Games like Gradius

In Shoot 1UP, players control a fleet of ships instead of a single one, with each 1UP collected adding to the armada immediately. The game features up to 30 ships on-screen at once, and weapons upgrade as more ships are collected. Local co-op play allows for up to 60 simultaneous player ships, and sacrificial bombs become more powerful with more ships. The game offers a challenging yet enjoyable manic shooting experience.

Earth is under siege! A mysterious and powerful alien race has come to enslave the entire galaxy, and your fleet is humanity's last hope. You must put an end to the attacks and rebuild a home for the survivors. With the invaders in hot pursuit, and the dangers of the unexplored at every turn, do you have what it takes to forge a new galaxy?

"Enemy Mind" is a side-scrolling space shooter for PC with a classic 8-bit art style and 8 levels of challenge across 70 waves. As a being of pure psychic energy, you can take over and control any of the 20+ unique ships you encounter, each with their own power and ability. The game features an adaptive story system that changes with your play style and offers multi-player co-op for up to four players. The soundtrack is an original chiptune-inspired creation by Rainbow Kitten.

In Space Dragons, a frenetic shoot 'em up game, you must pilot your spaceship to save Earth from alien invaders. Choose your ship, each with unique abilities, and battle through 10 stages of intense action, upgrading your weapons and ship along the way. Local multiplayer is available for even more explosive fun. Confront powerful bosses and a meaty, bloody challenge in Space Dragons.

"Starr Mazer: DSP is a single-player Science Fiction Action game with outstanding gameplay, awesome graphics, and a wonderful soundtrack. In this side-scrolling shoot'em up, you control a squadron of pilots with diverse skills and weapons, battling through nine intense levels to take down the G'ell Super Ship. The roguelike twist on the lives/continues system, combined with the ever-evolving SK:ORE system, ensures that the fight never ends."

An old robot named H-34-RT wakes up in a derelict space station orbiting his home planet. His civilization was destroyed long ago by evil O'Xelg, but he has yet to figure that out. After an initial shock, he decides to follow his old defense routines: that means fighting the invaders, even if he is alone now. Lazy Galaxy: Rebel Story is a challenging, squad-based shoot-em-up/bullet hell rogueli…

"M.A.C.E. is a Science Fiction Shooter game with hand-drawn 2D graphics and explosive effects, offering split-screen multi-player for up to 2 players in co-op or single-player mode. As part of the Military Alliance of Common Earth, players navigate a spaceship across three worlds, upgrading weapons and accessories to defeat alien invaders and protect life on Earth."

In Supercharged Robot VULKAISER, players control a group of pilots who join forces to pilot a massive robot. Fight against enemies using various weapons and combinations of robot forms to save the world. With retro-style graphics and intense combat, this game offers a challenging and engaging experience for fans of classic shoot-em-ups.

Syder Arcade is a fast-paced, old-school shoot 'em up game that pays homage to Amiga games of the 90s. It offers a challenging and uncompromised experience with no coins or grinding, focusing on player skill and dodging a barrage of enemy fire. With its fierce action and classic design, Syder Arcade provides a nostalgic trip back in time for seasoned players and a benchmark for newcomers to the genre.

"Z-Exemplar is a single-player, sci-fi shooter game with a nod to classics like R-Type and Gradius. Its striking 8-bit visuals, reminiscent of the ZX Spectrum, offer a unique, imaginative experience. The game contains nearly 1000 planets to conquer, taking approximately 10 hours to complete."