Games like Pulstar
Looking for games like Pulstar? Here are top arcade shooter recommendations with a science fiction focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with Shmadow, Bit Blaster XL or DubWars.
1 80%Game Brain Scoremusic, graphicscharacter development80% User Score 120 reviewsInspired by “shmups” and shadows, Shmadow is a modern twin-stick side-scroller that nods to retro arcade gameplay. Use your light to blast through your enemies, unlock new powers, and defeat bosses before the darkness extinguishes you.
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2 
97%Game Brain Scoremusic, gameplaystory, grinding97% User Score 3,051 reviewsA 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).
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3 
77%Game Brain Scoremusic, graphicsgrinding, story77% User Score 213 reviewsDubWars is a music game that combines the mechanics of a top-down shooter with the power of Dubstep and Electronic music. Your weapons are synced to the music creating times of intense weapon load outs and calm moments where your survival skills are tested.
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4 
92%Game Brain Scoregameplay, musicgrinding, monetization95% User Score 1,542 reviewsCritic Score 84%2 reviews"Assault Android Cactus is a manic twin stick arena shooter for the PC with screens full of enemies, buckets of bullets and high scoring combo chains! Take on the role of Cactus, an enthusiastic police android, who responds to a stranded space freighter only to discover it under siege by its malfunctioning robot workers. Cut off from the outside and in over her head, Cactus and the androids she re…
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5 
40%Game Brain Scoregraphics, gameplaystory, replayability40% User Score 370 reviewsShoot 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.
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6 
89%Game Brain Scoremusic, gameplaystory, grinding87% User Score 1,241 reviewsCritic Score 100%1 reviewsFrom 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.
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7 
94%Game Brain Scoremusic, gameplaystory, optimization97% User Score 1,282 reviewsCritic Score 80%1 reviewsWaves is a twin stick shooter that can be played by anyone, but with a high enough skill threshold to keep even the most hardened shooter fan entertained. Clear the arena of enemies while racking up a big fat Combo with swift kills and well timed Bombs. If it all gets a bit too much you can use your Time Buffer to slow down the action and turn defeat into victory. Players can compete across seven…
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8 
56%Game Brain Scoremusic, graphicsgameplay, story56% User Score 82 reviewsIncandescent is a fast paced action arcade game that scales the difficulty to your skill level. The goal is simple, pilot your ship and defend yourself against waves of unique enemies and bosses. Different powerups will drop to help you with upgrades to your weapons and health.
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9 
93%Game Brain Scoregameplay, musicatmosphere, grinding93% User Score 891 reviewsFight 10,000+ enemies at once in the challenging highscore-shooter Swarmlake.
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10 
87%Game Brain Scorestory, gameplaystability, optimization87% User Score 1,300 reviewsParticle 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 …
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