SHMUP INDEX

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Curated list

A Deep Dive Into 68 Shmups: Tier Lists, Beginner Picks, & Hidden Gems

u/Spydar05's personal tier list of shmups they played, published on Reddit r/shmups. This selection preserves the tiers and page order for published games held in this index.

Source: Reddit

27 games

Strikers 1945 II cover art
1 Honorable mention
Strikers 1945 II 1997 Psikyo Vertical
Tengai cover art
2 Honorable mention
Tengai 2006 Psikyo Horizontal
Thunder Dragon 2 cover art
3 Honorable mention
Thunder Dragon 2 1993 NMK Co. Ltd. Vertical
Hazelnut Hex cover art
4 B-
Hazelnut Hex 2022 Horizontal, Danmaku
Fire Shark cover art
5 B-
Fire Shark 1989 Toaplan Vertical
Thunder Force III cover art
6 B-
Thunder Force III 1990 Technosoft Horizontal
Gunbird 2 cover art
7 B
Gunbird 2 1998 Psikyo Vertical
Eco Fighters cover art
8 B
Eco Fighters 1994 Capcom Horizontal
Salamander III cover art
9 B+
Salamander III 2025 M2 Co.,LTD Horizontal
RayForce cover art
10 B+
RayForce 1994 Taito Vertical
Rolling Gunner cover art
11 A-
Rolling Gunner 2018 Project Rolling Gunner Danmaku
Ikaruga cover art
12 A-
Ikaruga 2001 Treasure Vertical, Danmaku
Raiden Fighters Jet cover art
13 A
Raiden Fighters Jet 1998 Seibu Kaihatsu Vertical, Danmaku
Darius Gaiden cover art
14 A
Darius Gaiden 1994 Taito Horizontal
Batsugun cover art
15 A
Batsugun 1993 Toaplan Vertical, Danmaku
Gunvein cover art
16 A+
Gunvein 2022 NG:DEV.TEAM Danmaku
Espgaluda II cover art
17 A+
Espgaluda II 2005 CAVE Interactive Vertical, Danmaku
Radiant Silvergun cover art
18 A+
Radiant Silvergun 1998 Treasure Vertical, Danmaku
DoDonPachi Saidaioujou cover art
19 S-
DoDonPachi Saidaioujou 2012 CAVE Interactive Vertical, Danmaku
Giga Wing cover art
20 S-
Giga Wing 1999 Takumi Corporation Vertical, Danmaku
Danmaku Unlimited 3 cover art
21 S-
Danmaku Unlimited 3 2017 Doragon Entertainment Vertical, Danmaku
Progear cover art
22 S-
Progear 2001 CAVE Interactive Vertical, Danmaku
DoDonPachi Resurrection cover art
23 S
DoDonPachi Resurrection 2008 CAVE Interactive Vertical, Danmaku
ZeroRanger cover art
24 S
ZeroRanger 2018 System Erasure Vertical
Mushihimesama cover art
25 S+
Mushihimesama 2004 CAVE Interactive Vertical, Danmaku
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou cover art
26 S+
DoDonPachi DaiOuJou 2002 CAVE Interactive Vertical, Danmaku
ESP Ra.De. Psi cover art
27 S+
ESP Ra.De. Psi 2019 CAVE Interactive

A curated list, maintained by shmupindex. The selection is credited above.