Games like shmup
Looking for games like shmup? Here are top shooter recommendations, selected from player-similarity data — start with Platypus, Sky Force Anniversary or Really Big Sky.
- 94%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, replayability94% User Score 448 reviews
Platypus is a fast, frantic and fun arcade-style shoot-em-up. The vast continent-spanning city of Collosatropolis has finally reached the limits of its expansion. Tall buildings cover every available space. The air is thick with smoke and poisonous chemicals. Parking is a nightmare. The Collosotropolan leaders have decided the simplest solution is to invade the neighbouring country of Mungola. T… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Platypus.
View Game


- 87%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability90% User Score 807 reviewsCritic Score 74%1 reviews
The legend is back! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sky Force Anniversary.
View Game


- 74%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, story74% User Score 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.
View Game


- 99%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding99% User Score 526 reviews
Free movement ship control while the screen advances automatically. Single fire button. Collect stars to obtain temporary special shots. Collected fruits award points that can be converted into extra lives. Modes: practice, score attack (single life), adjustable difficulty If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Platypus Reclayed.
View Game


- 95%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:story, stability95% User Score 108 reviews
Now UPDATED to an enhanced version — 'RELOADED' — with a brand-new Rogue-lite Career mode! StoryThirty years have passed since the first battle against the alien menace in Project X. Now, the threat has returned—stronger, smarter, and more relentless than ever. Project X: Light Years brings back high-octane, side-scrolling shoot’em-up action as the official successor to the beloved Amiga cla… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Project X: Light Years.
View Game


- 77%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, story77% User Score 108 reviews
Latest Major Update About the GameAfter surviving a helicopter crash, your main goal is to return home. Stranded on remote islands, you must endure as a castaway - gathering resources to find food, build shelter, craft essential tools, uncover the islands’ mysteries both on land and underwater, and fight to chart your way back to safety. In these islands and waters, you can’t do groceri… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Away From Life.
View Game


- 54%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, stability54% User Score 267 reviews
Fly the famed Platypus fighter through a fantastic landscape of carefully molded clay to protect inhabitants of Mungola from the Collosatropolians! Collect power-ups and bonus stars to give your Platypus the boost you need. Every level of this gorgeous arcade challenge bursts with original fun that's perfect for gamers of all ages. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Platypus II.
View Game


- View Game95%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability95% User Score 554 reviews
A playable demo of the game Overload, a new six-degree-of-freedom shooter from the creators of Descent. Version 2.0 is from March 2017. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Overload Playable Teaser.
- 51%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, stability51% User Score 1,370 reviews
D.R.O.N.E. is a sci-fi multiplayer arena shooter with an unprecedented amount of creative freedom. Compete in an ever growing number of community created arenas, with your own unique drone designs, in order to become the smoothest drone operator in the galaxy. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to DRONE The Game.
View Game


- 80%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:monetization, grinding84% User Score 9,990 reviewsCritic Score 75%20 reviews
The shoot ‘em up you were looking for! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sky Force Reloaded.
View Game


- View Game33%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, story33% User Score 1,103 reviews
While we get closer to the release of TUG ver 2.0, we will be taking the project down from steam. Thank you to everyone that has helped us in play and testing for ver 1.0. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to TUG.
- 90%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:stability, optimizationMost mentioned negative aspects:music, graphics90% User Score 91 reviews
SHMUP Creator allows you to create and build your own shoot 'em up. This tool is easy to use and powerful enough for more experienced users. Thanks to the included assets you can start right away to have fun! Test your game anytime with the simple press of a button Create 2D and 3D games Vertical, horizontal, or multi-directional levels Free assets included: 3D models, sprites, sounds, m… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to SHMUP Creator.
View Game


- View Game83%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, story83% User Score 258 reviews
Ballistic Tanks is the best tank game you've played since the 80's. Battle in exhilarating local multiplayer, or challenge yourself in an intense solo/co-op arcade mode. Play 5 game modes in over 50 maps; and destroy your enemies in a frenzy of bullets, lasers, and explosions! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ballistic Tanks.
- 59%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, replayability100% User Score 10 reviews
OBLITACRATER is a twin stick shooter where you fight endless alien monsters in increasingly difficult waves on a cute little planet! There is only one goal in OBLITACRATER, increase your score. Each DROP to the planet adds to a single running score. You can end the drop at any time by pressing the BIG RED BUTTON at the top of of the planet which also locks in your score and adds it to your total.… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to OBLITACRATER.
View Game


- 85%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, monetization85% User Score 105 reviewsCritic Score 85%1 reviews
Space Elite Force II is a classic side scrolling gaming experience with many enemies, explosions and upgrades for your ship. Have fun defeating bosses, upgrading your ship and blowing up enemies, alone or with a friend in local co-op mode. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Space Elite Force 2.
View Game


- 84%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding84% User Score 524 reviews
Vectorio is a base-building tower defense game set in cyberspace. Claim and collect resources, build automated supply chains with drones, research new technologies, and deploy powerful defenses to protect your base against a relentless and ever-growing onslaught of enemy forces. No Belts. Only Drones. In Vectorio, all logistics are handled through configurable drones that transport resources… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Vectorio.
View Game


- 53%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability53% User Score 5,736 reviews
nterstellar Marines resurrects the old school tactical FPS, offering a unique blend of co-op, role-playing and nonlinear gameplay. Set in a believable future, you take on the role as an elite soldier handpicked to join Project IM, a top secret military program being assembled to protect mankind from all dangers outside our solar system. Interstellar Marines is inspired by Half-Life, System Shock … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Interstellar Marines.
View Game


- 84%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding93% User Score 72 reviewsCritic Score 60%3 reviews
Project Starship X is a procedural shooter where you Crash-Kill cosmical abominations with your spaceship while playing as Swagthulhu! Whaaat?!??! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Project Starship X.
View Game


- 78%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:stability81% User Score 54 reviewsCritic Score 60%1 reviews
Experience shoot'em up like you have never before. 'Beekyr Reloaded' is a 2D Arcade Shmup that alternates vertical and horizontal gameplay through enjoyable 28 stages. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Beekyr Reloaded.
View Game


- 81%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, stability81% User Score 100 reviews
Alien Arena is a furious frag fest with arenas ranging from the small, to the massive. With game modes such as Capture The Flag and Tactical, there are terrific team-based experiences to be had as well as 1v1 duels, free-for-all, and dozens of mutators to alter the game play to your liking. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Alien Arena.
View Game


- 85%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding89% User Score 727 reviewsCritic Score 78%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.
View Game


- 93%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, grinding93% User Score 58 reviews
Darwin’s Demons is an arcade style space shooter in which you battle a population of evolving aliens. The alien’s morphology, fire type, and behaviors are all encoded by a digital genome. The aliens that are best able to shoot or evade you reproduce to make the next generation. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Darwin's Demons.
View Game


- 90%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability90% User Score 1,914 reviews
Experience the full evolution of the award-winning Geometry Wars franchise and battle through waves of enemies on 3D grids in this frenetic arcade shooter! Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved includes all of the great content & features from Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions and more. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved.
View Game


- 87%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization87% User Score 1,300 reviews
A space game about swinging trash into things and dying. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to PARTICLE MACE.
View Game


- 58%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, story58% User Score 770 reviews
Journey of Life is a survival game set on an exotic island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Overburdened with everyday responsibilities, you decide to go live in nature and build your own society. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Journey Of Life.
View Game


- 80%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:emotional, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:story, graphics80% User Score 310 reviews
Sirius Online is a unique, easy to play Space Action Shooter with Multiplayer components and ongoing progression. Join the Ranks of the Terran Reclaim Forces or the Sirius Colonial Council today and fight for your Faction! Explore forgotten battlefields, find Treasures, create an empire with your friends and rule the universe! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sirius.
View Game


- 88%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, replayability88% User Score 51 reviews
The year is 1989. 12 years have passed since the Gogoh Army’s invasion of Earth. Exposure to alien technology during the war enabled Earth’s own technologies to take massive leaps forward. International conflict that was previously rife in the history of mankind fell to an all-time low, and the Earth Federation was established as a unified Earth government. The stage was set for an era of unpreced… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ARMED SEVEN.
View Game


- 85%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability85% User Score 73 reviews
It's the ultimate, strategic SHMUP ReMix! Control TWO combat wings, flick between THREE different formations, and BLAST your way through vast enemy fleets and against overwhelming odds! Liberate planets, build colonies, research lethal tech and skills, craft unique items, or even play 2p co-op with a friend in this unique new indie game. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Steel Rain.
View Game


- 93%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, story96% User Score 48 reviews
Solaroids is a re-imagined version of the classic Asteroids as a single or local multiplayer shooter that retains the essential premise that inertia is the missing ingredient of many modern top down shooters. Fly solo or with up to three of your friends against a seemingly insurmountable threat. Defend your solar system in a Campaign that progresses from tame introductory levels to epic high-octa… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Solaroids.
View Game


- 65%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability65% User Score 65 reviews
Play solo or team up with 2 - 4 players and battle through hordes of enemies in this action roguelite! 6 Playable characters, discover secrets, unique abilities, and tons of unique items! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Kingdom Gun.
View Game


- 62%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, story77% User Score 31 reviews
This version includes: Combat Arena Beta (available now), Early Access (TBD), Full game upon release (TBD), In-Game Title “Challenger”, Forebears’ Hoodie In-Game Cosmetic, and the Official Soundtrack. The Combat Arena is currently out in a Beta state. Purchasing access now will guarantee you access to Early Access and the full open-world game when they launch. Join us in an early version of Kindr… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Kindred Fates: Combat Arena.
View Game


- 57%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, optimizationMost mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding57% User Score 161 reviews
Space Aces is an indie space shooter that plunges you into an online universe full of action, strategy, and fierce competition. Step into the cockpit and evolve from a rookie pilot into the most feared Ace in the galaxy! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Space Aces.
View Game


- 83%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:story, music83% User Score 429 reviews
Little Fighter 2 Remastered, this classic fighting game has undergone significant graphical upgrades and improvements to the local network mode, greatly enhancing the multiplayer gaming experience. The game not only boosts visual effects but also maintains the fast-paced combat style that players love. Key Features: Enhanced Visuals: Completely redrawn high-resolution graphics deliver a stunnin… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Little Fighter 2 Remastered.
View Game


- 95%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, character development95% User Score 353 reviews
You are the captainFree Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters® is a classic space game that captures the charm of retro science-fiction, space combat, and high adventure. Your story begins as the captain of the last human starship, with Earth trapped under a hostile forcefield. You are the last hope for humanity in a fight for control of the galaxy, as you explore thousands of unknown worlds and get dozens o… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Free Stars: The Ur-Quan Masters.
View Game


- 39%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, monetization39% User Score 254 reviews
In Galaxy in Turmoil, players take on the role of Roka, one of the galaxy’s most notorious mercenaries for hire, while she battles through the galaxy on a mission that will either save or destroy her universe. In multiplayer, players will assume the role of a soldier in one of three factions and battle for control in massive 64 player battles featuring full ground to space. Galaxy in Turmoil was… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Galaxy in Turmoil.
View Game


- 75%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, stability84% User Score 38 reviewsCritic Score 80%1 reviews
ThreadSpace: Hyperbol is an action-strategy game set in the distant future. Players battle each other on roads in space as they pilot massive ships capable of firing a wide variety of weapons. Create defenses, coordinate with your team, and launch an assault against your opponents to achieve victory. Countless strategies: Over 30 unique projectiles are at your disposal to attack the enemy, fortif… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ThreadSpace: Hyperbol.
View Game


- 94%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding94% User Score 531 reviews
A top-down shooter with tanks that have various assorted abilities, with support for multiplayer and a level editor. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tanks: The Crusades.
View Game


- 34%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, story34% User Score 204 reviews
Zombie Playground is Goonies meets Attack the Block meets The Walking Dead. The mood we want to capture in Zombie Playground is the feeling that you had as a child when you were completely immersed in your imagination fighting monsters and doing things you thought were cool from your favorite movies, comics, and video games. Stealth Studios Inc., in collaboration with Abyssal Arts LLC and Titut… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Zombie Playground.
View Game


- 48%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability48% User Score 273 reviews
Aquanox Deep Descent is a first person underwater vehicle shooter, in which players control a variety of customizable ships to engage in fierce battles in the dystopian deep sea world of Aqua. In the near future the Earth's surface has become uninhabitable. What remains of humankind lives in former mining and research stations, deep below the surface of the sea. Born and raised in the only wo… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Aquanox Deep Descent.
View Game


- 73%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization75% User Score 406 reviewsCritic Score 67%3 reviews
ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS is a game where you fly ROCKETS that rocket ROCKETS at other ROCKETS! The ultimate rush of arcade arena action, with the fluidity and amazing feel of soaring through space. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ROCKETSROCKETSROCKETS.
View Game


- 50%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization50% User Score 1,558 reviews
Have you ever wanted to make a fresh start on an alien world? Eden Star is a survival game that drops you onto the alien landscape of Pharus 7, free to explore and gather resources, but you’ll want to be careful: death is permanent. You need to use resources to construct defences, craft weapons and build up outposts to protect your vital Eden Kit. With physics-based combat, free-form construction … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to EDEN STAR.
View Game


- 67%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, story67% User Score 1,004 reviews
Build anything. Fight anyone. In space. What used to be a prosperous universe is now a post-apocalyptic rusty dump full of galactic junk. Savage arenas became the only amusement we have. To fight and destroy, we use all necessary means from super advanced beam weapons to makeshift torpedoes made from a rusty fridge to fight our way through the arenas. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Galactic Junk League.
View Game


- 79%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:monetization, stability79% User Score 1,898 reviews
Shoot galaga aliens with your falcon aircraft and become the Ace space shooter! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Lightning Fighter 2: Space War.
View Game


- 52%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization52% User Score 824 reviews
A deadly new breed of human monster is on the rise, and it’s up to players to stop the infestation before it spreads. Breach & Clear: DEADline Rebirth is a new and greatly improved version of B&C: Deadline, the follow-up to Breach & Clear, the critically acclaimed hybrid tactical strategy game. The game gives players real-time control over a squad of four elite Special Forces tasked with tracking … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Breach & Clear: Deadline Rebirth.
View Game


- 59%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:optimization, grinding57% User Score 166 reviewsCritic Score 64%4 reviews
As a Son of Nor, consecrated by the Goddess of the Night, you are all that stands between the human race and total extinction. Only one human enclave remains in the vast desert world of Noshrac, a hidden refuge called The Edge. After 400 years of peace, humanity’s ancient enemy the Sarahul appears once more, forcing you into an adventure to save your people. Armed with telekinesis and terraformi… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Son of Nor.
View Game


- 32%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding32% User Score 1,124 reviews
Stranded in a hostile alien world, you must fight to survive. Hunt, harvest, craft, advance skills, and build using local resources along with technology from your voyage. Join others online or play offline in the world of Fragmented. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Fragmented.
View Game


- 88%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability88% User Score 135 reviews
"Grab loot and gobble up all manner of foods to build up your XP. Choose your path wisely and UPGRADE your abilities to help you face the challenges of the lower floors! UNLOCK new weapons and magical items as you progress. Collect magical gauntlets to power your explosive ATOMIC FIST! Seek out the cat merchant to buy extra enhancements. Discover the crypt arcades and try to win extra coins and h… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Iron Crypticle.
View Game


- 66%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, storyMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization67% User Score 3,363 reviewsCritic Score 63%2 reviews
In the world of Cortex Command, many humans have opted to amputate their entire natural bodies in order to prolong their lives and enable interstellar space travel. Their disembodied brains are hardly helpless, however, as they can remotely control all kinds of machines and craft through artificial interfaces. Playing as one of these people's brains, you can quickly switch control between many di… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cortex Command.
View Game


- 87%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding87% User Score 203 reviews
Click here for steam early access version with more maps, enemies and weapons! Very simple shooter to test my voxel engine. wsad to move to fire machine gun <right mouse... If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Critical Annihilation.
View Game


- 59%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, story59% User Score 82 reviewsCritic Score 60%1 reviews
Ready for Overdrive? Upgrade your steambuggy and pump up the Pressure, while you boost’n’blast your way through vibrant settings and countless enemies. Enhanced arcade action awaits in this new version! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pressure Overdrive.
View Game

















































