This list features the all-time best shoot 'em up games, ranked by readers everywhere. Spanning the entire history of the genre, these shoot 'em up games have been enjoyed by millions. This list includes all shoot 'em up games that have ever hit the shelves, so it doesn't necessarily have all the more obscure, future or new shoot 'em up games. Various bits of information are available for these top shoot 'em up games, such as when the game was released and who developed the game. These aren't necessarily the best shoot 'em up games, but there are a lot of popular shoot 'em up games listed here.
The list you're viewing has a variety of games, though some may be more popular than others.
From classic arcade games to PS4 (and PS5) releases and more, this list answers the questions, "What are the best shoot 'em up games?" and "What are the most popular shoot 'em up games?" Vote up all your favorite releases.
1
Superman
1992Developer: Sunsoft, Atari, Taito Corporation
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System, Atari 2600, Sega Mega Drive, Arcade game, Atari
Superman is an Atari 2600 game designed by John Dunn and published by Atari, Inc in 1978.
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RoboCop
1988Developer: Data East, Ocean Software, Digital Image Design, Titus Interactive SA, Nihon Bussan
Platform: PlayStation 2, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Amiga, MS-DOS, GameCube
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Galaga
1981Developer: Namco
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System, Family Computer Disk System, SG-1000, Atari 7800, PlayStation
Galaga is a fixed shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan and published... more on Wikipedia4
Contra
1987Developer: Konami
Platform: ZX Spectrum, DOS, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Nintendo Entertainment System
Contra, distributed as Gryzor in Europe and Oceania, is a 1987 run and gun action game... more on Wikipedia5
Defender
1980Developer: WMS Industries Inc.
Platform: Arcade game, Commodore 64, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari Jaguar
Defender is an arcade video game developed and released by Williams Electronics in February... more on Wikipedia6
Star Fox
1993Developer: Argonaut Games, Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii
Star Fox, released as Starwing in Europe, apparently to avoid confusion with an association... more on Wikipedia7
Namco Museum
1999Developer: Namco Bandai Games, Namco Bandai Holdings, Mass Media Inc., Now Production, Namco
Platform: GameCube, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, Dreamcast
Namco Museum refers to the series of video game compilations released by Namco for various... more on Wikipedia8
Developer: Namco, Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development, Bandai
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, GameCube
Star Fox: Assault is a 3D scrolling shooter and third-person shooter video game for the... more on Wikipedia9
Developer: Sega Wow
Platform: Personal computer, Wii, Arcade game, Xbox, Microsoft Windows
The House of the Dead III is a 2002 light gun arcade game with a horror zombie-survival theme,... more on Wikipedia10
Ikaruga
2001Developer: G.rev, Treasure Co. Ltd
Platform: Xbox 360, Arcade game, Dreamcast, GameCube
Ikaruga is a 2001 shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Treasure. The game was... more on Wikipedia11
Developer: LucasArts, Sculptured Software
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, also known as Super Empire Strikes Back, is a 1993... more on Wikipedia12
Developer: LucasArts
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii, Sega Mega Drive
Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a run and gun video game developed by LucasArts and originally... more on Wikipedia13
Super Star Wars
1992Developer: LucasArts, Sculptured Software
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Wii
Super Star Wars is a 1992 video game for the Super NES based on the 1977 film Star Wars and... more on Wikipedia14
Developer: Cavia, Capcom
Platform: Wii
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, known as Biohazard: The Umbrella Chronicles in Japan,... more on Wikipedia15
Earthworm Jim
1994Developer: Shiny Entertainment
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Master System, iOS, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance
Earthworm Jim is a 1994 run and gun platforming video game developed by Shiny Entertainment... more on Wikipedia16
Star Wars
1983Developer: Atari, Inc., Atari
Platform: ZX Spectrum, Arcade game, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, Atari 5200
Star Wars is an arcade game produced by Atari Inc. and released in 1983. The game is a first... more on Wikipedia17
Xevious
1982Developer: Namco
Platform: PC-8801, Xbox 360, Atari ST, TurboGrafx-16, Apple II
Xevious is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game that was released by Namco in December... more on Wikipedia18
Developer: Mega Enterprise, Nazca Corporation, Terminal Reality, Noise Factory, SNK Playmore
Platform: PlayStation 2, Wii, PlayStation Portable
Metal Slug Anthology is a video game compilation for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable... more on Wikipedia19
Asteroids
1979Developer: Atari
Platform: Game Boy, Atari 5200, Game Boy Color, Atari 2600, PlayStation
Asteroids is an arcade space shooter released in November 1979 by Atari, Inc. and designed by... more on Wikipedia20
Developer: Sega
Platform: Wii
The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return is a compilation and re-release of The House of the Dead 2... more on Wikipedia21
Developer: Sega, Emerald Software
Platform: MS-DOS, Sega Game Gear, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Master System
Michael Jackson's Moonwalker is the name of several video games based on the 1988 Michael... more on Wikipedia22
Super Scope 6
1992Developer: Nintendo Research & Development 1
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Scope 6, known as Nintendo Scope 6 in Europe and Australia, was the title Nintendo... more on Wikipedia23
Blaster Master
1988Developer: Sunsoft
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System
Blaster Master is a platform and run and gun video game released by Sunsoft for the Nintendo... more on Wikipedia24
Developer: Sega Wow, Sega
Platform: Arcade game
The House of the Dead 4 is a light gun arcade game with a horror theme and the fourth... more on Wikipedia25
Developer: Ocean Software, Sunsoft
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Game Gear, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Sega Mega Drive
There have been five video games based on The Addams Family television series and films,... more on Wikipedia
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