swap_horiz Phoenix Alternatives

1

Galaga

Galaga is an arcade shooter released in 1981 by Namco. The game features a starship battling Galaga forces across multip...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

8.7 Excellent

2

Contra

Contra is a run-and-gun game created by Konami initially for arcades in 1987. A home console release followed in 1988, a...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

8.6 Excellent

3

Gradius

Gradius, released in 1985 by Konami, is a horizontally scrolling arcade shooter centered around piloting the Vic Viper s...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

8.5 Excellent

4

R-Type

R-Type is a 1987 arcade shooter where players control the R-9 “Arrowhead” starship against the Bydo alien race. The ship...

Japan 1980S Science Fiction Shoot Em Up

8.5 Excellent

5

Space Harrier

Space Harrier is a 1985 Sega arcade rail shooter where players control a jet-propelled character through fantastical env...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

8.4 Excellent

6

The Guardian Legend

The Guardian Legend is a 1988 action-adventure game developed by Compile for the NES. It follows up on the 1986 Guardic...

Japan 1980S Science Fiction Action Adventure Game

8.1 Excellent

7

Zanac

Zanac is a scrolling shooter released for MSX, NES, and other platforms by Compile and Pony Canyon. The game features a...

Japan 1980S Science Fiction Shoot Em Up

8.1 Excellent

8

Darius

Darius, released by Taito in 1987, is a horizontally scrolling shooter where players pilot the Silver Hawk to combat the...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

8.1 Excellent

9

Salamander

Salamander is a 1986 arcade scrolling shooter developed by Konami, originating from the Gradius series. It featured coop...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

8.1 Excellent

10

Super Contra

Super Contra is a 1988 arcade run and gun game created by Konami, following the events of the first Contra. Players cont...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

8.1 Excellent

11

1943: The Battle of Midway

1943: The Battle of Midway is an arcade-style vertically scrolling shooter released by Capcom in 1987. It continues the...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

7.9 Very Good

12

Scramble

Scramble is a 1981 arcade game created by Konami, notable as one of the earliest examples of a horizontally scrolling sh...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

7.8 Very Good

13

Jackal

Jackal is an arcade game developed by Konami in 1986. Players control a heavily armed jeep, tasked with rescuing capture...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

7.7 Very Good

14

Zaxxon

Zaxxon is a 1981 arcade shooter developed by Sega with Ikegami Tsushinki. Players navigate a spaceship through fortified...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

7.7 Very Good

15

After Burner

After Burner is a 1987 arcade rail shooter featuring an F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. Players navigate 18 stages by destroyin...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

7.7 Very Good

16

Battle City

Battle City is a 1985 Japanese video game created by Namco for the Family Computer. It serves as a direct follow-up to t...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up Tank Simulation Game

7.6 Very Good

17

Guerrilla War

Guerrilla War is an arcade-developed action game from SNK released in 1987. The title was subsequently adapted into vers...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

7.5 Very Good

18

TwinBee

TwinBee is a 1985 vertically scrolling shooter developed by Konami, utilizing their Bubble System hardware. The game deb...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

7.4 Very Good

19

Zero Wing

Zero Wing is a 1989 arcade shooter developed by Toaplan. Players control the ZIG fighter as Trent, attempting to defeat...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up Horizontally Scrolling Shooter

7.2 Very Good

20

Ikari Warriors

Ikari Warriors, released in 1986 by SNK and Tradewest, is an arcade run and gun game utilizing rotary joysticks for cont...

Japan 1980S Shoot Em Up

7.2 Very Good