Shoot 'em up
Ongoing coverage on Shoot 'em up.
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Hidden Gems of Game Design Vol 51
This article highlights three overlooked games: Phantom 2040, a choose-your-own-adventure Metroidvania with ambitious gameplay for its time; Soukyuu Gurentai, a fast-paced Sega Saturn shooter with a unique lock-on mechanic; and Sky Destroyer, a challenging NES rail shooter with a novel 3D perspective. The pieces celebrate these titles as hidden gems deserving of recognition.
SCARTARIX: WORLD EATER - A first time game by SHORIONTEA for the C64 that's worth a look! (WIP)
SCARTARIX: WORLD EATER, a new shoot 'em up for the Commodore 64 by SHORIONTEA, has released its first playable beta. Developed by a first-time programmer over the past year, the game has received positive early feedback for its visuals and smooth gameplay, despite lacking a soundtrack in this initial build. The developer is actively seeking community input to refine the final version.
Arcade-Style Vertical Scrolling Shoot ’Em Up Birdcage Is Coming to Consoles
The arcade-style vertical scrolling shoot 'em up Birdcage, already available on PC, is coming to consoles including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox on September 23rd, 2026. A physical PlayStation 5 version is planned for March 2027. The game features explosive '90s arcade shooter action with modern mechanics and a sci-fi story inspired by Metal Gear Solid.
Wings of Beyond Review | TheXboxHub
Wings of Beyond offers an inventive take on the shoot 'em up genre with a unique sticker-book aesthetic and a tower-defense-like level structure. However, the review criticizes the controversial decision to reset all power-ups at the start of each level, making the initial gameplay feel sluggish and unenjoyable. While the game's varied level design is praised, the lack of meaningful weapon variety, distinct bosses, and unlockable content ultimately leads to a repetitive experience.
Fitorian - A rather decent Galaxian clone for the Amstrad CPC by fitosoft
Fitorian, a new shoot 'em up developed by fitosoft, has been released for the Amstrad CPC. Inspired by 1980s arcade classics like Galaxian, the game tasks players with defending the planet from alien forces in fast-paced, nostalgic gameplay.
Coming Out in gaming this week — August 24, 2026
This week's gaming releases include a variety of titles across multiple platforms. Highlights include the pixel remake Apidya, the shooter Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, the strategy game Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia, and the prequel Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy. Other notable releases are Star Wars: Zero Company, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2, Aggelos 2, Elden Ring for Switch 2, Captain Tsubasa II: World Fighters, and Toaplan Arcade Garage titles Flying Shark and Fire Shark.
Apidya' Special Rebuilds a Classic Amiga Shoot-'Em-Up for Modern Platforms | Invision Game Community
Apidya' Special, a full remake of the 1992 Amiga shoot-'em-up Apidya, is set to launch on August 25, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Team Apidya and published by ININ Games, the remake features rebuilt graphics, new gameplay features like co-op mode, and an expanded soundtrack by Chris Hülsbeck, while offering modern accessibility options alongside classic presentation choices.
Wings of Beyond Takes The Fight To The Galaxy
Wings of Beyond, a fast-paced arcade shoot 'em up developed by Acangaiba Estúdio, has been released for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. The game features 30 stages across three galactic systems, with unlockable ship upgrades and customization options.
Super Astro Cat 2 Gives Its Feline Heroes A New Mission
Super Astro Cat 2 is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC for £4.19. Developed by Synnergy Circle Games, the sequel tasks players with defending newly established bases from an alien invasion using a new arsenal of weapons. The game follows the original Super Astro Cat, which was released in late 2024.
Project Hydron - This Battle Squadron tease could be rather decent for the Amiga!
Cobour has announced Hydron, a new vertical shoot 'em up for the Commodore Amiga inspired by Hybris and Battle Squadron. The game is designed to run on a standard Amiga 500 with 1MB of RAM and adheres to OCS and PAL standards. Development is ongoing, with monthly devlogs and testable ADF disk images planned.
Wolf Duology - Binary Asylum's 1994 Amiga 3D Shoot 'em up is getting is getting an ultrawide modernization
Almost There Games is releasing a modernized version of Binary Asylum's 1994 Amiga cult-classic shoot 'em ups, ZeeWolf and ZeeWolf 2: Wild Justice. This unofficial PC release includes 64 missions with enhanced widescreen, high-resolution 3D graphics, modern lighting, and updated controller support, while also offering a classic graphics mode.
Next Week on XBOX: New Games for August 17 to 21
This week's "Next Week on Xbox" feature highlights numerous game releases for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC between August 17 and 21, including titles available on Game Pass. Notable releases include S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (DLC), Backyard Baseball, The Sinking City 2, and Mortal Shell II, alongside a variety of indie titles across different genres.
Raptor: Call of the Shadows - An Amiga 68060 RTG / PiStorm port is in the works!
A new port of the 1994 PC DOS shoot-'em-up Raptor: Call of the Shadows is in development for the Commodore Amiga, utilizing AI assistance and open-source code. The project has achieved milestones like menu and input support on RTG graphics, with ongoing work to optimize performance on PiStorm and other accelerators. Community testing will begin once audio bugs are resolved, requiring users to provide their own original game data.
Sky Shapers (Amiga) - A vertical scrolling SHMUP from new Norwegian developers Digilicious Nibbles with a new v1.1 update!
Digilicious Nibbles has released a v1.1 update for their Amiga vertical shoot 'em up, Sky Shapers. The update addresses player feedback by adding black outlines to sprites for better visibility, improving sprite color and priority, and refining collision detection. The game, which features 3 levels and 37 enemy types, is set on an Amiga AGA system and requires specific hardware configurations.
Caladrius is back after 13 years and our ageing shmup reflexes are already terrified
Moss has announced Caladrius 2/Dark Element, a sequel to their 2013 gothic bullet-hell shooter, set for a winter 2026 worldwide release on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game will feature new characters and expanded versions of returning mechanics like Shame Break and Element Shot, set in a dark gothic world.
Changeable Guardian ESTIQUE Launches On Xbox – An 8-Bit Shooter Built For Modern Players
Changeable Guardian ESTIQUE, a side-scrolling shoot 'em up developed by Cat Hui Trading and published by AMATA, has launched on Xbox Series X|S and PC. The game features a transforming mech system, 8-bit presentation, and two distinct storylines for Japanese and North American versions, priced at £11.99.
Shoot ’em up game Project Neon planned for Nintendo Switch
Fullset is bringing its 16-bit shoot 'em up game, Project Neon, to the Nintendo Switch on August 13, 2026. The game tasks players with dismantling an interplanetary shield to rescue a visionary from Mars and save Earth from ecological collapse in a sci-fi adventure.
Shoot ’em up Changeable Guardian Estique making its way to Nintendo Switch [update: release date]
Amata Games and Cat Hui Trading announced that Changeable Guardian Estique will be released on the Nintendo Switch on August 6, 2026. This side-scrolling robot shoot 'em up, originally released for NES and Famicom, will include both versions of the game and a new gallery mode.
Truxton Extreme launch trailer – new Nintendo Switch 2 game that’s the series’ first new game in almost 40 years
Clear River Games and Tatsujin have released a launch trailer for Truxton Extreme, the first new entry in the Truxton shooter series in nearly 40 years. The game features fully rendered 3D graphics, multiple game modes including Story, Arcade, and two-player co-op, and is available now on Nintendo Switch.
Project Neon Blasts Onto Xbox With A Mission To Save Earth – By Invading Mars
Project Neon, a new vertical shoot 'em up from developer and publisher FULLSET, is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC. The game tasks players with saving Earth by invading Mars, dismantling planetary defense networks, and battling colossal bosses in fast-paced, 16-bit inspired action.
