Shoot 'em up
Ongoing coverage on Shoot 'em up.
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Xevious 128k - Arcade classic Xevious gets a 128k edition for the Amstrad CPC via Easter Egg
The classic 1982 arcade shoot 'em up Xevious has received a new 128k edition for the Amstrad CPC, developed by Easter Egg. This port features advanced raster effects, a custom screen layout, dedicated sound effects, and utilizes ZX0 compression to push the hardware's limits. The game challenges players to pilot the Solvalou fighter against enemy forces across eight looping zones.
SDO - A fast vertical shoot’em up for the Amstrad CPC by Xevimet4l
Star Defense Operation (SDO), a new vertical shoot 'em up developed by xevimet4l, is now available for the Amstrad CPC. The game is optimized for the 4 MHz hardware, featuring fast scrolling, parallax starfields, and 25 levels with bosses. SDO aims to provide a classic arcade experience with tight controls and a focus on high scores.
R-Type Dimensions III physical release moved to August, but don’t despair…
The physical release of R-Type Dimensions III for Nintendo Switch has been delayed to August 11, 2026, due to manufacturing and logistics issues. Digital versions will be available on May 19th, with pre-order customers eligible for early digital access keys. The Collector's Edition, featuring a figure crafted by Wētā Workshop, is now slated for a winter 2026 release.
Mag Max is this week’s Console Archives on Nintendo Switch 2
Hamster announced that Mag Max, originally released by Nichibutsu in 1986, will be available on Nintendo Switch via the Console Archives series starting May 7. The game features players controlling a transformable mecha to fight an alien computer. The Console Archives series aims to faithfully reproduce classic console games with modern conveniences like save states and customizable controls.
Shikhondo: Blue Pieta details boss characters
Publisher CFK and developer DeerFarm have revealed new details about the boss characters featured in their upcoming fantasy bullet hell shoot 'em up, Shikhondo: Blue Pieta. Further information regarding the game's bosses has been released.
R-Type Dimensions 3 announced for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch [update: release date]
ININ Games, in partnership with Tozai and Irem, has announced R-Type Dimensions 3 for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, set for release in May 2026. The game features completely reconstructed assets with cutting-edge visuals and sounds, expanded gameplay modes, and local cooperative play. A specific release date of May 19, 2026, was later confirmed, with physical editions delayed to August 11, 2026.
Devolver's 'Dark Scrolls' Mixes Roguelike Fantasy And Shmup Chaos On Switch This Month
Devolver Digital announced that Doinksoft's dungeon-scrolling fantasy game Dark Scrolls will launch on Nintendo Switch on May 28th. The game mixes roguelike elements with shoot 'em up mechanics, featuring procedurally generated levels, nine playable characters with unique skills, and online co-op gameplay.
ININ Games Confirms Timely Digital Launch of R-Type Dimensions III
ININ Games has announced that R-Type Dimensions III will launch digitally on May 19, 2026, while the physical edition has been delayed to August 11, 2026, due to manufacturing constraints. The Collector's Edition, featuring a figure crafted by Wētā Workshop, is now slated for a winter 2026 release. Physical copies will include the latest game build on-disc, eliminating the need for a Day One patch.
Review: R-TYPE DX: Music Encore (Switch) - A Pint-Sized Port, Still Curious And Cute
R-Type DX: Music Encore for Nintendo Switch is a port of a Game Boy Color title that combines R-Type and R-Type II with an updated soundtrack by WASi303. The package includes various modes, filters, and a rewind function, though the rewind timer does not pause when the game is paused. Despite some quirks inherited from its original hardware limitations, this audio-polished version offers a unique and enjoyable R-Type experience, particularly in handheld mode.
Shadow Fields - This side scrolling Shoot 'em up for the ZX Spectrum 128k by Gandulf is rather decent!
The new horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up, Shadow Fields, has been released for the ZX Spectrum 128k. Developed and graphically designed by Manuel Ferreira Moreno (Gandulf), the game is praised for pushing the hardware's limits with features like destructible environments and large bosses. It exclusively supports 128K models and utilizes assembler code.
Master the Gunboat and Ascend in Vibrant Shoot ‘em Up Gunboat God - Available Now on PlayStation and Xbox
The 2D shoot 'em up game Gunboat God is now available on PlayStation and Xbox for $12.99, following its earlier release on PC. Players can captain their own gunboat, upgrade abilities, and fight their way to the Citadel in the Sky.
CyberBlocker Complete Edition Blasts Onto Xbox, PlayStation, Switch And PC
CyberBlocker Complete Edition has launched on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch for £6.69. This arcade title blends the classic brick-breaking formula with shoot 'em up elements, featuring twin ships and a neon-soaked aesthetic. The game offers a standard mode across five stages, a Challenge Mode, and Play Anywhere support for PC and Xbox.
Gamble your entire progression in the arcade shoot ‘em up OBLITACRATER - out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam
The arcade shoot 'em up OBLITACRATER is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Developed by Strangely Named, the game features high-risk, high-reward runs with a single, cumulative score that can be lost upon death. Players manage upgrades and decide when to escape to maximize their leaderboard position.
Kamikaze Lassplanes, a unique blend of Visual Novel and Shoot 'em up, flies onto PlayStation 5 today!
Kamikaze Lassplanes, a visual novel and shoot 'em up hybrid developed by Inky Dreams and published by Crunching Koalas, has launched on PlayStation 5. The game features branching story decisions and arcade shoot-'em-up gameplay, and is also available on PC and Nintendo Switch with launch discounts.
R-Type DX: Music Encore announced for Nintendo Switch [update: release date]
City Connection has announced R-Type DX: Music Encore for Nintendo Switch, set to launch on April 30, 2026. This title revives the 1999 shoot 'em up R-Type DX, including R-Type and R-Type 2, with a new "Ultimate Challenge" mode featuring a full, stage-specific soundtrack composed by WASi303. The game also includes digitized extras and player-friendly support features.
Shikhondo: Blue Pieta debut trailer
Publisher CFK and developer DeerFarm have released the debut trailer for their upcoming fantasy bullet hell shoot 'em up, Shikhondo: Blue Pieta. Further details about the game's platforms and release date are expected soon.
Review: ZPF (Switch) - A Unique-Feeling Mega Drive Shooter With Some Switch Issues
ZPF is a unique Mega Drive-style shoot 'em up for the Nintendo Switch, featuring a blend of fantasy and cyberpunk elements. While visually impressive for its 16-bit roots and offering deep gameplay mechanics, the Switch port suffers from persistent scroll judder and a lack of quality-of-life features, significantly impacting the overall experience.
Warp Into Retro-Futuristic Mayhem — ZPF Soars onto Steam and Consoles Today
The shoot 'em up game ZPF has launched today on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S for $9.99. Developed by ZPF Team and published by Mega Cat Studios, the game features retro-futuristic visuals, challenging bosses, and a high-energy soundtrack. ZPF is also Steam Deck verified and includes updates from its acclaimed Genesis debut.
Shoot ’em up ‘Shikhondo: Blue Pieta’ Launches May 18 on PC
CFK and DeerFarm announced that the side-scrolling shoot 'em up Shikhondo: Blue Pieta will launch on PC via Steam and Stove on May 18, 2026, with PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch versions to follow. The game features a new side-scrolling perspective, a Soul Collect system for building multipliers, and a Counter Bomb mechanic.
Shikhondo: Blue Pieta for PC launches May 18
The fantasy bullet hell shoot 'em up game Shikhondo: Blue Pieta is set to launch for PC via Steam and Stove on May 18. Console versions for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch will follow at a later date. The game features side-scrolling gameplay, full voice acting, and new mechanics like Counter Bomb.
