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Games like Shmup!

Games like Shmup!

Games like Shmup!

Looking for games like Shmup!? Here are top arcade shooter recommendations with a science fiction focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with TechBeat Heart, The Hurricane of the Varstray: Collateral hazard or Atomanta.

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  1. 93%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story
    94% User Score Based on 51 reviews
    Critic Score 86%Based on 1 reviews

    SCORCHING TECHBEAT ACTION! A frantic combo-based score attack shooter with roguelite elements. Make combos to earn more time. Master all weapons and defeat a raving mad machine. 100% arcade action. Online ranking. Lots of achievements. A Dual Gunstrike spin off. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to TechBeat Heart.

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  2. 74%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, grinding
    74% User Score Based on 102 reviews

    The Hurricane of the Varstray is a vertically scrolling shoot'em up with a SF story: in the distant future, to defend the Earth against the invasion of mystery mechanical structures, 4 girls head to "the Varstray sector," far away from the Earth and considered as the villain. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Hurricane of the Varstray: Collateral hazard.

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    70%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
    100% User Score Based on 21 reviews

    In Atomanta, you step into the role of Taria Takara, a space pirate on a mission to recover a highly valuable artifact hidden on the planet Azavuraz. Armed with the powerful Atomic Manta warship, Taria finally has a chance to claim the bounty and pay off the debts from her previous handlers. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Atomanta.

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  4. 73%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    73% User Score Based on 60 reviews

    Triangle Service presents the essential arcade experience! Power up your ship, evade enemy fire, and blast your way to the final boss in DeltaZeal! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to DELTAZEAL.

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  5. 39%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, replayability
    Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, graphics
    59% User Score Based on 17 reviews

    War has started! Rangok Skies is a vertically scrolling arcade shooter inspired by the genre classics. Highly replayable with 4 different characters, each with their own unique ship, weapons, and bombs. Includes 2-player local co-op. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Rangok Skies.

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  6. 91%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story
    91% User Score Based on 112 reviews

    Crisis Wing is a mid-90’s style arcade shoot’em up (shmup) game with frantic fast-paced gameplay and colorful pixel graphics. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Crisis Wing.

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    86%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    89% User Score Based on 304 reviews
    Critic Score 75%Based on 2 reviews

    Sora tells the story of its namesake: the lone enhanced human, Sora, and her struggle to protect a fading world. Enjoy breathtakingly fast-paced combat in the Suguri universe, with improved game system and graphics along with original trance music by DEKU. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sora.

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  9. 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.

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  10. 98%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, story
    98% User Score Based on 340 reviews

    Prepare yourself for an insatiable rain of bullets, bombs, and beams in Crimzon Clover.From Japanese indie developers YOTSUBANE and 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 EXplosion is choosing how you want to play, as well as which powerful ship will be yours to command. Choose your version fr… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Crimzon Clover World EXplosion.

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  11. View Game
    92%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    92% User Score Based on 120 reviews

    The second chapter in one of the most loved and respected Japanese shooting game series ever: The Tale of ALLTYNEX by Japanese indie developer SITER SKAIN. Carefully crafted play experiences, destructive fun, and absorbing gameplay have made the ALLTYNEX trilogy renowned in shmup / shooting game communities, both in Japan and overseas. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to RefleX.

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    95%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization
    98% User Score Based on 691 reviews
    Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

    BLUE REVOLVER is a fresh new shoot-em-up built for newcomers and psychos alike. An adaptive difficulty system tailors the game to your skill level as you fight and flourish to evade the maniac environmental force, "Blue Revolver"! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to BLUE REVOLVER.

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  13. 61%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, replayability
    Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, optimization
    89% User Score Based on 19 reviews

    Astro Fighters 2 is a vertical scrolling bullet hell shooter designed to test your skills with non-stop arcade style action. Use a variety of special items, power up your chosen ship and compete for the high score across 4 difficulty modes to be the best fighter pilot in the game. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Astro Fighters 2.

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  14. 80%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
    88% User Score Based on 42 reviews

    The Cyan galaxy is in peril! Your trusty little star fighter and rag tag squad of wingmen are the only hope against the evil EXODON! Level up from a pea shooter to an offensive powerhouse as you engage in frantic combat across many wondrous locales. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Hyper Echelon.

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    87%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding
    87% User Score Based on 52 reviews

    Hear the shrieks of colliding metal! Behold the true form of steel! An explosive onslaught of shooting action!! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Steel Vampire.

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  16. 81%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
    81% User Score Based on 456 reviews

    Super Galaxy Squadron is a fast-paced vertical shooter designed for human beings as well as shmup veterans. Featuring multiple game modes, a challenging but merciful difficulty curve, forgiving health system, and seventeen playable ships. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo.

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    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.

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  18. 97%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability
    97% User Score Based on 198 reviews

    BIRDCAGE is an arcade-style vertical scrolling shoot’em up inspired by genre classics, blending gritty pixel art sprites with 2.5D backdrops and a pumping retro soundtrack! Blast through 6 unique stages of bullet hell mayhem, facing off against enemy swarms using multiple shot types and rechargeable specials. Chase high scores by maintaining chains and kill rate. Strategically activate Hyperblade… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to BIRDCAGE.

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    77%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
    100% User Score Based on 28 reviews

    Astro Fighters is a fast-paced vertical scrolling STG focused on score attack, aggressive grazing, and arcade-style mastery.Survive dense bullet patterns, collect medals to build your score multiplier, and charge your graze gauge by flying dangerously close to enemy fire. Spend stored energy strategically to unleash powerful spread attacks, trigger screen-clearing bombs, or slow time itself to esc… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Astro Fighters.

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  20. 54%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization
    54% User Score Based on 261 reviews

    Arcade hit Raiden first left its mark on the shooting genre 25 years ago. The easy to learn, hard to master series comes to the PC in its most modern and advanced form yet! Join the war for Earth's future-where the tide of battle holds constant surprises. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Raiden V.

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  21. 88%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
    88% User Score Based on 678 reviews

    A twin stick shooter without the twin stick, Gunlocked is a sci-fi action roguelike about careful positioning and upgrade selection. Manage unique targeting systems across multiple weapons and upgrades, as you battle legions of alien ships, and then do it all over again! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Gunlocked.

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  22. 92%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, monetization
    95% User Score Based on 1,542 reviews
    Critic Score 84%Based on 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… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Assault Android Cactus.

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  23. 86%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
    86% User Score Based on 132 reviews

    Why play shoot 'em ups one ship at a time? Launch them all at once! Unleash an entire armada of ships in Shoot 1UP! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Shoot 1UP.

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  24. 65%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, atmosphere
    67% User Score Based on 43 reviews
    Critic Score 77%Based on 1 reviews

    Bullet Soul Infinite Burst is a vertically scrolling shooting game crossing old-school gameplay with a bullet hell twist. It adds numerous gameplay enhancements over its predecessor, Bullet Soul, not least of which is Burst Mode. The same aggressive, bullet-cancelling gameplay, now with more destruction, more coins and more tunes. Shooting fans, it's time to welcome back the true Japanese shooting… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Bullet Soul Infinite Burst.

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  25. 87%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story
    87% User Score Based on 120 reviews

    Scoregasm is an incredible, variety rich shooter with a non-linear, branching paths style galaxy to explore. It's pretty, accessible, fun and really rather good! Blast your way through the galaxy's many varied levels and use your skills to change your route, find new levels, new enemies, unlock bonus challenge stages and fight the bosses to discover multiple endings! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Scoregasm.

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  26. 88%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 85%Based on 5 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.

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  27. 55%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, story
    76% User Score Based on 17 reviews
    Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

    Zero Strain takes the intricate abilities of a MOBA and distills them into a hyper-fast top-down shooter. Descend into the depths of uncharted dimensions and destroy everything in your path! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Zero Strain.

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    86%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, grinding
    94% User Score Based on 1,082 reviews
    Critic Score 50%Based on 1 reviews

    Show off your skills & reflexes in this frantic gallery shooter action arcade, filled with bullets, bots and explosions. You play as Erin Saver, carrying out her personal vendetta against the criminal Wildbots. Features Super intense arcade shooting action. One unique challenging boss per stage! Unlockable "Extra Missions" mode. Three difficulty modes: Hard, Normal and Easy. Polished and colorful … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Bot Vice.

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  29. 94%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, story
    94% User Score Based on 134 reviews

    BroodStar is a classic arcade shmup with roguelike elements. Battle your way through hordes of enemy creatures, collecting upgrades and fighting terrifying bosses on a quest to destroy the living planet, the BroodStar. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to BroodStar.

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  30. 75%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, music
    100% User Score Based on 26 reviews

    The Last Archwing is a fast paced, vertically scrolling space shooter. You assume the role of Chet Brickhouse, the sole survivor of Earth's defense fleet. Pilot Earth's most advanced star fighter, the Archwing, to stop the advancing hordes of aliens from the invading Zarkhan Empire. Each level of the game is replete with fully voiced dialogue sequences that bring the colorful characters and the wo… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Last Archwing.

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  31. 89%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization
    90% User Score Based on 62 reviews
    Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

    Pawarumi is a modern shoot’em up set in a retro futuristic sci-fi pre-Columbian universe. You’ll take control of the almighty ship Chukaru and its three unique weapons! Shoot wisely to either do double damage, heal yourself or charge your Super Attack! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to PAWARUMi.

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  32. 87%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, story
    97% User Score Based on 68 reviews
    Critic Score 77%Based on 16 reviews

    Rival Megagun is a competitive split-screen vertical shmup (or shoot 'em up, shooting game, STG) where you transform into a gigantic boss ship - your "Mega Gunship" - to invade your opponent's screen. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Rival Megagun.

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  33. 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.

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  35. 72%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay
    93% User Score Based on 28 reviews
    Critic Score 76%Based on 1 reviews

    Dodge bullets and click to destroy enemies with your sniper shoot! This is a classic Shoot'em up mixed with Shooter on Rails mechanics! We challenge you to dodge all the shots and destroy all the enemies! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sniper Ships: Shoot'em Up on Rails.

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  36. A mouse-only, endless sci-fi arcade shooter with dead-simple controls — just aim and auto-fire kicks in. Shatter asteroids into plasma cores, wield three upgradeable weapons, freeze time, and survive endless difficulty scaling. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Zyrcon.

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  37. 95%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, grinding
    95% User Score Based on 93 reviews

    BroodStar is a classic arcade shoot’em up with heavy roguelike elements. Careful, though... the vastness of space contains many formidable enemies. If you fall along the way, you have to start over — the only thing you’ll bring with you are the upgrade modules you collected in your past runs, in the form of research points that augment your ship. Will they be enough to get you through hordes of un… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to BroodStar.

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  38. 69%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, grinding
    100% User Score Based on 20 reviews

    You thought geometry was difficult? Now it's got a gun! Fly circles around the Seven Deadly Shapes and blast your way through a barrage of bullets and lasers. Polyfury is an intense bullet hell with a circular twist and a minimalistic visual style. Seven Deadly Shapes will push your abilities to the edge with a barrage of bullets and lasers as you freely orbit around the arena with the analo… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Polyfury.

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    88%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story
    88% User Score Based on 114 reviews

    Brought to you by the makers of GIGANTIC ARMY, Supercharged Robot VULKAISER, and SATAZIUS, WOLFLAME is a return to the form of glorious 2D vertical vertical shooters like Raiden, Raptor, and Twin Cobra. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to WOLFLAME.

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  40. 76%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization
    77% User Score Based on 86 reviews
    Critic Score 75%Based on 7 reviews

    For the very first time, highly acclaimed Japanese Arcade Shoot’em Ups: Vasara and Vasara 2 are made available to the whole world via this package: Vasara Collection! Science Fiction meets History in these arcade classics which take place in an alternate timeline Feudal Japan where technologically advanced weaponry and equipment are a reality, and heroes use flying motorcycles with amazing firepo… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to VASARA Collection.

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  41. 94%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, stability
    94% User Score Based on 248 reviews

    Raptor set a new standard for PC shooters. Its smooth VGA graphics and heart-pounding music will leave you breathless. Discover secrets, find bonuses, and battle boss ships at the end of every wave. With each ship and ground target you destroy, you'll earn more cash to increase your ship's technology for the next wave. You'll be driven to kill and destroy until it's in your blood!Features Big-Sc… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Raptor: Call of the Shadows.

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  42. 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.

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    93%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, monetization
    96% User Score Based on 523 reviews
    Critic Score 81%Based on 1 reviews

    This is a side-scrolling shooting game in which the player takes control of the "Drainus", a ship that can absorb energy bullets, to take down the countless enemy ships zipping through space. Energy absorbed can be used to enhance the ship's functions, such as adding new weapons. StoryThe Planet Halpax is located in the far reaches of space, suffering from the oppressive rule of the Khar… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to DRAINUS.

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  44. 79%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, optimization
    79% User Score Based on 124 reviews

    Striving for Light: Survival brings the exploration of procedurally generated skill trees to the arena survival roguelite genre. Craft unique builds, unlock new weapons, skills and maps, slay hordes of monsters and take on massive boss fights. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Striving for Light: Survival.

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  45. 63%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story
    78% User Score Based on 23 reviews
    Critic Score 75%Based on 3 reviews

    Betrayed by her cut-throat crew, Luna Starr - former Space Pirate Captain turned bounty hunter - has a score to settle. As Luna, travel to 5 exotic planets to track down your mutinous mates, and face them in Bullet Hell dogfights to the death! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Star Hunter DX.

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  46. 87%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, replayability
    92% User Score Based on 763 reviews
    Critic Score 72%Based on 2 reviews

    As the last surviving tank commander on Earth, single-handedly turn back the evil invading alien army, drive back the Titans across the Solar System, and defeat them on their homeworld... Titan Attacks has the same easy-to-learn and addictive gameplay of the classic arcade shoot 'em up If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Titan Attacks!.

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  47. 90%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay
    Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding
    90% User Score Based on 494 reviews

    Shred the skies to pieces in Furious Angels, an endless shooter with flying tanks, leaderboards and different waves each day! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Furious Angels.

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  50. 84%Game Brain Score
    Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music
    Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, replayability
    85% User Score Based on 209 reviews
    Critic Score 82%Based on 2 reviews

    Fight over the Earth-like planet of Seventia and its scarce resources of Septonium. A vertical shoot ’em up at its core with an added focus towards immersive storytelling. Follow the story of Alex and Margaret, two exceptional pilots, for the first time on Steam and PlayStation 4. - Various exciting bosses over a dramatic 10-stage Story Mode - Alternative Score Attack Mode with Online Leaderboard… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ginga Force.

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