Games Like Photophore - Chapter 1

Vertical-scrolling 2D shooting game with three types of weapons

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 24.5%, Arcade 15.6%, Shooter 13.8%, 2D Platformer 12.9%, Action 10.4%

A retro arcade bubble-shooter where shots split bouncing bubbles until they vanish. Clear 40 handcrafted levels before the timer runs out or push your limits in Survival.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 23.2%, Score Attack 15%, Arcade 14.6%, 2D Platformer 11.6%, Precision Platformer 8%

Ballakala — retro arcade paint shoot 'em up. Blast blobs, survive the bosses, chase the high score. Every hit leaves a colorful mess. 50 levels, 10 bosses.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 30.4%, Score Attack 20.6%, Arcade 14.6%, Shooter 13.3%, Retro 5.5%

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 35.7%, Arcade 20.1%, Score Attack 16.7%, Action 13.3%, Retro 7%

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 36.3%, Arcade 20.4%, Score Attack 15.9%, Action 13.2%, Retro 7.2%

March 18th, 2061 - "Operation Downfall" Commences With its reliance on BAC, humanity had forgotten how to operate even basic transportation, let alone weapons. After the attacks from BAC and the subsequent social chaos, the human population was reduced by half.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 39.4%, Score Attack 21.6%, Shooter 19%, 2D 6.7%, Sci-fi 6.4%

Challenge your spatial awareness and reflexes in F.I.T. An addictive puzzle game where you are the master of your own geometric shape, and must skillfully fit into falling blocks of various sizes and shapes to survive and thrive in this captivating arcade style game to achieve the highest score!

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 29.6%, 2D Platformer 18.8%, Arcade 14.4%, Score Attack 12.8%, Action 7.8%

Vertical Scroll Shooting Game with Lock-on Missile

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 35.9%, Score Attack 24.2%, Shooter 15.9%, Retro 6.3%, Arcade 6.1%

Terra Flame is a horizontal shmup inspired by the 90's. The feature is that you can switch between three types of weapons in real time.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 31.1%, Score Attack 19.6%, Shooter 13.9%, Arcade 7.5%, 2D Platformer 7%

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 37%, Arcade 15.5%, Shooter 13.5%, Score Attack 10.6%, Action 7.1%

An arcade shoot 'em up where you brave a hostile asteroid field as one of five ace pilots, battling space pirates and aliens for the energy-rich crystals that keep your stranded world-ship alive. Push your luck to the edge and upgrade your ship between runs if you make it home.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 40.9%, Score Attack 23.5%, Arcade 18%, Action 9.9%, Retro 5.2%

Moon Dancer is a vertically scrolling shmup featuring an exhilarating lock-on laser.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 34.9%, Score Attack 22.2%, Shooter 15.2%, Arcade 8.1%, Action 6.8%

A neon-themed physics puzzle game where you flick a glowing square through challenging levels. Launch, bounce, and strategize your way through stylish mazes filled with momentum-based mechanics and time-based goals.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 28.5%, Score Attack 23.1%, 2D Platformer 18.1%, Physics 6.8%, Stylized 6.2%

A 2D side-scrolling shooter in which you advance by defeating enemies in a world where everything is made of voxels. Defeat enemies, collect reinforcement items, and take on powerful enemies that appear one after another!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 25.4%, Arcade 14.3%, 2D Platformer 13%, Shooter 13%, Score Attack 8.9%

"Hime Cut" is a one-on-one 2D shooting game. Aim for a high score as you clear the wave!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 33.7%, Shooter 17%, 2D Platformer 16.6%, Score Attack 15%, Action 8.3%

Shoot to move, move to live, live to shoot! Blast Off Far Away (B.O.F.A.) is a space-themed, top-down arena shooter, with a focus on fast-paced arcade-esque gameplay, with the unique twist where movement is limited through the use of the player's gun.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 27.5%, 2D Platformer 14.5%, Shooter 12.4%, Arcade 12.3%, Precision Platformer 9.9%

A classic shoot 'em up with a modern edge. Galactic Plague throws you into a cosmic nightmare where survival means upgrading your ship, mastering legendary weapons, and battling the relentless Martian invasion. Are you ready to face the chaos?

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 32.7%, Arcade 15.1%, Shooter 15%, Score Attack 13.1%, Action 7.6%

Image Striker is a 2D vertical scroll shooting game.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 34.1%, Score Attack 22%, Shooter 15.4%, Arcade 8.3%, Retro 6.2%

Returning to the classic style of spaceship games in pixel art. Survive in space as many enemy ships and anything else that can destroy your ship, get all the advantages and improvements available to get your best score.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 31.5%, Shooter 16.6%, Arcade 14.2%, Action 11.7%, 2D Platformer 10.4%

This is the biggest news title of 2021. A cute bullet-hell shooter is now available. The game features cool and futuristic visuals and active gameplay.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 38.9%, Shooter 20.9%, Action 11.6%, Score Attack 7.2%, 2D 6.2%

天狗と妖怪の日常を覗き見られる小劇場シューティング 妖怪の不思議で美しい弾幕を撮れ！撃て！

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 38.2%, Score Attack 22.4%, Shooter 17.1%, Action 12.6%, 2D 6.5%

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 35.3%, Shooter 18.3%, Arcade 15.3%, Action 13.3%, 2D 4.9%

Switch colors on the fly to destroy all energy bricks in sight! Bounce, boost, and race the clock through more than 160 handcrafted levels across 10 power plant themed worlds in this arcade puzzle-platformer. Chase S-ranks in Adventure Mode, or put your skills to the test in the Gauntlet!

Why similar: Score Attack 20.3%, Puzzle Platformer 18.8%, Arcade 16%, 2D Platformer 14.1%, Action 10.4%

Blockers is a new type of block breaking game.

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 26.2%, Score Attack 20.3%, Arcade 19.3%, Action 12.8%, Retro 11.4%

Rescue Guardian Blaster is a fast-paced, score-focused shoot 'em up! Destroy enemy ships by matching your ship's gun color to the enemy's to earn more points, all while tracking your score against the best players or your friends.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 30.8%, Arcade 18.3%, Shooter 16.1%, Action 12.4%, Score Attack 10.6%

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 36.2%, Score Attack 21.9%, Arcade 15.2%, Shooter 8.7%, Action 7.4%

This week, every pilot on Earth flies the same new seeded run: identical enemies, identical drops, pure skill. Flow through alien formations, arm your wingmen, and power up when you can. Out-score your friends in Plasma Sky, an arcade shmup with over 100 handcrafted levels. Blast into the neon sky!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 33.9%, Score Attack 22.4%, Arcade 15.4%, Shooter 7.4%, Retro 6.5%

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 39.7%, Arcade 15.7%, Shooter 13.3%, Action 10.7%, Score Attack 10.1%

Control your ship and destroy all the enemies and bases that have appeared through teleportation! is a score-attack vertical shooter for 1 or 2 players. Enjoy simple shoot-and-dodge gameplay, rich destruction effects, and tons of hidden features.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 33.1%, Score Attack 23.7%, Arcade 13.5%, Shooter 12%, Action 5.4%

Invaders from the Lost Sectors is classic arcade action. Aliens descend with increasing speed towards your base. Shoot them all before they land. Player controlled settings like guided missiles, rate of fire, enemy speed and more help you customize exactly the game experience that you want.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 34.1%, Arcade 16.3%, Shooter 15.8%, Score Attack 14.1%, Action 6.9%

A space explorer receives a strange signal from an unknown planet. What is in this place? Help Mell discover the mysteries of this new land in this retro platformer with an arcade feel.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 28.8%, Puzzle Platformer 25.2%, 2D Platformer 14.4%, Arcade 13.3%, Action 5%

Love retro shooters? Firebird is a blend of some of our teams favourite games from the space invasion genre. Battle aliens, giant space birds, tractor beams, air burst weapons, robot terrorists and massive motherships in a fight for domination.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 33.3%, Action 17.2%, Arcade 15.7%, Shooter 12.3%, Indie 7.7%

Join the High Commander as the eternally loyal Green in an epic journey to save the Blues from the menace of the Greys and their evil Red Gems!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 33.5%, Arcade 19.4%, Shooter 17%, Action 13.3%, 2D 6.2%

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 35.9%, Arcade 16.3%, Score Attack 15.1%, Shooter 12.4%, Action 9.4%

A 3D gravity shooter with infinite procedurally generated levels and hints of Thrust, Gravitar and Lunar Lander.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 37.9%, Arcade 21%, Action 15%, Shooter 9.9%, Sci-fi 7%

Jump into endless fights in this arcade game. You have just one job: Survive as long as you can and beat your score over and over. The enemies are stronger with each wave so your journey to great score would not be easy.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 31.4%, Score Attack 23.7%, Arcade 18.1%, Shooter 8.5%, 2D 7.9%

Infinite Shooter is a top down arcade shooting game, also known as a "Shmup", with the emphasis squarely on the action. With no story in the way of your fun, simply choose an opponent and take them down to earn powerful weapons, upgrades, ships, and power-ups!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 45.5%, Arcade 17.1%, Shooter 16.1%, Action 14.5%, Indie 6.8%

What can we say about Supaplex HARD in plain words? It is COMPLEXITY AND SPEED!

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 26.7%, Arcade 17.9%, 2D Platformer 15.6%, Stylized 10.1%, Action 9.5%

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 51.2%, Shooter 14.4%, Arcade 10.5%, Action 9.9%, Sci-fi 6.1%

Swaplings is a tag-team platformer about eight genetic experiments working together to escape the depths of a secret underground laboratory. Use each character's special abilities to jump gaps, stomp robots, and smash platforms until you can reach the surface and find freedom.

Why similar: Score Attack 25%, Puzzle Platformer 20%, Arcade 16.7%, 2D Platformer 15.7%, Precision Platformer 7.9%

Classic 2D shoot em up with updated graphics. Dodge a storm of bullets as you blast through space shooting hordes of enemies. Collect powerups to survive against fearsome bosses. Pilot a suicide runner as you fight to unravel the mystery of what is destroying the universe.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 32.8%, Arcade 15.7%, Score Attack 11.1%, Action 10.9%, Shooter 10.1%

Old school side scrolling shoot'em up. Blast through exciting different locations. Defeating waves of defenders until the final boss battle. Attack of the Mechadonk is a indie game developed for fun and learning for the creator.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 29.7%, Arcade 17.3%, Shooter 15.5%, Action 12.5%, Score Attack 11.2%

Marimoth is a short shoot 'em up that puts in control of a moth whose shots bounce off the walls. Calculate your aim, evade enemy attacks by learning their patterns and collect coins to power up.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 31.4%, Arcade 17.1%, Score Attack 16.3%, Shooter 11%, Action 7.5%

Runscore is a survival score based game, about destroying enemies. Enemies give different points depending on the current level and dimension. In Classic Mode your goal is to reach Endless UFO. It exist more Dimension with different gamemodes for example Radius Dimension. Get the best score!

Why similar: Score Attack 31.9%, Shoot 'Em Up 27.1%, Arcade 16.5%, Action 11.3%, Shooter 8.8%

Take command of an orbiting defense satellite in this action-packed planetary defense shooter. Blast away at waves of incoming asteroids and crafty aliens before they destroy your planet. Scavenge powerful weapons from vanquished alien ships and turn them against your foes. How long can you survive?

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 44%, Shooter 18.4%, Arcade 18%, Action 10.6%, 2D 6.5%

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 42.3%, Arcade 20.6%, Score Attack 16.4%, Action 7.8%, 2D 7.7%

Get ready for classic shoot-'em-up action in Toaplan's Fire Shark, now on PC with modern updates. An evil and overwhelmingly powerful military force is about to take over not only a small country, but the whole world... Defeat the enemy and accept your place of honor!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 36%, Arcade 19.7%, Score Attack 17.3%, Action 12.9%, Retro 7.1%

Super Psy Penguin is a Cyber Penguin Hero Simulator in which you play a realistic Cyber Penguin, giving you the power to save the galaxy! The game is inspired by Parodius and Xenon-II and many other Shmups from our childhoods.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 47.1%, Shooter 19.7%, Arcade 19.6%, Action 9.2%, Indie 3.2%

Accompany Maya and her little companion on an adventure where the only thing that matters is reaching the top.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 33.5%, 2D Platformer 19.5%, Shooter 14%, Arcade 13.7%, Action 7.1%

Sluggy Jean is a game utilizing a unique puzzle-platformer style!

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 37%, 2D Platformer 18.4%, Arcade 11.9%, Action 9.4%, Retro 7.5%

Relive that pure arcade thrill that you haven't experienced... in a long time! Load up on unique power-ups to create deadly combinations, unlock new ships with unique abilities, and defeat numerous bosses along the way.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 32.9%, Arcade 18.1%, Score Attack 18.1%, Action 12.4%, Retro 7.5%

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 31%, Score Attack 19%, Shooter 14.6%, Arcade 13.3%, Action 7%

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

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 34.2%, Score Attack 20.3%, Arcade 18.3%, Action 8.5%, 2D Platformer 6.7%

BIRBOUT! is a hybrid platform shooter where you play as Sunny The Cockatiel, unlock weapons, eat seeds, fight Plovers and save Snowy The Cockatiel from Desmond the Cat!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 30.5%, 2D Platformer 16.5%, Arcade 13.1%, Shooter 12.9%, Score Attack 9.9%

A synthetic race has come to your planet to steal your technology, And you have to fight them off. Fight off the Tecroroid invasion as they sent wave after wave of enemies to the planet.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 43.8%, Arcade 21.5%, Action 10.2%, Retro 9.2%, 2D 7.9%

Pilot your ship through fully explorable polygon worlds, battle colossal alien war machines, and save humanity from The Omega Strain. Featuring endless Simulation Mode and powered by RetroMesh — a custom engine built to push retro 3D beyond the limits of the 1990s.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 32.2%, Score Attack 15.9%, Arcade 14.5%, Action 10.6%, Sci-fi 6.8%

Salamander III is the newest addition to the Gradius series, a legendary pioneer in the side-scrolling shooter genre, and comes with the original arcade versions of the previous games.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 26.7%, Arcade 23.9%, Shooter 17.4%, 2D Platformer 11.7%, Action 9.2%

Pilot the all-powerful cell destroying Desolazor gunship and eradicate the mutagenic genotoxic pathogen before it consumes the entire galaxy. Soar through waves of threatening enemies and bosses beyond 6 stages packed with action, explosions, and lasers!

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 49.4%, Shooter 20%, Action 12.7%, 2D 7.9%, Sci-fi 6.8%

Super Slime Boy is a fast-paced precision platformer set in a black-and-white world filled with deadly traps. Jump, dodge saws and spikes, and race against time to complete levels while restoring color to the world!

Why similar: Puzzle Platformer 28.8%, 2D Platformer 16.6%, Score Attack 13.8%, Arcade 13.8%, Stylized 7.5%

AquaNimble is about crazy intense shooter action with big quirky guns against underwater snake dragons, cybernetic sharks, swirling skeletons, submarines and so much more. It's a dynamic game that makes every play through different and lets you set your own challenge beyond a difficulty setting.

Why similar: Shoot 'Em Up 35.8%, Score Attack 16.5%, Action 13.1%, Shooter 11.8%, Arcade 10.6%