Top 11 Shmups on Nintendo Switch! 2020 Edition! (Best Switch Shmups)

[@vr4ever645]

Crimzon Clover FTW, hands down!

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Agreed haha, this list was made before world explosion was released

[@craigjuan5744]

That game deserves a physical release. I would buy it

[@roger2k]

@@TheElectricUnderground new list please

[@streetmagik3105]

I hope it gets a physical release. Excellent shmup!!

[@mazstg8844]

As a super Ikaruga fan, I appreciated your criteria of reserving the top seeds for console exclusives and better crafted ports. I currently own the 3 most recent versions of Ika (plus emu for save states cough cough) and I 95% play on Steam. The compressed OSTs and lag hiccups when playing docked are noticeable drawbacks for the Switch versions.

[@RiRinKal]

Yikes...

[@Chronosv2]

As of a couple months ago, the dev of Devil Engine reported that they've come to an agreement with Dangen Entertainment, and they now have full control of their game now. So it's a safe bet to get the game at this point.

[@shikikan_kanchou]

Nice to see Azure Reflections on the list!

[@boghogSTG]

Psyvariar Delta hell yes! Can't recommend that game enough. Ingenious scoring mechanics, it takes what is usually a passive gameplay mechanic and turns it into a hyperactive fast paced spectacle. Instead of picking good spots, tap dodging and waiting for bullets to drift your way, you're chasing them down and dancing all over the screen.

[@mishikomishiko9088]

Switch is my main console. So thank you very much for this. Greatly appreciate it.

[@dr_ubo]

This list will need a review when Crimzon Clover comes to the Switch. Great list honestly. Personally I'd add Pawarumi and Super Hydora.

[@syltendo]

Thanks for the list! Apart from these (half of which I’ve not played yet), I have a soft spot for Steredenn: Binary Stars and Freedom Finger.

[@thelastgogeta]

I found your channel when searching for info on Dangen and really appreciate this list confirming that ACA releases (only have fighting games I think) are legit. Besides Thunder Force IV, I think I only have Astebreed and Cat Girl with Salad on Switch. That Touhou game will have to go up on my radar along with some others. Psyvariar Delta's blazing barrel roll grazing sounds neat too. 12 save states from Darius Cozmic Collection is sick... It really hurts that like... zero of these games have demos in addition to how small the community seems to be. Indie fighting games have it a bit similar.

[@outexyt]

Of course in the end it is all personal taste, but I think Super Hydorah deserves a spot on your list. Such a well made, creative and challenging hommage to old school shooters.

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

Definitely would recommend playing ESP Ra de psy horizontally with a flip grip.

[@Nicklaceydood]

Psyvariar Delta was the first shmup I ever bought and it’s also the game that got me hooked to the genre. This list is great!

[@jamesclark9380]

Darius Cozmic Collection seems to be a good menu simulator

[@THESHMUPMASTER]

Devil Engine is great (even if it's basically a watered down version of a Thunder Force game). I've practiced it a bit but haven't beaten it yet... Azure Reflections is just.. bizarre LOL... Ikaruga I had major issues playing in handheld mode... Screen is just too small for me. And, I'll be that guy.... WHERE'S THUNDER FORCE 4????? IMO, it blows Devil Engine away. Also, M2 handled the port.. and as you know, they have done some amazing ports. Including your #1 game here ESP Ra.De. Psi. Lastly, you should check out Pawarumi if you haven't. They ported it to Switch last year I believe and it's a really solid shmup/bullet hell. I enjoyed this video man, under 15 minutes! I have time to watch it! :D

[@BillB808]

I think i might find a spot for super hydorah and mayybe jamestown+ also

[@BeugsTheLegend]

I haven’t picked up super hydorah yet but Jamestown+ might be my favorite shooter of all time.

[@Albertredneck]

@@BeugsTheLegend Both are great.

[@headman82]

Nice list. DU3 is probably my favorite of the bunch. Thanks for the recommendations. I actually wasn’t aware of some of them

[@andrewbutler9533]

Enjoyed watching this way after the fact and seeing now that all those games and DLCs you mentioned have since been released on Switch. 👍

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Ha that s great!!

[@hooksnfangs6006]

Wonderful list! Ill definitely have to check out Psyvariar Delta some time. Also nice to see Azure Reflections get in the list! I've spent so many hours on it along with Rolling Gunner and Esp RaDe.

[@sfbsfb]

Great picks. As others have mentioned, I’d also rate Super Hydorah and Jamestown highly. Another good one on Switch is Dezatopia. Maybe kinda niche, as its mechanics are unusual, and it looks like an unreleased Sega Saturn game - but very much to my liking. Don’t recall whether you ever tried that one.

[@FuZZbaLLbee]

As a newcomer to Shmups, I do enjoy Gunbird2 on the Switch but that might change when I become more critical of input lag. ESP Ra de is my favorite as well. It even supports a 4x3 monitor in vertical mode by allowing to stretch the image. Other games squash the widescreen into 4x3 giving bars and changing the aspect ratio of the game.

[@salvatoredidio9424]

Yes but the Input lag is about 6ms Same as the Dreamcast Version. The Psikyo Bullets are so fast that even without Input lag the only Thing U can survive is memorisation.

[@mrblackjacker32.03]

Ah Devil Engine. Probably one absolute gem of the last 2 years made by newcomers to the genre but not for newcomers because is harsh. People with practice is welcome. By the way, Protoculture Games still don't have access the game, didn't got paid and Ignition isn't released yet. tl;dr: No, you can't buy it on any platform yet, not even the soundtrack album.

[@alexrushdy2751]

Yes!!! EU talked about Darius Gaiden! Lol Darius Cozmic Collection is my hands down #1 for switch. I love Gaiden. If you ever want someone to chat about Darius on the pod hit a brother up 😂

[@MPSTG_brb]

Those restars on Ikaruga are definitely an oversight BUT here's a "pro" tip to make it better: In extra options set "easy menu" on! That gets rid off 2 selection screens, keeps your previous choices and makes it waaay faster and less tedious to try again by exiting to the menu Solid list! I have yet to play Rolling Gunner (looking forward to). And also, I discovered the Psikyo games on the Switch, I liked them (Strikers II, Tengai) but the lack of features is terrible

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Oh great tip!

[@Pedro4960]

Ww

[@Pedro4960]

D

[@Pedro4960]

Wwwww

[@carlcueto2689]

Neko Navy and Atomik RunGunJumpGun (runner/shmup hybrid) are missing here.

[@fatz420]

great video bro, it would be awesome to see you do a top 11 SHMUPS list for the PS2 in the future

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Oh that s a cool idea!

[@b3asle551]

Thanks really enjoyed the video. Didn’t know about Azure Reflections and may pick it up now

[@MPSTG_brb]

Mark I just played another ACA NEOGEO game (Metal Slug) and if all ports work the same you don't need to exit the game in Blazing Star to load the save state, just go "back to title screen" and start a new game and it will automatically load it (still cumbersome, but less so) ;)

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Good to know! Wish they would just add real savestates though ha

[@D-A-K]

Just got a Switch and I'm stoked to get into some shmups. Thanks for this!

[@biostem]

Great vid -- thanks man. Couple of gems in here that I totally missed. :)

[@yakovhadash]

in the Defender type free-roaming category: Graceful Explosion Machine and Aqua Kitty

[@JuanRoosterbeard]

N•12 Súper Hydora! Great video Mark.

[@MurphyReal]

My only "complaint" about Esp.Ra.De. Psi is that unlike the other ShotTriggers ports it doesn't have a unique arrange outside of Arcade Plus in the same way that there's Deathtiny for Ketsui, Fever for Dangun Feveron, etc. You can of course use custom modes for practice and to work up to Arcade difficulty, but that always feels more like a stepping stone than a valid intermediate target for its own merits in the same way an arrange that may also have unique scoring or mechanics does. Still, I think that, since M2 STG ports are in many practical ways already "better than arcade" (as much as that's a thing), this is a minor quibble about "how much better" really. Also Jamestown+ is pretty enjoyable, and I think the fact that there's scoreboards for each individual stage that are actually combined across all difficulties is pretty cool. I tend to be better able to focus on and enjoy grinding and dialing in shorter stuff like the CCWI Time Attack, and it really delivers on that. The only part I'm not completely crazy about is the "vertizontal" orientation, which is just not my favorite.

[@mylastright]

Devil Engine was awesome!

[@55ense5imulation4]

Ikaruga physical is dope as fork

[@TheElectricUnderground]

I would be knifed with excitement 🗡️

[@55ense5imulation4]

Shing shing!

[@Picouzi91]

Crimzon Clover World Explosion leaked, future number 1?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

ccwi would indeed be number 1 !

[@mrhobs]

Ah yes, this was the one I was looking for... EDIT: K erasing some stuff that you answered in the video. 😄 I want to play Gradius 3 (arcade) since I liked the SNES version back in the day... hope it doesn't lag too bad. (I only have Switch basically, so unless there's a good Mac port, I'm a Switch gamer. Maybe someday I'll set up a little PC, but I'm still likely going to use LED/LCD. IDK, maybe one of my standard CRTs would be good?)

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Gonna have to update this vid soon, so many new great switch shmup releases since then.

[@mrhobs]

@@TheElectricUnderground Awesome bro, whenever you do, that will be great! You've already hit almost every topic I've always wondered about... been fascinated by shmups most of my gaming life, they really do have a mystique about them (for us Westerners anyway), but finally found your channel for a wealth of information and discussion on things I thought were only in my head... stuff from a bygone era, but glad to see there's pretty active shmup scene out there.

[@RiRinKal]

Original Gradius is on Nintendo Switch by Arcade Archives, but I wish the second game is on Switch already (Probably the best Gradius game besides the console release)

[@RiRinKal]

@@seanmcbay I am aware of the Konami Collection. But i heard its western version of the game called Vulcan Venture. Dont know if Konami patched out to have original Japanese version tho

[@alexevaldez]

Thank you for this!

[@traphousegamer1906]

Great list for all these games available on the US Nintendo eshop? And do they have any physical releases

[@TheElectricUnderground]

I 'll have to double check!

[@neontetra1000]

If caladrius was a vertical I’d like it but I really can’t be bothered to slowly go to the other side of the screen all the time just to kill a couple of enemies

[@JustAnOldGuyGaming]

Love this video, we need an updated one mind 😉

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Yes! Next year will do an update!

[@jeremydagg1552]

No ghostblade HD? I was surprised to not see that on your list.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Oh I think that might have come out after I made the list, or I wasn't aware of the release

[@digitalworms]

I so wanna buy a switch! But with money right now and so much on the list idk when it would be right!

[@djdedan]

hmm no idea why i haven't subscribed to this channel.. .anyway i just did - keep it up.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

:-D

[@elijahr4848]

Once the new Darius ports drop, EZ number 1 lol

[@TheElectricUnderground]

There is also Crimzon Clover coming though!

[@neontetra1000]

You can throw all these in the bin when crimson clover drops 😉 I have to buy a bloody switch to play it! Might be cheaper to buy a pc!?

[@warwize]

shmup junkie の 方 が 良 い.

[@clarku4]

Always found Danmaku 3 a bit bland because it doesn't have any real backgrounds. Also a bit repetitive. Some great choices on this list though. Nice one.

[@mareksekua4287]

When the pc edition is coming? great video, I think about buying switch

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Oh I have a video kinda like that in the works

[@jayhollow2936]

Are you ever going to do a video on best 3ds/DS shumps?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

That s a cool idea! Yeah maybe :-)

[@jayhollow2936]

@@TheElectricUnderground They're several hidden gems on the 3ds eshop. Chain Blaster, Flip the core, Galaxy Saver, little red riding hood's zombie bbq, G.G Series Wonderland, Dark Spirits, Assault Buster, and serval others. You should check them out.

[@Magellan6276]

Steel Empire in stereoscopic mode is crazy awesome!!

[@Jonathan-ei7vp]

How fun that the #1 is not available outside of Japan

[@TheElectricUnderground]

I know, come on m2 make the damn thing international.

[@neontetra1000]

Did you see several cane games were announced for switch today? Mushi . Dfk and espguda 2 Hope they get ltd editions

[@TheElectricUnderground]

I'm trying to find where this was announced

[@AnonYmous-yb5ew]

No Steredenn? Admittedly I haven't played it myself (yet) but have been hearing good things.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

No, it's not quite my style but I can see why other players could connect with it :-)

[@d1238abc]

Great videos.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Thanks my dude!

[@puckman3241]

Skyforce Anniversary should be there

[@superscatboy]

I have a real soft spot for that game too.

[@MPSTG_brb]

G.R.I.N.D.

[@EricKlein]

pew pew pew

[@afistfulofpimples1745]

💩

[@DSilvergun]

Need 2021 Edition.

[@salvatoredidio9424]

No Love for Psikyo ? Or the Input lag makes them unplayable? Agree full with ESP RA DE and even Crimzon Clover, Mushihimesama, Espgaluda2 and Dodonpachi can Change my mind.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

It s the input lag, otherwise it would be on the list

[@salvatoredidio9424]

@@TheElectricUnderground Have heard the Dreamcast Versions have also Input lag. What Version U recommend for the Psikyo Games?

[@titi64230]

Hello , do you know if the input lag is better on the psikyo collection bravo than on gunbird 2 by zéro div ? It was terrible

[@skepticaltile]

Darius cozmic collection and devil engine should have had higher spots imo

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Going to update this list soon, lots of cool changes

[@Yozora_15]

Hoping CAVE will make a Dodonpachi port in the future...

[@TheElectricUnderground]

ME TOO with campaign version included

[@Yozora_15]

@The Electric Underground crossing my fingers, but with more shmups being released lately (Yay for Espgaluda 2 being available now on Switch!), the future is looking well... Hope Capcom adds more shmup packages to their Arcade Stadium thing too... I'm really glad they included Progear no Arashi on one of the packages...

[@RicDreamlandAvalon]

Cool list. But I don't find the first one in the e-shop.

[@pablor.122]

Dear Mark. I'm considering the purchase of a Nintendo Switch. If possible, I would like to know what do you think about Switch Lite vs Switch original for shmups. I read your article and your discussion about it on system11 forum, but I can't find any updated info about it. Did you tried the Switch Lite?. Is it any better/worse for playing shmups?. I am interested only in the handheld aspects (like you, I prefer PC when I'm at home). Thanks in advance for your help, and thanks again for your great articles and videos on this subject. All the best.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Hey my dude! So I have made up my mind on the subject! I d Definetly say go with the original switch and buy the hori joycon and the split pad pro :-) they make controlling the games significantly better

[@pablor.122]

​@@TheElectricUnderground I'm taking your advice!. Thanks a lot, man.

[@fightaman7]

"Ikaruga is not a rare, hard to come by shmup" checks eBay for Switch release and lowest price is $190. Man these limited print releases are ruining physical game collecting

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Yeah this was made before game prices exploded

[@pjmlfc05]

Thunderforce 4 is also a great shooter!

[@critterarcade]

With various new shmups and ports of older shmups coming out in both PS4 and Switch, should the PS4 performance be better? I’m considering a Switch to play CC on my Games Wizard (Vewlix clone) but then wonder if I should load it up with other shooters or stick with the PS4.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

The PS4 is the stronger console for shmups (much stronger I feel), so it would probably be the better fit for that kind of setup :-)

[@critterarcade]

@@TheElectricUnderground thanks Mark. I figured as much but wasn’t sure how much difference it made with 2D these days. I’ve got so many games to play, maybe I’ll just hold my breath for Crimzon Clover on PS4.

[@MrSiddharth21]

Is it comfortable to play these in handheld mode? IMO switch original model is bulky and battery life is very bad. I primarily game on PC

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Yes if you add in the hori d pad on the left and the hori split pad pro on the Right :-)

[@Ammothief41]

Raiden IV soon!!!!! Edit: It's arrived!!!

[@55ense5imulation4]

Esp a rade and rolling gunner and ......

[@rahndail3863]

Hey Mark - does the Shmuparch version available now work on Switch? I saw your vid demomstrating Shmuparch on Switch but don't see a separate build for it. If it's the same download, is installation as simple as replacing all folders from the base Retroarch download?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Hey I saw your message on the forum! The setting on the switch are actually very different then the settings on pc or pie (switch is not as capable and has some ui differences) if you would like I can post a guide on the switch settings for SA :-)

[@rahndail3863]

@@TheElectricUnderground Sorry for the multiple comments hah, just wasn't sure which means of communication you preferred. That would be awesome - definitely interested in using SA on Switch. Hopefully it won't be a long guide, but I'm sure a decent amount of people would be interested in this as well.

[@wesleyvanpinxteren5961]

i'm gonna ask it here, what are good games on switch for somebody trying to get into shmups and bullet hell style games?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Danmaku unlimited 3, dodonpachi ressurection, mushihimesama

[@nekononiaow]

Great selection, thank So! Do these come in cartridge form? I do not want to lose my purchase in a few years when Nintendo decides to stop supporting the Switch and disables re-downloads.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Some of them do! I think you'll probably need to pick them up on limited run or stuff like that.

[@MPSTG_brb]

Don't uninstall the games then, in the same way you wouldn't "uninstall/remove" your cartridges from your physical collection. Wouldn't it be the "same" in that regard?

[@rurouni82]

Have you figured out anyway yet to make the zero dev stuff perform better?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Just emulate them on retro arch on the switch so yes :-)

[@futureicon23]

I've got a new question now. From all of the ones you've played which versions of Gunbird 1 and Gunbird 2 are the best?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Saturn for gunbird 1, Gunbird 2 is a tough one because the dreamcast port is a laggy boy too. So maybe the steam port? I don't have the steam port but the steam strikers 2 port is less laggy. Both games need a stronger port though I think, either m2 or arcade archives

[@futureicon23]

@@TheElectricUnderground After checking out some of the gameplay performances on the PC version I can only feel nothing but disappointed... Have to accept the Saturn and Dreamcast versions for now lol I want to play Deathsmiles II SO badly!

[@CAVEDATA]

Is deathsmiles coming to switch in the us, if anyone knows?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

I haven't heard, might have to go the japan route for now.

[@BillB808]

Neko Navy....try it...its going in the list hiiigh up i promise

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Ok! I 'll try it :-)

[@shahmcdonald]

So... Esprade is only available in Japan?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Yes

[@shahmcdonald]

😢

[@DSilvergun]

No ESPRADE?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

This was before rade came out :-) will update the list next jan

[@kirkcavenaugh758]

Niice

[@mcayea]

I thought Rigid Force Redux, Super Hydorah, Habroxia, and Sturmwind would be a good contender on this list, I had a lot of fun with them, Devil Engine is one of my top favorites too, wish that BS with the publisher would get worked out, been waiting for ignition for ever! Also I will never understand why Ikaruga is on every console out there, but not one port of Radiant Silver Gun

[@sonicmania9993]

The Xbox 360 version of Radiant Silvergun is playable on XB1.

[@mcayea]

@@sonicmania9993 I dont have an XBOX,

[@johnhunter6866]

I gotta ask, when did Shmups or Shooting games only mean Bullet Hell games? The Shump genre is bigger than Japanese or Indy Bullet hell games. Bullet Hell is a sub genre of Shumps. I guess it’s just a naming convention but if you say “check out these upcoming games where you slowly move a pixel around super dense bullet patterns” just say upcoming Bullet Hells.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Bullet hell became the dominant subgenre around the 2000s, which is also when some of the best shmups were being made, so that s one reason why they are so popular. There are a ton of more classic style shmups around though! :-)

[@T1M-NYTE]

Where can I find esp ra de psi

[@TheElectricUnderground]

store-jp.nintendo.com/list/software/70010000020461.html

[@kingdavid9252]

Its impossible to find esp ra.de.psi in the eshop search engine

[@kingdavid9252]

Fuck the only game I havent played on the fucking list is number 1 and I cant even fuckibg buy it.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

store-jp.nintendo.com/list/software/70010000020461.html Here you go!! You 'll have to download it from the Japanese eshop which is a bit of a pain but doable!

[@kingdavid9252]

@@TheElectricUnderground sweet

[@sorubro2193]

Shmup fans so bitter about ikaruga, lmao, every fanbase has a game like that

[@asadavis9532]

Can't find number 1 on the eshop?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

store-jp.nintendo.com/list/software/70010000020461.html

[@asadavis9532]

@@TheElectricUnderground just set up a Japanese account :)

[@jimbuddy9142]

it's not supposed to be "shmup" as in "pup" ... it is pronounced "shoot em up" ... when someone pronounces it wrong, it is almost always a sign of a rookie who doesn't know what they are talking about

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Shmup is a widely recognized usage among players now, yes even super players and world record holders, so I would say it s more outdated to insist on not using the term :-) insisting that players use the full term of shoot em up even though shmup is widely recognized and used strikes me as gatekeeping honestly

[@sonicmania9993]

Zero Gunner 2

[@MRrZero]

remake this list please

[@dadrising6464]

Damn, you are raping my wallet. btw, does anyone can give me a rwcommendation which stick i should put in my mayflash f300? is there a sanwa one good for shmups?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Sanwa is a solid stick :-) the siemitsu ls 32 is also very good

[@dadrising6464]

@@TheElectricUnderground A sanwa jlf would fit right in, could save me some hassle , is there a version thats espeacially suited for shmups? or nything i should get with it like a different spring?

[@marcianoacuerda]

As The electric underground mentioned. The seimitsu ls32 is made for shmups. It has a short throw good for those small movements. Very tiring on fighting games though in case you want a versatile stick.

[@gravewolfwood5747]

How’s the switch lite with shumps?

[@TheElectricUnderground]

I m not sure! I need to try one out.

[@dadrising6464]

subpar imo, but doable.. no flipgrip option, smaller screen, but better dpad and more comfy on the go.

[@thelastgogeta]

@@dadrising6464 3rd party Joy Cons more than make up for the shortcomings of the regular Switch. Nothing can make the Switch Vanilla smaller, but if you are playing a shump which recognises both analog and digital inputs and have the left side drift... Oh well. A second controller is actually needed.

[@dadrising6464]

@@thelastgogeta ? maybe i got something wrong.. ha was asking about the switch lite.

[@thelastgogeta]

@@dadrising6464 You got nothing wrong, I was just saying that the shortcomings of the regular Switch in comparison to the Lite are easy to get around. You are completely correct if we are just talking about a Switch Lite vs Switch alone with nothing else.