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
1992Superman is an Atari 2600 game designed by John Dunn and published by Atari, Inc in 1978.... more
2
RoboCop
1988- 3
Galaga
1981Galaga is a fixed shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco in Japan and published... more - 4
Contra
1987Contra, distributed as Gryzor in Europe and Oceania, is a 1987 run and gun action game... more - 5
Defender
1980Defender is an arcade video game developed and released by Williams Electronics in February... more - 6
Star Fox
1993Star Fox, released as Starwing in Europe, apparently to avoid confusion with an association... more - 7
Namco Museum
1999Namco Museum refers to the series of video game compilations released by Namco for various... more - 8Star Fox: Assault is a 3D scrolling shooter and third-person shooter video game for the... more
- 9The House of the Dead III is a 2002 light gun arcade game with a horror zombie-survival theme,... more
- 10
Ikaruga
2001Ikaruga is a 2001 shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Treasure. The game was... more - 11Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, also known as Super Empire Strikes Back, is a 1993... more
- 12Zombies Ate My Neighbors is a run and gun video game developed by LucasArts and originally... more
- 13
Super Star Wars
1992Super Star Wars is a 1992 video game for the Super NES based on the 1977 film Star Wars and... more - 14Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, known as Biohazard: The Umbrella Chronicles in Japan,... more
- 15
Earthworm Jim
1994Earthworm Jim is a 1994 run and gun platforming video game developed by Shiny Entertainment... more - 16
Star Wars
1983Star Wars is an arcade game produced by Atari Inc. and released in 1983. The game is a first... more - 17
Xevious
1982Xevious is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game that was released by Namco in December... more - 18Metal Slug Anthology is a video game compilation for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable... more
- 19
Asteroids
1979Asteroids is an arcade space shooter released in November 1979 by Atari, Inc. and designed by... more - 20The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return is a compilation and re-release of The House of the Dead 2... more
- 21Michael Jackson's Moonwalker is the name of several video games based on the 1988 Michael... more
- 22
Super Scope 6
1992Super Scope 6, known as Nintendo Scope 6 in Europe and Australia, was the title Nintendo... more - 23
Blaster Master
1988Blaster Master is a platform and run and gun video game released by Sunsoft for the Nintendo... more - 24The House of the Dead 4 is a light gun arcade game with a horror theme and the fourth... more
- 25There have been five video games based on The Addams Family television series and films,... more
