Games Like Critical Annihilation

Nex Machina is an intense arcade style twin-stick shooter from Housemarque. Taking hints from both Robotron and Smash TV, Nex Machina focuses on pure action, voxel destruction and competition in the distant, cablepunk themed future.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 55.2%, Action 29.3%, Indie 15.6%

Why You'll Like It: This is the gold standard for high-octane twin-stick arcade shooters with intense action and a phenomenal soundtrack.

Destropolis is a top-down shooter game with a fully destructible environment, hundreds of enemies and nuclear explosions. Fight a countless swarm of enemies. Tear them to pieces with bullets, lasers and explosions. Destroy as many of them as you can before they overwhelm you...

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 71.4%, Action 17.6%, Indie 11%

Why You'll Like It: It shares the core focus on total environmental destruction and chaotic arena-based survival.

Assault Android Cactus is an intense arcade style twin stick shooter - pick from one of nine unique synthetic heroines and blast your way through overwhelming robots hordes to save the ship from its own workforce. Supports single player and local co-op game modes.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 77.7%, Action 22.3%

Why You'll Like It: A highly polished twin-stick shooter that matches the fast-paced, arcade-style intensity of the seed game.

Explosive twin stick shooter. Lots of upgrades. Full controller support. Awesome soundtrack.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 42.8%, Indie 30.9%, Action 26.3%

Why You'll Like It: Delivers intense arcade twin-stick gameplay with a focus on rapid-fire destruction.

Waves is an Arcade Twin-Stick Shooter that's all about High Scores. Build your combo and drop bombs in pursuit of Leaderboard dominance over seven game-modes!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 77.8%, Action 22.2%

Why You'll Like It: A pure, minimalist twin-stick arcade experience that emphasizes fluid movement and high-score chasing.

Polychromatic is a physics-based arcade shooter with a pop of color.

Why similar: Action 51.5%, Indie 48.5%

Why You'll Like It: A vibrant, physics-based arena shooter that focuses on satisfying combat and colorful visual feedback.

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved is a old school style shooter, but remixed for the 21st century with next generation graphics and deep, modern gameplay. Playing is simple: you are a geometric "ship" trapped in a grid world, facing off against waves of deadly wanderers, snakes, and repulsars.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 68.6%, Indie 16.8%, Action 14.7%

Why You'll Like It: The quintessential twin-stick shooter that defined the genre's focus on arcade scoring and visual spectacle.

Tesla vs Lovecraft is an intense top-down twin stick arena shooter from the creators of Crimsonland and Neon Chrome. Play as the enigmatic inventor Nikola Tesla harnessing the static energy to power up Tesla-Mech and give the lovecraftian nightmares a lesson in horror!

Why similar: Destruction 37.2%, Shoot 'Em Up 28.4%, Action 20.1%, Indie 14.3%

Why You'll Like It: Features satisfying destruction mechanics and frantic twin-stick combat against hordes of enemies.

The world really does revolve around you in this mind-bending shooter where changing your perspective could save your life.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 58.7%, Action 15.8%, Destruction 13.7%, Indie 11.8%

Why You'll Like It: Provides a unique perspective-shifting mechanic that adds a fresh layer of strategy to the traditional SHMUP formula.

Experience your music collection like never before with this intense music driven arcade shooter. Each of your songs will have its own unique ebb and flow based on the music.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 75.3%, Action 12.8%, Indie 11.9%

Why You'll Like It: Uses music-based procedural generation to create an arcade shooter experience that syncs perfectly with your own soundtrack.

Jets'n'Guns 2 is a side-scrolling space shooter with insane levels of action and destruction. Travel the galaxies and unleash an arsenal of the deadliest weapons and devices to save the universe from its inevitable doom.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 61.2%, Action 23.1%, Indie 15.7%

Why You'll Like It: A high-energy side-scrolling shooter that matches the seed game's focus on explosive action and a great soundtrack.

Nuclear Throne is a post-apocalyptic roguelike-like top-down shooter. Not 'the final hope of humanity' post-apocalyptic, but 'humanity is extinct and mutants and monsters now roam the world' post-apocalyptic. Can you reach the Nuclear Throne?

Why similar: Action 52.1%, Indie 47.9%

Why You'll Like It: Offers fast-paced, chaotic twin-stick action with a heavy emphasis on weapon variety and replayability.

Thousands of aliens, giant spiders, mutant lizards, and more are on the attack - can you survive the onslaught? Crimsonland is a top-down shooter with a touch of RPG. Unlock over 30 weapons and over 50 perks from quirky to brutal. Complete the quest and show your skills in five survival modes.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 41.9%, Action 39.1%, Indie 18.9%

Why You'll Like It: A classic arena shooter that captures the same overwhelming enemy-horde feel found in Critical Annihilation.

Hear the shrieks of colliding metal! Behold the true form of steel! An explosive onslaught of shooting action!!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 56.3%, Action 25.3%, Indie 18.4%

Why You'll Like It: Fast-paced bullet-hell action that challenges players with complex patterns and high-speed movement.

Cube Destroyer is a top-down shooter with a dynamic gameplay.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 35.8%, Indie 26.6%, Action 22.6%, Destruction 15.1%

Why You'll Like It: A direct thematic match that focuses on voxel-based destruction and top-down shooting mechanics.

A classical science fiction point and click adventure which takes you into a deep story and murky atmosphere, while solving logical puzzles. Accompany Tessa Carter and her talking robot as she finds out about herself and searches for a way to survive.

Why similar: Indie 100%

Why You'll Like It: Combines tight twin-stick controls with roguelite elements for a challenging and rewarding arcade experience.

Xion revives the arcade and shoot ’em ups of the 1990’s in a refreshing and unique way with a fully destructible voxel landscape setting and your very own spaceship that you design and upgrade in an infinite number of ways.

Why similar: Voxel 35.3% ★, Shoot 'Em Up 26.1%, Action 25.6%, Indie 13%

Why You'll Like It: A sci-fi action shooter that offers a similar arcade-style experience with a focus on weapon upgrades.

Hyperspace Invaders II: Pixel Edition is a hardcore, uncompromising vertical scrolling bullet hell/invader hell shooter (shmup) that doubles as a techno-based lightsynth, triggering bursts of funky invaders at the pulse of a relentless beat.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 51.8%, Action 27.9%, Indie 20.3%

Why You'll Like It: An arcade-style shooter that pairs intense combat with a strong, driving soundtrack.

Enter the Gungeon is a bullet hell dungeon crawler following a band of misfits seeking to shoot, loot, dodge roll and table-flip their way to personal absolution by reaching the legendary Gungeon’s ultimate treasure: the gun that can kill the past.

Why similar: Action 51.6%, Indie 48.4%

Why You'll Like It: A highly polished shooter with deep mechanics and a chaotic, bullet-filled gameplay loop.

Blast-off is a hardcore jumper/runner/shmup, where your alter ego will be a ball of anti-matter seeking to leave our Universe. Anti-matter is extremely difficult to exist in our universe, because when it contact with matter it annihilates.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 52.2%, Action 27.7%, Indie 20.1%

Why You'll Like It: An arcade-style space shooter that focuses on simple, addictive gameplay mechanics.

Experience the explosive science fiction arcade-shooter that resurrects a much revered franchise in an epic single player and co-op multiplayer campaign.

Why similar: Action 100%

Why You'll Like It: An atmospheric twin-stick shooter that emphasizes tactical positioning and explosive combat.

In ION ASSAULT players wield thousands of Ion Particles to blast, fry and disrupt anything on screen as you see fit! GAMEPLAY WITH A TWIST: By centering its gameplay around its unique fluid and particle physics system, ION ASSAULT adds a twist to arcade style space shooters!

Why similar: Action 37.2%, Shoot 'Em Up 36.6%, Indie 26.2%

Why You'll Like It: A fast-paced arcade shooter that focuses on fluid movement and overwhelming enemy counts.

Sandbox of destruction. Billion different ways to build your mech. Feel the weight and impact of obliteration in this modern old school mech combat sim.

Why similar: Destruction 38.1%, Shoot 'Em Up 34.3%, Action 16.6%, Indie 11%

A face-melting, pixel-pumping arcade shoot 'em up featuring awesome power-ups, epic boss battles and spectacular effects at a blistering 60fps. Blast into battle against giant space destroyers in Arcade Mode, tackle endless waves of enemies in Survival Mode and face off against epic level guardians in Boss Run mode.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 51.1%, Action 28%, Indie 20.9%

Why You'll Like It: A retro-styled arcade shooter that emphasizes speed and high-score competition.

Take to the skies once again as the last defender of humanity against overwhelming odds! Lovingly built to be enjoyed by newcomers and genre veterans alike, Danmaku Unlimited 3 is a perfect medley of the best aspects of classic bullet hell shooters wrapped up in a modern and approachable package.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 61.7%, Action 22.1%, Indie 16.1%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the intense bullet-hell patterns and high-speed dodging characteristic of the genre.

Sky Force Reloaded is a classic shoot ‘em up experience packed in gorgeous visuals and excellent gameplay. Enjoy flashy explosions, beautiful scenery and massive bosses in single player or local cooperative modes.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 70.4%, Action 17.3%, Indie 12.3%

Why You'll Like It: A modern take on the classic SHMUP that features impressive visuals and satisfying upgrade systems.

Sektori is an intense, fast paced twin-stick shooter infused with hard hitting techno music. A game where the high-adrenaline gameplay, visuals, and music come together to transport you into another state of consciousness.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 67.6%, Destruction 19.2%, Action 13.2%

JASEM is insanely hard and ridiculously unforgiving low-poly twin-stick arcade blastathon set to an electronic beat and filled with bright explosions and neon effects.

Why similar: Action 40.7%, Destruction 31.3%, Indie 28%

Why You'll Like It: A high-energy, music-driven shooter that matches the intensity of the seed game's soundtrack focus.

Classic shoot’em up action in modern 3D! Blast off to take down hordes of infected aliens and dreadful machines programmed on waging an intergalactic war against mankind!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 76.8%, Action 23.2%

Why You'll Like It: Delivers classic side-scrolling SHMUP action with modern graphics and intense boss battles.

A super fast, twin analogue shooter for the modern age!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 46.9%, Indie 30.7%, Action 22.4%

Why You'll Like It: An intense space shooter that incorporates bullet-hell elements and a wide variety of enemy types.

Killing zombies never gets old, but sometimes you just need a break. Get back to some serious old-school gaming with Syder Arcade! Syder Arcade is a love letter to Amiga games of the ‘90s, no coins, no upgrade grinding, just your tenacity and a motherload of alien invaders.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 68.5%, Action 17.8%, Indie 13.7%

Why You'll Like It: A retro-inspired side-scrolling shooter that captures the feel of classic arcade action.

C-RUSH is an old school Shooter, with HD graphics.A new threat is coming from the space; the plasma insects. Exterminate the vermin!!Beat your own score and compare it with the other players !Key Features:- One ship with different positions to use- Different Gameplay according to the positions and shoots- A Schmup where you need...

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 63%, Action 20%, Indie 17%

Why You'll Like It: A fast-paced arcade shooter that prioritizes constant action and reflex-based gameplay.

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!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 70%, Action 21.9%, Indie 8.1%

Jet Buster is the new 90s anthro shmup, going back to the cuter roots of the genre.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 46.4%, Action 31.2%, Indie 22.4%

Chip destructible bosses apart pixel-by-pixel in this twin-stick bullet-hell shooter.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 54.5%, Destruction 28.8%, Action 16.7%

KAIKAN is a vertical scrolling shooter that focuses on destroying enemies. Destroy enemies with 6 types of aircraft with different performance, clear 5 stages, and aim for a higher score.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 48.9%, Destruction 31.7%, Action 11.5%, Indie 7.9%

Story of a Cube is an action packed shooter about a lone cube and his quest for revenge. Mixing elements of twin-stick shooters and bullet hell games, this is a hardcode arcade game with a crazy amount of explosions.

Why similar: Action 56.2%, Indie 43.8%

Woodpunk is an exhilarating roguelike bullet hell retro pixel art shooter in a medieval Woodpunk universe, where the primary energy resource is WOOD.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 39.3%, Action 35.5%, Indie 25.2%

Descend into a radical new dimension of abstract minimalist arcade fury in Disastr_Blastr! Blaze your merciless path of devastation through an expansive non-linear game world with 100+ stages of cortex-shattering cubic mayhem!

Why similar: Action 56.2%, Indie 43.8%

Rhythm Destruction is a rhythm & shoot'em up that aims to combine the best of both genres. Blast and maneuver your way through perilous stages filled with numerous enemies, obstacles and unique boss encounters.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 42.8%, Action 28.8%, Indie 28.4%

Crush the forces of hell and get a high score in this addictive, action-packed, arcade-inspired twin-stick shooter!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 74.3%, Action 19%, Indie 6.7%

Multiplayer sandbox with destructible environment. Destroy different maps, build your own, and play with your friends and other people online

Why similar: Voxel 55.1% ★, Destruction 27.1%, Action 15.3%, Indie 2.5%

Shoot stuff in a perfect pixel world, combine items, build guns, die every time! Roguelite twin-stick shooter where magic and post-apocalyptic future technologies collide. Defeat evil lord Dracula and save everyone!

Why similar: Destruction 57.4%, Action 28.7%, Indie 13.9%

Q-YO Blaster is a shooting game, with peculiar characters, strange enemies, weapons and many explosions. Enter the miniature world and stop the threat

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 54.2%, Action 26.7%, Indie 19.1%

A fast-paced rogue-lite with procedurally generated, action packed levels. Rank up and install Mech Tech upgrades from an overstock! Snap on ability cartridges to your battle-mech, slay huge bosses through 3 distinctive worlds and guide your tiny green heroes towards victory!

Why similar: Action 58.7%, Indie 41.3%

A classic style vertical scrolling-shooter. Includes 10 levels and 10 boss enemies. You will have several power-ups for weapon modification. Within each level, you will face different enemies, among which will vary from low to extreme levels of threat!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 42.8%, Indie 35.7%, Action 21.5%

Ghost Blade HD is an intense bullet-hell shoot 'em up game, with satisfying and addictive score-based gameplay. With its inspiration going back to the shooting games of the 1990s era, Ghost Blade HD ties old memories to current tones and techniques.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 53.8%, Action 26.1%, Indie 20.1%

Fast paced Top-down shooter! Smartly use IRCM to evade the constant barrage of bullets and missiles and destroy everything that stands in your way.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 55.8%, Action 26.2%, Indie 18%

Nebulock is a short bullet-hell game with intense gameplay, where the player must destroy bosses made of blocks, collect resources and upgrade his spaceship.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 46.1%, Destruction 35.7%, Action 14.8%, Indie 3.4%

Shoot to the beat in this rhythm bullet hell where every shot creates music. Turn any YouTube song into a bullet hell epic battle.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 65.6%, Action 21.7%, Indie 12.7%

An intense single-player FPS featuring a stylish movement system, completely destructible levels, and an acclaimed OST.

Why similar: Voxel 46.4% ★, Destruction 29.9%, Action 16.4%, Indie 7.2%

Tachyon Project is a dual stick shooter heavily inspired by classic shoot'em ups. We’ve combined many unique enemy types, a large variety of weapons and power-ups with innovative gameplay to ensure a long lasting challenge and discovery at every new level.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 44.7%, Action 31.2%, Indie 24%

Fatal Velocity: Physics Combat is a multiplayer first person physics combat smasher where speed and the environment are literally your weapons! Players utilize physics based weaponry and abilities to overcome, thrash and smash their opponents with extreme speeds into oblivion!

Why similar: Action 57.2%, Indie 42.8%

SPLIT BULLET is a game all about 'splitting up' a massive crowd of enemies—yes, those polygons—crawling towards you. Don't let 'em get you and survive as long as you can, by using your instincts and weapons.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 35%, Destruction 26.2%, Action 22.4%, Indie 16.4%

A fast paced action shooter inspired by the arcade classic Super Pang! Use a wide selection of weapons and powerups to tear through increasingly challenging levels.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 52.4%, Action 25.8%, Indie 21.8%

Nova Drift distills the mechanical depth and strategy of an ARPG 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.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 65.7%, Action 20.8%, Indie 13.5%

DESTRUCTURE: Among Debris is an intense mix of brick breaker, air hockey and bullet hell set in a post apocalyptic world. Destroy structures, dodge bullets, fire guns and buy perks to lay even more waste!

Why similar: Destruction 70.9%, Action 29.1%

Shoot, blast and slash through hordes of enemies in Rocking Pilot - a twin-stick shooter extravaganza inspired by arcade classics.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 49.7%, Action 27.8%, Indie 22.5%

RefRain - prism memories - is an empowering, cyberpunk, bullet-hell shoot-’em-up that focuses on fast-paced, offensive gameplay. “Dive” into a hazardous digital world, cycle through 3 different attack modes, and delete the opposition with superior firepower.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 46.8%, Action 30%, Indie 23.2%

GRIDD: Retroenhanced is an intense arcade-style cyberpunk hacking shoot 'em up with an incredible soundtrack, procedurally generated elements, and electric visuals.

Why similar: Action 37.7%, Shoot 'Em Up 34.1%, Indie 28.2%