swap_horiz The Guardian Legend Alternatives

1

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

2

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

3

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty is a 2001 action-adventure stealth game created by Hideo Kojima and Konami. It serve...

Japan 2000S Cyberpunk Science Fiction

9.1 Brilliant

4

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

5

Metal Gear

Metal Gear, released in 1987, is an action-adventure stealth game developed by Hideo Kojima for the MSX2. The game tasks...

Japan 1980S Action Adventure Game Stealth Game

8.6 Excellent

6

Astral Chain

Astral Chain is an action-adventure game developed by PlatinumGames for the Nintendo Switch. The title was directed by T...

Hack And Slash Japan Action Game Science Fiction

8.6 Excellent

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

Castlevania

Castlevania, released in 1986 by Konami, began as a Famicom Disk System title before being ported to NES and later cartr...

Japan 1980S Action Adventure Game

8.4 Excellent

11

God Hand

God Hand is a 2006 beat 'em up developed by Clover Studio for the PlayStation 2. Directed by Shinji Mikami, it was initi...

Japan 2000S Action Game Science Fiction

8.1 Excellent

12

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

13

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

14

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

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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

20

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