Games Like Galactic Refugees

Are you ready to aid Era-bus in its relentless quest for vengeance and consume everything in your path? Defeat the Hu-bon empire in this unique SHMUP/STG experience!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 46.8%, Female Protagonist 20%, Arcade 18.3%, Action 7%, 2D 6.8%

Nevultra is an exciting shoot'em up that will take you back to the 8bit/16bit era. The protagonist, Nina, needs your help to reach her destination in deep space.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 37.7%, Arcade 15.4%, Female Protagonist 8.9%, Dystopian 7.9%, Score Attack 6.8%

It's Christmas! Pelt the humans with gifts! Quickly!!!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 33.5%, Arcade 16.5%, Top-Down 9.7%, Cute 8.4%, Action 7.4%

Super Forklift 3000 is an arcade space shooter with a twist: you drive a forklift that carries and shoots up to three boxes. Defeat enemies and bosses while managing your different box types. Be careful not to run out of ammo!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 28.7%, Arcade 11.9%, Top-Down 11.1%, Female Protagonist 9.7%, Space 9.5%

Zone of Lacryma is a story driven vertical shmup with 11 levels, highscores, speedrunning, upgrades and more.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 30.4%, Dystopian 17.2%, Female Protagonist 15.3%, Arcade 9.9%, Space 6.9%

Space & Pixels is a top-down space shooter with classic gameplay. Battle through each level, blast lots of enemies, upgrade your ship's firepower, and uncover the truth behind your dangerous mission.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 37%, Arcade 20.1%, Top-Down 12.2%, Action 9.6%, Space 8.3%

“TWINKLE STAR SPRITES ”, a competitive 2D top-down view scrolling shooter released on NEOGEO MVS in 1996, departs for new adventures on the Steam gaming platform!Master your shots, and aim for the magical Twinkle Star”!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 51.4%, Female Protagonist 17.5%, Arcade 16.7%, Cute 8.1%, Action 6.3%

Engage in an action packed shoot em' up adventure! Choose from 4 powerful fighters and fight through 5 intense stages! Multiple tough and challenging bosses stand in your way, so use the insanity system BLANK STAND to erase them all!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 35.7%, Arcade 14.1%, Top-Down 10.5%, Dystopian 10.4%, Multiple Endings 9.2%

A space arcade shooter with light rogue-like elements.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 44.7%, Arcade 16.4%, Top-Down 10.2%, Procedural Generation 8.8%, Space 7.6%

Simple remake of Space Invaders adding destructions and physics

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 37.6%, Arcade 18.6%, Cute 10.2%, Action 8.3%, Space 7%

Enter an ever changing, randomly generated galaxy and battle the Metal Swarm menace in this arcade style shoot 'em up. Blast through hordes of bugs, collect powerups and battle giant bosses as you harvest their power cores to upgrade your ship.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 41.2%, Arcade 21.2%, Procedural Generation 9%, Top-Down 8.4%, 2D 7.4%

『StanÇact』is a cute and sexy girl-on-girl SHOOT'EM UP. Mai, a military officer, is on her way to quell a riot, but the rioters and the military have teamed up and are on the rampage and the head of the military was the ringleader.Witness one woman's struggle to complete her mission amidst the chaos!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 31.6%, Female Protagonist 16.1%, Multiple Endings 13.7%, Arcade 10.6%, Cute 8.9%

Dodge enemy beams with your space fighter, kill huge bosses, and sing along to seven distinct songs in this unique rock opera videogame.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 44.7%, Arcade 16%, Top-Down 9.5%, Action 7.5%, Space 6.4%

Take control and annihilate every invading enemy and stronghold! is a score-attack vertical shmup supporting 1-2 players. Featuring pure mechanics that emphasize destruction and dodging, satisfying explosion effects, and deep hidden secrets, the fight awaits you.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 37.3%, Arcade 13.8%, Score Attack 11.5%, Multiple Endings 9%, Top-Down 8.1%

Super Chain Crusher Horizon is the largest, longest, most incredible PC shooting game in history with a two-player mode that is revolutionary. And, it’s loaded with game modes that solve the problems had by most shoot ‘em ups.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 58%, Arcade 25.1%, 2D 10%, Action 6.1%, Indie 0.8%

Pirate's Peril is an arcade shooter themed in the world of pirates on the open sea!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 39.6%, Arcade 21.7%, Action 10.6%, Top-Down 10.5%, Pixel Graphics 10.1%

Shoot the enemy at close range! Crystal Breaker is a vertically scrolling shmup that focuses on close range attack.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 37.8%, Arcade 18.2%, Female Protagonist 13.1%, Score Attack 9.6%, Pixel Graphics 7.7%

Defender's Squad is a sci-fi vertical scrolling shooter 2D that combines 7 different levels. Play Solo and pick one of the 3 ships to kill enemies and save the earth from aliens.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 34.4%, Top-Down 14.1%, Arcade 13.2%, Space 10.1%, Score Attack 9.1%

MeteoStorm is an action packed retro shoot-em-up. MeteoStorm offers up to 25 challenging waves of exciting shoot-em-up action with 3 different difficulty levels!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 38.2%, Arcade 19%, Procedural Generation 10.5%, Action 8.9%, Space 8.2%

Take off on a classic arcade journey with Tiger-Heli, Toaplan's pioneering vertical shooter that set the stage for an entire genre. Now available on PC with a host of modern upgrades!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 47.7%, Arcade 21%, 2D 8.5%, Score Attack 8%, Pixel Graphics 6%

The original beautiful girl side-scrolling shooter is back! This work commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Cotton series.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 45.7%, Arcade 22.6%, Female Protagonist 21.5%, Action 9.7%, Singleplayer 0.5%

Lead your starfighter as a bounty hunter, complete contracts and fight your way to free your home system from a criminal empire full of conspiracies and underworld secrets, in this hard boiled action old school arcade shooter.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 28.3%, Female Protagonist 14.3%, Dystopian 14%, Arcade 11.6%, Space 7%

The year is 2248. You play as Anthea, a pilot for the Spacing Guild. She's battling a pirate fleet. During the game, you'll need to destroy four leader ships.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 59.2%, Female Protagonist 12.1%, Arcade 11%, Action 7.1%, Space 6.1%

Make up your squads out of 9 unique spaceships and go clear 3 planets from hordes of robots in not-so-classic horizontal shoot-em-up style!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 33.6%, LGBTQ+ 19.8%, Cute 10%, Pixel Graphics 6.5%, Space 6.4%

Mine your way through procedurally generated levels, digging ore and bombing enemies to achieve the highest score possible!

Why similar: Arcade 26.5%, Cute 16.2%, Top-Down 16.1%, 2D 10.5%, Pixel Graphics 10.4%

Weave and cleave your way through walls of bullet and push your score to unknown limits in this aggressive Shoot'em'up to save humanity from its own hubris

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 42.6%, Arcade 16.1%, Score Attack 11.1%, Top-Down 8%, Pixel Graphics 7%

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!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 41.4%, Female Protagonist 13.1%, Arcade 11.4%, Score Attack 7.7%, Action 6.5%

Epic Pandemonium is a classic run-and-gun action game with a strong focus on boss battles. Inspired by the 16-bit Contra saga.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 39.4%, Female Protagonist 20%, Arcade 17.2%, 2D 6.9%, Pixel Graphics 6.8%

Blast your way through rogue-like action! This arcade space-shooter throws you into intense runs packed with asteroids, powerful weapons and hidden secrets! Experiment with unique loadouts, discover synergizing upgrades, and push your limits with challenge modifiers that make each run deadlier!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 41.9%, Arcade 16.1%, Space 11%, Multiple Endings 10.1%, 2D 6.4%

Verisim Skies is a Vertical Shoot 'Em Up with an emphasis on story and cinematic action. Go forth, Champion. Find your purpose. Fulfill your destiny. Accept your fate.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 62%, Arcade 14.9%, Top-Down 10.8%, Action 7.4%, Pixel Graphics 4.5%

Experience Toaplan's arcade shooter Flying Shark (AKA Sky Shark) on PC with the latest quality-of-life features. Ride through the skies as they burn in a rain of armor-piercing bullets! You have been chosen for the mission. Because you are the best pilot there is!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 47.6%, Arcade 24.1%, Action 10.7%, Score Attack 9%, 2D 8.2%

The sequel to the speed-and-destruction shmup "Raging Blasters" is here! It's called "Raging Blasters 2." This is an arcade-style vertical scrolling shmup in which players control a fighter jet and battle various enemies in outer space.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 49.7%, Arcade 19.6%, 2D 8%, Score Attack 7.8%, Action 7.8%

Artificial intelligence threatens the galaxy. Buckle up and fight computing power with the only power that counts: FIREPOWER! Experience Toaplan's brain-melting Slap Fight (AKA Alcon) with its gauge-based power-ups and strategic gameplay. Now on PC with the latest features!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 47%, Arcade 23.9%, Action 10.8%, Score Attack 9.5%, 2D 8.3%

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.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 46.7%, Arcade 17.7%, Top-Down 10.7%, Pixel Graphics 6.4%, 2D 5.9%

PRISMIDIA: Spirit of the Rift is a sci-fi shoot 'em up game in the style of arcade classics. Dodge barrages of attacks, survive bullet hell bosses, and save Prismidia!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 36.5%, Arcade 14.3%, Female Protagonist 14.1%, Pixel Graphics 8.1%, Space 6.7%

Lock On. Light Up. Lay Waste. Demon Protocol is a retro arcade space shooter with 25 waves of relentless enemies, 4 brutal bosses, and power-ups to keep you fighting. Choose your difficulty and see how far you can push before the demons win.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 43.8%, Arcade 17.1%, Top-Down 12.6%, Action 10.2%, Space 9.4%

The third installment in the Eden series A 2D bullet-hell vertical-scrolling shump with a feel reminiscent of arcade games from the 1990s to the 2000s.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 37.1%, Arcade 18.7%, Top-Down 8.9%, Action 8.3%, Female Protagonist 8%

Hardcore yet cute Danmaku shooting makes a grand comeback!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 35.3%, Arcade 18%, Top-Down 8.2%, Cute 8%, Action 7.7%

A retro-arcade-inspired space shooter with tongue-in-cheek humor, a focus on exhilarating powerups, and score attack.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 32.5%, Arcade 15.5%, Top-Down 12.4%, Score Attack 11%, Cute 10.3%

The playful witch dances to unleash stunning magical moves! Witch Dance is an evolving action puzzle. The controls are simple, but the challenge is infinite. Right click to move, left click to cast. Gather your magic and dance your way to victory!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 32.8%, Female Protagonist 15.3%, Arcade 13.8%, Top-Down 11.8%, Score Attack 6%

Orchid Glitter is late 2000s style 2d shmups. This isn't just a bullet-hell shooter where you dodge bullets. The game design also includes features like eliminating bullets with charge attacks, and earning points and resources by taking dangerous actions.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 42.1%, Arcade 10.6%, Score Attack 8.5%, Top-Down 8.1%, Female Protagonist 8.1%

BrAInstorm is a heavily stylised shoot-em-up/bullethell. dodge bullets and defeat waves of enemies while you travel through the mind to uncover the truth.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 41.4%, Arcade 20.6%, Top-Down 11.7%, Action 9.8%, Pixel Graphics 8.2%

The feeling of 90's arcade shooter will come again !! Arcade-like side scroll shooter of 7 stages in all!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 61.8%, Action 10.4%, Pixel Graphics 10.2%, Arcade 9.2%, 2D 7.1%

What is that... a cat!? A mysterious enemy has invaded from outer space. Break through a storm of bullets in your super fighter in this unique full-scale shooting game.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 46.1%, Arcade 23.1%, Top-Down 18.8%, Action 11.5%, Singleplayer 0.5%

Infinity Lancer is a high octane vertical shoot em' up. Race across the galaxy fighting to prevent humanity's annihilation and discover the dark truth behind the endless war.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 42.2%, Score Attack 10.4%, Multiple Endings 9.8%, Pixel Graphics 8.2%, Action 6.5%

You are valiant space hero who is not as fortunate as those in the golden age of scrolling shooters who had infinite ammo. Instead you must absorb your enemies' weapons and retaliate!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 42.5%, Arcade 16%, Space 12%, Top-Down 10.6%, 2D 6%

Shin Sophstar is a high-voltage remix built for speed and scoring. With 25+ ship variants, mid-run ship switching, and an aggressive, deeply layered scoring system, it delivers a faster, sharper arcade experience for all skill levels.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 31.7%, Arcade 16.7%, Female Protagonist 12%, Space 9.1%, Multiple Endings 6.5%

First instalment in the series of 2D action side-scrollers, taking place in very distant galaxy and not so distant future. Gameplay main hallmarks are fast-paced laser guns shootouts, punch 'n' kick combats, managing obby-like obstacles, using wits in overcoming deadly traps and witty dialogues.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 37.1%, Arcade 19.4%, Female Protagonist 16%, Action 9.4%, 2D 7.1%

Introducing FixEight, Toaplan's thrilling vertical run-and-gun game featuring eight peerless warriors with cutting-edge weapons. Embark on an exhilarating cosmic escapade with up to three players at once. Now on PC with modern extras!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 46.9%, Arcade 20.9%, 2D 8.5%, Score Attack 8.3%, Pixel Graphics 6.2%

The first of its kind on Steam. A retro-style Touhou Project fangame with a modern feeling. Beat some sense into the great library in love!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 29.8%, LGBTQ+ 23.1%, Female Protagonist 17.3%, Arcade 9.2%, Top-Down 5.5%

Barback is a 1980s arcade action run and gun game.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 48.3%, Arcade 24.3%, Action 12%, 2D 8.7%, Old School 5.6%

Devour the swarm. In this vivid arcade torch 'em up, you play as a dragon growing its tail to expand its firepower. Dodge bullet-hell patterns, wield elemental magic, and slay massive mythic bosses!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 40.5%, Arcade 15.4%, Top-Down 14%, Score Attack 8.3%, Space 7.1%

This is a side-scrolling shooting game in which you take control of the "Drainus", the Kharlal Empire's most cutting-edge fighter with the ability to absorb energy bullets, and take down the enemy ships zipping through space.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 59.6%, Female Protagonist 16.3%, Action 8.7%, 2D 6.1%, Arcade 4.2%

Bleed 2 is a relentless arcade action game featuring air-dodging, bullet-reflecting, and tons of bosses. Now with randomly-generated levels and daily challenges, too!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 38.9%, Female Protagonist 17%, Arcade 14.3%, Procedural Generation 10%, Action 8.8%

Clusterbug is a space-themed, insect-filled, and futuristic bullet hell shoot 'em up. Travel through the insect-filled world as you cleanse it from a bio-mechanical virus that has turned any living being infected by it into frenzied mech mutations, bringing freedom and peace.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 44.3%, Arcade 17.6%, Top-Down 10.9%, Space 7.1%, Action 6.9%

Shoot for the stars and help Latte train in her quest to become the top cheerleader in the universe! Use your Pom-Pom Blasts to pummel the competition while dancing through a downpour of endlessly raining enemy bullets! Ready? Aim. Fire!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 31.4%, Female Protagonist 14.6%, Arcade 13.6%, Top-Down 9.2%, Score Attack 7.5%

I just think that top down shooters are neat. It's a pretty zen time. A podcast game.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 35%, LGBTQ+ 21.9%, Top-Down 11.6%, Female Protagonist 10.6%, Cute 9.1%

Vertical semi-procedural shmup with upgrades, real-time enemy waves, and infinite replayability. Level up your ship, unlock 20+ weapons, defeat 5 bosses, and survive endless bullet-hell combat.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 27.9%, Procedural Generation 14%, Arcade 12.4%, Top-Down 11.4%, Score Attack 8.9%

Step into the shoes of Corelatine Rangers Ralph and Brad, as they steer their way through Asteroid Fields and Monsters a-plenty, to arrest Dr. Jillkoy - A menace known for his deadly atrocities towards intergalactic citizens. Do you have what it takes to see him behind bars?

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 39.5%, Arcade 19.5%, Top-Down 15.3%, Space 9%, Action 8.9%