10 FANTASTIC Shoot-em-up Indie Games to BLAST Your Way Through!

[@JuanRoosterbeard]

Wings of Bluestar, Demonizer, Súper XYX, Ginga Force, Crisis wing, Rígid Forcé alpha, the adventures of ten and till, steel vampire, maiden and spell, astral gunners, Blue revolver, Danmaku unlimited 3, horizon shift 81.

[@ClemmyGames]

Plenty of good title! I liked Maiden and spell though I would put in in another category. Maybe another video for "arena shooters"? Then again, not quite the right term since people might think of Quake lol

[@frankieparsonstop10s55]

These are mostly new to me but look pretty good. Hopefully will pick up a few in the upcoming steam sale.

[@kevinrafael2318]

4:06 the original game was way older than the 2015 one i still remember the vintage sound of "YEEHAW" on my Clicky phone

[@the_elder_gamer]

For someone whose formative shoot 'em up experience was games like Space Invaders, Galaga, Missile Command, and Defender it sure is crazy to see just how far the format can stretch. It'd be fun to take these titles back to the early 80s and release them in an arcade to see people's reactions. I don't think people would believe what they're seeing...or be able to play them.

[@ClemmyGames]

I'm reminded of this guy who brought up his kid by making them play "retro" games from the 80s/90s (but this was in the 2010s), kid grew up to be scary good at such arcade titles

[@Apc7th]

Never stop making videos. i would be so lost with out your stuff. no lie.

[@ClemmyGames]

Welcome! Do browse the playlists for more! kzbin.infoplaylists

[@user-stanrbm]

I like Monolith (or Monolith: After the End).

[@ClemmyGames]

Love monolith but consider it more of a rogue-lite

[@wilrivera2668]

... sky force anniversary is one of the best shooters I've ever played. Love the widescreen.

[@ClemmyGames]

Agreed! Thanks for sharing

[@belldrop7365]

There's two types of games in this genre. One where you hold the attack button and unleash hell on enemies. And another where you hold the attack button while enemies unleash hell on you.

[@ClemmyGames]

XD

[@theinvisibleskulk4563]

It's interesting you go over space shooters now. Don't be surprised if you get an invitation from major space shooter channel The Electric Underground to go on his channel... if you haven't already. You seem more into arcade-style action games and competitive games than I thought you were, but he's been outright disdainful of roguelites, JRPGs and maybe even Metroidvanias.

[@ClemmyGames]

Ehh It's cool to like your own stuff, no need to hate on other imo

[@theinvisibleskulk4563]

@@ClemmyGames That's a good attitude to have in general.

[@frankieparsonstop10s55]

Yep, Jets 'n' Guns, Skyforce, Crimzon Clover and Jamestown are all in my library and are ace. I also have Steredenn and Astebreed but not such a big fan of those. Zero Ranger goes on the wishlist. For verticals, I'd add Bullet Heaven 2, Raiden IV: Overkill, Eschatos and Xenoraid. While for horizontal side-scrollers, I'd throw in Aqua Kitty and Deathsmiles. Asteroids-style? Why not Beat Hazard (1&2), Geometry Wars 3, Nova Drift (EA) and Waves. Got my eye on Super Hydorah as well mentioned below.

[@ClemmyGames]

Good games! I think Aqua kitty is in another sub-genre (where the level is "fixed" and enemies spawn in) while the beat hazards, nova drifts and Geometry wars of the world are in that "arena shooter" space

[@superantoniogames]

You should have included Hydorah / Super Hydorah

[@SPM_STG]

I'm on the fence about getting Super Hydorah. Do you have to do the first two stages every single time? Or is there another way to practice the second half of the game, less tedious?

[@ClemmyGames]

Quite a number of these in the comments! Gotta check it out!

[@Efreno]

Uhhhh revolver 360 REFRAIN!!! sora REFLEX??? There are so many but did u know the original name for zero ranger was “final boss”?? Cant wait for R Type final 2

[@ClemmyGames]

Many good ones indeed, these are just 10 that I like!

[@bitemeblinky]

Always like to see people talk about Crimzon Clover, it is an awesome game. It's a really good intro to bullet hell games if you have bounced off them before for being too hard.

[@ClemmyGames]

For sure!

[@vanishedcone0]

you know you have a problem when you have all of the games in the video lol

[@ClemmyGames]

XD Look forward to more new ones then

[@matteste]

You should maybe check the classic Tale of Alltynex series. It has been on steam for a while and is just Shmup goodness at it's finest. Then there is also Hellsinker, which may be more of an acquired taste as it is not for the impatient. Then there is Revolver360 Re:Actor which is pretty unique as well.

[@ClemmyGames]

Thanks for the recommendations! I do somehow have RefleX in my library so I'll give it another look!

[@sorubro2193]

Dude I wanted to play that saga so bad but game has limited credits, I just want infinite credits, any way to do it?

[@matteste]

@@sorubro2193 Well the first game in the trilogy, Kamui, has infinite continues, while in Reflex you earn additional continues through regular play. In Alltynex Second however you are stuck with a limited stock.

[@RetroShock19]

@@matteste Not really true, in Alltynex Second u got a new credit after a game over as well, the game just doesn't tell you about it like in RefleX. The whole trilogy has infinite continues that way.

[@Universalchild001]

These are fantastic videos as always, it also makes me think of how many genres would be dead without indie developers. You really do indie games a great service, keep it up :D!

[@ClemmyGames]

Thank you! Will do!

[@mryurei8656]

Nice to see a list with both vertical and horizontal shooters since western devs mostly make horizontal shmups. It would be cool to see more vertical indies since they focus more on bullet patterns and bosses with awesome visual appeal and soundtrack like the Touhou shmups.

[@ClemmyGames]

I think you gotta have both right? Maybe widescreens make the horizontal version more popular

[@mryurei8656]

@@ClemmyGames most of the famous shmups in the 90s were horizontal for non Japanese gamers so maybe that's why.

[@victorribeiro3355]

I'm so happy you made a Shoot em up list! Thank you so much! All of these shmups look really good, although i might get the more standard ones (The ones with set powerups and stuff like that). Although, i will definetly give a chance to Astrabreed and Jets n guns 2, they look really unique!

[@ClemmyGames]

You're welcome!

[@DirkDierickx]

Skyforce (multiple versions) and Sterredenn are the best!

[@ClemmyGames]

Great games!

[@KlingerNevesOficial]

Thanks for fulfilling my request, Clem! You're the man! Great choices! But it's not enough. Please consider do more videos about _shmups_ ... There are a lot of them out there... ;-) *_ZeroRanger_* and *_Jamestown_* are on my Top 10 recent _shmups_ for sure. The previous versions of *_Sky Force_* and *_Jets'n'Guns_* I played a lot about three years ago... Have to test those new installments though... As for the others, I'll definitely check them out. Suggestion: Make a video (or videos) about black and white games... I have seen quite a bit of them on Twitter recently, so it would be nice to know some more of that exotic type of games... Thanks again, bro!

[@ninjabigos]

would put ZeroRanger easily on 1st spot, as it's not only stunningly designed, but also uses its genre as a clever allegory. Oh, and that finale...

[@ClemmyGames]

Thank you for sharing, it's a great game

[@wahidovich2021]

Sky Force Reloaded was better than anniversary IMHO Thanks for the video, I discovered new games to try, cheers!

[@ClemmyGames]

Sure, these are just a couple that I liked!

[@cello3544]

Awesome shmup vid! I like the way that you included some of the games that have a physical release! 👍🏽😃

[@ClemmyGames]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@maxwelljillie]

Great list! +1 Syder Arcade

[@ClemmyGames]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@tecnosofttechnosoft3426]

Super Hydorah ?!

[@ClemmyGames]

Sure!

[@mryurei8656]

Touhou games are the best in vertical shooters in my opinion but they have a connected story or are hard for newcomers even in normal so it's okay for it to be not here I guess.

[@dragonmageddon8459]

i think touhou games are very approachable - the gameplay is simple to grasp, and the aesthetics communicate a non-hardcore experience. fantastic danmaku festival 2 deserved to be high on this list :)

[@ClemmyGames]

Like I said, I'm not too into the touhou games so I don't feel like I'm in a place to comment. People do love them though! Any recommendations?

[@mryurei8656]

@@dragonmageddon8459 sure the games are approachable but they need your time for you to be able to master the mechanics of each game and pulling an 1cc which might be hard if you are not already accustomed to shmups. They do provide a lot of variety though and every game has a unique feature to it so it does make the appeal of each game different.

[@mryurei8656]

@@ClemmyGames I've heard older windows games don't open on Windows 10 but gameplay wise touhou 8 has the most variety and has stuff like spell practice and gives you an option upto 8 lives since you have to complete the games multiple times. Touhou 10, 12, 14 and 16 are more approachable I guess if the older games aren't available specially 10 since it uses your power points as bombs.

[@imnotlarry]

great vid man. love classic shoot em up games !

[@SPM_STG]

Astebreed's problem is that it's too easy on normal (got 1cc first try and I'm not a pro or anything) and you have to complete it to unlock hard mode, which should be there from the get go. But even in that mode, if you don't go for score, it's pretty mindless. Going for score changes everything and the game becomes much much better though

[@ClemmyGames]

Thanks for sharing

[@En_Debribu]

a few more entries for my wishlist, and a kick in the butt to play those I already have!

[@ClemmyGames]

Yeah! Some which I enjoyed for sure

[@fthprodphoto-video5357]

Thank you so much great channel !!!

[@travelfix86]

I also enjoy: Freedom Finger and Panzer Dragoon Orta / Remake.

[@ClemmyGames]

Mm, thanks for sharing your picks

[@marc-antoinedufour-cauchon4218]

i love of zeroranger because of DAM COMPLEX STORY. i mean... look at the shoot em up back trough the year. they never have complex meta-storyline with emotional moment, only rpg can have that back in the 80/90s and 200s. but THIS indie shmup, god,,, i think that all of his predecessor and his contemporary could be proud of him as THE undertale of their genres, darius, gradius, PARODIUS and all the shoot em up gaming genre rise up to zeroranger as he receive his honor

[@ikagura]

"they never have complex meta-storyline with emotional moment" Have you ever played Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga?

[@marc-antoinedufour-cauchon4218]

@@ikagura yeah sorry dude i forgot, i dont want to make anyone angry

[@ikagura]

@@marc-antoinedufour-cauchon4218 No I'm not really angry but I'm just mildly annoyed when people acts as if Undertale was the first game to be meta and break the 4th whole (something MGS in the 90's already has done).

[@marc-antoinedufour-cauchon4218]

@@ikagura thank ikagura, you make me feel more happy goodnight🙂

[@Crackalacking_Z]

Check out: Black Bird, Super Galaxy Squadron EX Turbo, Syder Arcade, Dezatopia, Blue Revolver, Hellsinker, Neko Navy.

[@ClemmyGames]

Some good recommendations as well. I think the Black Bird/Aqua Kitty/LUFTRAUSERS type shooter is in another "sub-genre". Neko Navy's new to me, thanks!

[@mlands3]

Radiant Silvergun rerelease when? (nice little plug for The Void Rains Upon Her Heart at the start btw) Steredenn is a personal favorite and the OST is amazing synth-metal madness, and you can download it for free on Bandcamp from the creator too!

[@ClemmyGames]

Man I miss Treasure..

[@AmethystHarp]

I don't know if it's considered "indie" but it has such an interesting story behind the development, source code losing and things like that, but I would mention that Zero Gunner 2 (from the Dreamcast era) is also released December 21st!

[@ClemmyGames]

Huh! Interesting. Didn't know the history behind that

[@sega20x80]

I watch Alpha Beta Gamer. I started to know Project Starship X. Pretty good.

[@ClemmyGames]

Mmhmm

[@32LY]

There is rigid force redux very good shmup like ps2 era between R type final, gradius 5 and thunder force 6 Have to try it

[@ClemmyGames]

Thanks for th recommendation

[@retroremy]

You forgot: SUPER XYX, ZENODYNE SERIES, ZENOHELL, ZENODEATH, FIRE ARROW PLUS, JET BUSTER (All on Steam)

[@ClemmyGames]

Thanks for the recommendations

[@retroremy]

@@ClemmyGames Channel is very helpful discovering new indie titles, appreciate all the hard work 👍

[@ClemmyGames]

@@retroremy Welcome

[@AndrewThomasSpecialEffects]

No my fav genre but the story you shared about " Devil Engines" devs is super sad. Noticed a lot of legal struggles for games in the past few years and they're getting more frequent.

[@ClemmyGames]

Yeah, indie devs need to be careful. Fight Knight got caught up in that mess as well

[@Dnobagav49]

I thought Galak-Z by 17-Bit was a decent shoot'em up... even has a cool cell-shaded look to the aesthetics.

[@ClemmyGames]

Not exactly a "shoot-em-up" like the games here but it's a good one! kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4rOZXqaZ7qMkMU

[@88Opportunist]

SHMUPS really aren't my thing, the kind of thing I'd maybe spend a day or two on my phone with back in the days of Nokia Symbian. But even I have to admit that Jets N Guns, Astebreed and Jamestown are something special and they are all in my collection.

[@ClemmyGames]

Excellent! I like them but am not HARDCORE per say, it's fun!

[@d_sev]

freedom finger should be on the list

[@ClemmyGames]

Something about the tone didn't really sit right with me

[@soratheorangejuicemascot5809]

Awwww, my I am kinda bit disappointed that the shmups I owned isnt on the list. Anyways, my favorites are Sora, QP Shooting Dangerous, Trouble Witches and Caladrius Blaze.

[@ClemmyGames]

Some interesting ones you got!

[@MeDjezze]

You have chosen Sky Force Anniversary over Reloaded? And one game that is definitely missing from this list is Super Hydorah.

[@ClemmyGames]

I supposed Reloaded is newer. Thanks for the rec!

[@cuntcrusher363]

pls make cool list of run'n'gun games!!!

[@ClemmyGames]

Here ya go! Help share it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6a0ZnljoNJjitE

[@cuntcrusher363]

@@ClemmyGames yyeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaah

[@cuntcrusher363]

@@ClemmyGames but also i thought about some new stuff like game Iron Meat ant other

[@ClemmyGames]

@@cuntcrusher363 Maybe something here then kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5uXqnSebpuXi6s (though I did miss Iron Meat). Steel Assault looks good imo

[@cuntcrusher363]

@@ClemmyGames i know a game with similar name - Blade Assault, looks also similar, but it's rogue-like, unfortunately for me

[@MrTargetSan]

Unfortunately can't recommend Sky Force Anniversary. It's grindy to extreme. You'll be replaying same mission 5 tens of times to get enough currency for upgrades.

[@endrgar]

It's not just shоot em up, it's bullet hell. Although for the Japanese playing shоot em up, nothing is impossible.😁

[@ClemmyGames]

For sure, they are really good at these!

[@Hybban]

I came to see if you would cover The Void Rains Upon Her Haart and... you kinda did ;)

[@ClemmyGames]

;)

[@sjzz1967]

Do you know any games like these but can be played multiplayer???

[@tehteh9893]

Jean SJ, many arcade machine games that can be played with MAME emulator have coop. For example, games by CAVE. Also try Change Air Blade, a unique versus shmup.

[@jyoder1]

I would like to see the reception of a resource management shmup

[@ClemmyGames]

Hmmm What do you mean by that?

[@jyoder1]

@@ClemmyGames in most shmups the fire button is pointless because proteome normally press it the whole time. Imagine having limited use bullets, rockets, and special weapons requiring the player to be accurate and spend wisely between each level. Even to the point of training new recruits (extra lives) Gain income by destroying certain targets and collecting scrap metal.

[@ClemmyGames]

@@jyoder1 Oh right, I see what you mean! Yeah the "hold fire button" is certainly a thing here, though it's usually traded off with moving slower while firing? Limited bullets would be hell lol

[@jyoder1]

@@ClemmyGames generally it would be balanced so that you can shoot at most enemies and be fine. I would also say that because there are several fighters with several ships, a kamikaze attack would be feasible. If you kamikaze an objective, then the next area is unlocked.

[@agiotadoibura141]

I love your channel

[@ClemmyGames]

Thank you

[@liarashelred8970]

este top si vale la pena

[@ClemmyGames]

Thanks!

[@rebel.shadow]

Touhou

[@ClemmyGames]

sure