Shoot 'em up
Ongoing coverage on Shoot 'em up.
Latest coverage
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.
Truxton Extreme – The Legendary SHMUP Returns With A Modern Twist
Truxton Extreme, the latest installment in the classic vertical shooter series, has launched on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Developed by TATSUJIN and published by Clear River Games AB, the game features modern 3D visuals, new modes like Story Mode and Team Mode, and a soundtrack by series creator Masahiro Yuge, while retaining the core gameplay of the original.
This week's Epic Games free games are roguelite heaven, with an underworld and a mansion to explore
Epic Games Store is offering two free roguelite titles this week: OTXO and Sol Cesto. Sol Cesto is a tactical roguelite with an underworld theme and tabletop-style gameplay, while OTXO is a fast-paced, top-down shoot 'em up set in a randomly generated mansion. Both games are available for free from July 30 to August 6.
Truxton Extreme launches today, bringing the classic shmup series back after 38 years
Truxton Extreme has launched today on PlayStation 5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC, marking the first new entry in the arcade shooter series in 38 years. Developed by Tatsujin and published by Clear River Games, the game features fully rendered 3D graphics, multiple game modes including cooperative play, and several difficulty options. The standard edition is priced at $24.99, with a Digital Deluxe Edition available for $29.99.
TX-1696 - A nod to Shoot 'em up classics for your ZX Spectrum Next [UPDATE]
The shoot 'em up game TX-1696 by Lucky Red Fish for the ZX Spectrum Next has received a significant price reduction to £25.00. The game is described as a coin-op quality destructive action title with a unique weapon system and multiple levels, drawing inspiration from classic titles like R-Type and Project-X.
Apidya' Special - An authentic, 24-bit pixel remake of a classic Shoot 'em up is still coming and we have exclusive footage!
ININ Games has announced that 'Apidya Special', a 24-bit pixel art remake of the 90s shoot 'em up classic, is still scheduled for release on August 25th, 2026 for consoles and PC. The game features handcrafted pixels, an original soundtrack by Chris Hulsbeck, and modern features like co-op mode and adjustable visual presentations.
Chromo Shock Reloaded - A side scrolling shoot 'em up for the C64 by cristiancubillos
Chromo Shock Reloaded is a new homebrew shoot 'em up game developed by cristiancubillos for the Commodore 64. This upgraded 'Reloaded' edition focuses on refinement, optimizing performance, and fine-tuning the soundtrack for a pure arcade blasting experience.
Scramble Arcade - An incredible conversion coded by Epy for the Commodore Plus/4
A new conversion of the arcade classic Scramble, titled Scramble Arcade, has been released for the Commodore Plus/4. Coded by Géza Eperjessy, the game is a faithful 1:1 recreation of the original, featuring high-resolution graphics, authentic sound, and controller compatibility. The project recently won second place in the GameDev competition at Arok Party 2026.
Blast’N Bounty Is A Love Letter To Arcade Shoot ‘Em Ups
Blast'N Bounty, an arcade-inspired vertical shoot 'em up developed by No CheckPoint and published by Eastasiasoft, has launched today. The game is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, featuring colorful pixel art, low-poly 3D visuals, and a revenge-fueled quest.
R-Type 3 Dimensions (PC) Review – A Brutal Classic Reborn in 3D | Invision Game Community
R-Type 3 Dimensions on PC offers a faithful adaptation of the classic arcade shooter, bringing its brutal difficulty and pattern-based gameplay into a modern 3D presentation. While the visuals are updated, the core experience remains uncompromisingly challenging, demanding precision and repetition from players. This title is a direct homage to its roots, designed for those who appreciate old-school design and the satisfaction of mastering its unforgiving mechanics.
Vulgus - A nice little Arcade shooter is coming to the Amiga via JOTD and team!
JOTD is developing a Commodore Amiga AGA port of Capcom's 1984 arcade shooter, Vulgus. The game, which was Capcom's first video game, is a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up featuring a dual-weapon system. The port is based on a Z80 assembly reverse-engineering effort by Mark and utilizes a new custom code converter. While still in development with some graphical and sound issues, the build is functional and promising for fans of arcade and Amiga games.
My favorite shmup game is coming to a retro console I still can't remotely afford
The Polymega retro console is releasing Polymega Collection Vol. 20, featuring four classic Toaplan shoot 'em up games: Truxton, Truxton II, Alcon, and Grind Stormer. This compilation is available via proprietary CDs for the $549 Polymega base unit or its PC app, adding to the console's growing library of retro game releases.
