviews

Hammerfight is a 2D physics-based action game where you control an aircraft with your mouse. Your aircraft can be equipped with various slashing and crushing weapons, which are all effective at crushing through armor and slamming them into a wall. There are a large variety of weapons to unlock, including swords, hammers, maces, and even guns. There is an extensive campaign and arena and hunt game … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Hammerfight.

90%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

90% User Score Based on 188 reviews

Hyperspace Dogfights is a juicy jet-combat roguelike in which you blast, dodge and slice your way through masses of technologically inferior enemies. During the mission your craft will evolve into something stronger and weirder by gathering some of the 200+ items available ingame. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Hyperspace Dogfights.

78%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, story

80% User Score Based on 115 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 2 reviews

Take control of a cyberdragon and annihilate swarms of rocket propelled chainsaws either online or via LAN in this high speed, high skill 8 player co-op twinstick shooter. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to XenoRaptor.

70%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability

70% User Score Based on 1,246 reviews

Halfway is a turn-based strategy RPG taking place a few hundred years into the future. Humanity has started colonising new worlds. Until now, they were alone ... If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Halfway.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

92% User Score Based on 382 reviews

Grody extraterrestrials are pouring through a space-time rift, and only one girl and her turret stand in their way! Lock, load, and blast them to oblivion—because if she doesn’t survive today, there’s no ‘omurice’ tomorrow! Earth depends on her! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to TurretGirls.

97%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding

97% User Score Based on 465 reviews

◆Story Notari had expected one day she would be separated from her best friend. Nothing prepared her for what happened that day. Did the Institute take away Miroita? Did the military, or the Federation itself? The distinction no longer seemed important. All must pay. Notari desperately fought on. Luciolla, the AI created by Miroita, was Notari's only companion. "Miroita lives" said her. … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mirage Feathers.

99%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization

99% User Score Based on 496 reviews

An immersive pseudo-3D shoot 'em up experience that pushes the limits of pixel art. Push your score higher with the innovative Berserk System: the closer they are, the more points you get! Dive into an immersive pseudo-3D experience that pushes the limits of pixel art. With a perfect fusion of background music and evolving stage design, you can experience a feeling only possible in a SHMUP! Featur… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to DEVIL BLADE REBOOT.

66%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, grinding

66% User Score Based on 311 reviews

Critic Score 66%Based on 7 reviews

It's a twin-stick vertical scrolling Shooter hybrid with a cinematic flare: An unrelenting onslaught of eye-popping visuals, ear bursting soundscapes and mind-melting action makes Cygni the vanguard for the next generation of shoot-em ups. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cygni: All Guns Blazing.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization

97% User Score Based on 2,774 reviews

Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

Star of Providence is a consolidated version of Monolith that integrates the DLC, Relics of the Past, into the base game. Star of Providence is a top down action shooter with procedurally generated elements. Explore a progression of floors as you make your way into the depths of the facility, encountering increasingly deadly enemies, fantastic weapons, upgrades, choices and revelations as you ven… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Star of Providence.

84%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability

84% User Score Based on 558 reviews

Critic Score 85%Based on 4 reviews

Sine Mora is a horizontal shoot'em up that provides a unique take on challenge, where time is the ultimate factor. Mixing classic shooter sensibilities with contemporary presentation, Sine Mora is a gorgeous shmup that offers a Story Mode that weaves an over-the-top tale and an Arcade Mode that provides deep, satisfying gameplay to challenge fans of the genre. With many ways to manipulate time, Si… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sine Mora.

94%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, stability

94% User Score Based on 1,422 reviews

Prepare yourself for an insatiable rain of bullets, bombs, and beams in Crimzon Clover. From Japanese indie developer YOTSUBANE, AdventurePlanningService, this unique top-down shooter is a wild ride you won't want to miss out on. Your first step in Crimzon Clover: World Ignition is as simple as choosing how you want to play, and which powerful ship will be yours to command. Choose your difficulty … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Crimzon Clover WORLD IGNITION.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

92% User Score Based on 1,158 reviews

Chippy is a twin-stick bullet-hell shooter. Chip apart destructible bosses pixel-by-pixel. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Chippy.

89%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, graphics

89% User Score Based on 109 reviews

Xenoraid is an exciting vertically scrolling shoot'em up rooted in the classic action gameplay of the genre with added modern features. Xenoraid upgrades the basic shmup gameplay with advanced shooting mechanics. Fighters tilt left and right when moving horizontally and weapons heat up when firing. Master the mechanics and line up devastating bursts of fire! Missions in Xenoraid a procedurall… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Xenoraid: The First Space War.

83%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

83% User Score Based on 63 reviews

Reign of Bullets is a shoot ‘em up with epic loot and lots of guns. Upgrade your ship and customize your weapons to build the ultimate fighter plane. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Reign of Bullets.

73%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, stability

73% User Score Based on 371 reviews

DSP is side-scrolling, roguelike, shoot 'em up set in the Starr Mazer universe. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Starr Mazer: DSP.

74%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, story

74% User Score Based on 977 reviews

Way over in the big void of space live some aliens. They coveted your planet and would do anything to live there. So what's your planet to do? Yeah, blast through them all! Face off against waves of enemies, bosses, giant laser planets, blackholes, wormholes, massive lasers, planets and asteroids across 12 game modes! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Really Big Sky.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

76% User Score Based on 127 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 2 reviews

FIGHT IN EVER CHANGING SPACE BATTLES! Run through the universe, discover the numerous perks/consumables and their synergistic effects. Explore the randomly-generated galaxy to find merchants,... If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Stellar Interface.

90%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding

94% User Score Based on 169 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 5 reviews

Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Stellar Climax is an engaging 1-4 player couch co-op action shooter game, combining SHMUP and Brawler-like gameplay with light RPG elements. Choose from different game modes, gameplay settings, mechs, weapons and upgrades to customize your experience freely. Soar through space, defeat evil and save the future... from itself! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Stellar Climax.

97%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

97% User Score Based on 3,453 reviews

A throwback to the classic quarter eating arcade games of the 80's. Bit Blaster XL is a retro styled, addictive, and fast paced arcade shoot 'em up! (shmup). If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Bit Blaster XL.

87%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization

87% User Score Based on 1,300 reviews

Particle Mace is explosive arcade fun for 1-4 players that pays homage to twitch games of the past, but replaces the typical guns with an unruly physics-based weapon. Take control of a tiny ship in an extremely hostile universe, and defend yourself as long as possible from enemy ships and asteroids using a collection of trash particles tethered to the ship. To survive, you must carefully navigate … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to PARTICLE MACE.

96%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story

96% User Score Based on 98 reviews

Operation Steel is a roguelike shoot-em-up rendered in beautiful hand-drawn art. Blow up loads of enemies, destroy huge bosses, find weapons, and upgrade your load-out between levels. Combat the electronic legion across 20+ procedurally generated levels! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Operation STEEL.

81%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

81% User Score Based on 109 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 3 reviews

In this non-shooting shoot 'em up, you are a single white pixel who can absorb the bodies, abilities, and weapons of every enemy pixel you collect. It's up to you to stay either a small and nimble ship, or turn large and powerful. Just remember: protect your core white pixel, because every mistake could be your last. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pixel Galaxy.

72%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, story

75% User Score Based on 150 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 13 reviews

I Hate Running Backwards is a fast paced infinite runner hybrid that puts the shoot 'em up genre on its head! Pick your character and blast away at enemies with a high powered weapons arsenal. Earn perks and get stronger as you defeat challenging bosses. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to I Hate Running Backwards.

86%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding

86% User Score Based on 519 reviews

Get back to some serious Old-School gaming with Syder Arcade! A love letter to Amiga games of the 90′, no coins, no upgrade grinding, just your tenacity and a motherload of alien invaders. Syder Arcade is a free scrolling, multi directional shoot ’em up, an uncompromised old-school experience, furious, challenging, straightforward. This game will bring you back in time, when bulky starships were … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Syder Arcade.

88%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability

88% User Score Based on 153 reviews

Ragnarok was just the beginning… of the end! Odinfall is a Viking-themed, rogue-lite, twin-stick shooter. Blast your way through procedurally generated levels, upgrade your character, modify your weapons and take down robotic Norse gods to earn your freedom! RAGNAROK ROGUELITE Try, die and try again! Level up, amass firepower & hone your skills to fight your way through the post-apocalyptic Viking… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Odinfall.

92%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, monetization

94% User Score Based on 1,294 reviews

Critic Score 86%Based on 4 reviews

Once a loyal knight, betrayed, and banished to the Abyss. A desecrated corpse inside reanimated armor. You rise to an eternal death. Branded KILL KNIGHT, you have one purpose - KILL THE LAST ANGEL.FIVE ELDRITCH LAYERSKILL, OR BE KILLEDDance with death in the Abyss, and unveil intricate layers of gameplay lurking beneath the surface. Exploit enemy weaknesses, enact brutal executions, weave through … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to KILL KNIGHT.

85%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, story

85% User Score Based on 129 reviews

You are a space trooper. Somehow you got to the enemy territory, and you should wait for your squad to get out of here! But only God knows when will they arrive to you! They will send you bonuses for killed enemies to longer your life till they arrive. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Alien Attack.

62%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, atmosphere

62% User Score Based on 276 reviews

Critic Score 62%Based on 8 reviews

Scathe is an FPS on steroids. A Hell initiation test like no other for up to four co-op players. Grab insane weapons, find the four Hellstones, mow down everything in your way and escape. If you're good enough... If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Scathe.

77%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding

77% User Score Based on 1,771 reviews

Submarine is an "Air-Sea-Battle"-style game designed for 1st generation consoles. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Convoy.

89%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability

89% User Score Based on 101 reviews

The year is 2192 AD. The stellar-class all-purpose adminstrative computer ALLTYNEX goes berserk upon the Satariel System's activation, and 85% of humanity is wiped out within 72 hours. The remainder escape to the reaches of the solar system, but humanity is unable to cope with the new conditions. The ALLTYNEX War continues for fourty years. The year is 2232 AD. Humanity is down to a single fleet… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ALLTYNEX Second.

87%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

87% User Score Based on 1,241 reviews

From the collaboration between Housemarque (Resogun, Alienation, Matterfall), and Robotron and Smash TV legendary creator Eugene Jarvis comes Nex Machina, an explosive arcade experience created with competition in mind. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Nex Machina.

89%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization

94% User Score Based on 1,537 reviews

Critic Score 84%Based on 20 reviews

Fully Voiced Action Platformer If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to HUNTDOWN.

78%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, story

78% User Score Based on 116 reviews

Shoot 'em up with the 3rd game in the Gundemonium Collection series. Hitogata Happa is considered one of the hardest doujin style shooters ever! – Unlike the first two games, Hiitogata Happa is a vertical scrolling upward shooter, the action in this game is a visual mish-mash of weaponry that will give your senses a total overload. Threatened by an invading army who is terrorizing the land, Rosa e… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Hitogata Happa.

82%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, replayability

82% User Score Based on 160 reviews

Horizon Shift is an explosive wave based, single screen shooter, with a ton of new ideas and platformer elements. Do what it takes to protect your horizon from the ever encroaching enemy attack! Use the unique risk reward multiplier system to maximise power-ups, build your bomb and destroy EVERYTHING! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Horizon Shift.