Best Shoot 'Em Up Games on Steam
Steam currently has 5,452 Shoot 'Em Up games available to download and play. Explore our list of the best picks ranked by Player Score. Our Player Score rankings are calculated directly from reviews left on the Steam store and will be updated in real-time as more players leave their feedback. Shoot 'Em Up game rankings were last updated on 3/28/2024.
Looking for more? Explore other lists such as:
- Free shoot 'em up games on Steam
- Best shoot 'em up Steam Deck games
- Best shoot 'em up Linux games on Steam
- Best shoot 'em up Steam games for Mac OS
- Free Steam games
- Most played Steam games
- Best rated Steam games
2. Downwell
Downwell is a curious game about a young person venturing down a well in search of untold treasures with only his Gunboots to protect him.
Downwell has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #2 spot for the best Shoot 'Em Up games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 7,701 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 7,456 positive reviews and 245 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $2.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $2.99 |
| Release Date | 10/15/2015 |
| Developer | Moppin |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Steam App Id | 360740 |
3. The Void Rains Upon Her Heart
Help her heart battle tough bosses in this Boss Rush, Bullet-hell with rogue-like elements. Fight through several randomly chosen boss battles leading up to a final battle. Each defeated monster will give her random gifts that power up her heart. Don't let her heart break!
The Void Rains Upon Her Heart has achieved a Player Score of 94, placing it in the #3 spot for the best Shoot 'Em Up games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,219 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,212 positive reviews and 7 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $12.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $12.99 |
| Release Date | 2/14/2018 |
| Developer | Veyeral Games |
| Publisher | The Hidden Levels |
| Steam App Id | 790060 |
4. Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt
Remedy, a recent graduate from the Saturnian healing school, must descend to Hurtland and use her powers to heal everyone from stray ducks to dark lords, and finally cure the ailing Prince Hingst. It's a short, whimsical adventure with plenty of heart(s).
Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #4 spot for the best Shoot 'Em Up games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 2,804 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 2,742 positive reviews and 62 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Release Date | 1/1/2016 |
| Developers | |
| Publisher | Ludosity |
| Steam App Id | 407900 |
5. Nova Drift
Nova Drift distills the mechanical depth and strategy of an ARPG into classic arcade space combat. Control an endlessly evolving bio-mechanical ship, face legions of strange and deadly foes, and ride the wake of a dying star across the void.
Nova Drift has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #5 spot for the best Shoot 'Em Up games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 11,292 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 10,858 positive reviews and 434 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $17.99 to play and can be played and ran on both Windows and Mac systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Nova Drift on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
6. Touhou Hero of Ice Fairy: Prologue
Touhou Hero of Ice Fairy Prologue is a fanmade indie game developed by GAMEPULSE.To save the Princess of Misty Lake "Daiyousei", from the evil who took her captive. You must play as the brave Hero of Ice Fairy "Cirno" and face "Remilia Scarlet" of the Kouma Castle
Touhou Hero of Ice Fairy: Prologue has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #6 spot for the best Shoot 'Em Up games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,117 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,042 positive reviews and 75 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is completely free to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Release Date | 12/17/2021 |
| Developer | GAMEPULSE 游戏脉冲 |
| Publisher | GAMEPULSE 游戏脉冲 |
| Steam App Id | 1715460 |
7. Voidigo
A vividly animated action roguelite focused on boss hunting. Unleash an array of diverse weapons and powerups to combat the corruption of the Void.
Voidigo has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #7 spot for the best Shoot 'Em Up games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 3,644 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 3,541 positive reviews and 103 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $18.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
8. Bit Blaster XL
A throwback to the classic quarter eating arcade games of the 80's. Bit Blaster XL is a retro styled, addictive, and fast paced arcade shoot 'em up! (shmup).
Bit Blaster XL has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #8 spot for the best Shoot 'Em Up games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 6,139 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 5,925 positive reviews and 214 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $0.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $0.99 |
| Release Date | 1/22/2016 |
| Developer | Adamvision Studios |
| Publisher | Adamvision Studios |
| Steam App Id | 433950 |
9. DEEP SPACE WAIFU
Discover your perfect WAIFU amidst explosions! This is a simple SUPER CASUAL strip 'em up action game, full of colors and women! Destroy alien colonies and do some CLOTH DAMAGE in giant women! Seek your path to the perfect date! Just remember - Girls will be watching. So don't muck it up, buck-o!
DEEP SPACE WAIFU has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #9 spot for the best Shoot 'Em Up games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 8,425 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 8,092 positive reviews and 333 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $4.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. Valve has also verified it as playable on the Steam Deck and will run well.
| Steam Price | $4.99 |
| Release Date | 5/31/2017 |
| Developer | Neko Climax Studios |
| Publisher | Neko Climax Studios |
| Steam App Id | 639790 |
10. Touhou Kouryudou ~ Unconnected Marketeers.
買う、売る、貰う、手放す いつから人間は所有権を自由に扱えると勘違いしたのか レインボーでイマモリアルなシューティング幻想！
Touhou Kouryudou ~ Unconnected Marketeers. has achieved a Player Score of 93, placing it in the #10 spot for the best Shoot 'Em Up games. Its score was calculated by analyzing a total of 1,714 reviews on Steam. This breaks down to a total of 1,680 positive reviews and 34 negative reviews — making it "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam.
It is priced at $14.99 to play and can be played and ran on Windows systems. At the moment, it is possible to play Touhou Kouryudou ~ Unconnected Marketeers. on the Steam Deck (though some functionality may be limited).
| Steam Price | $14.99 |
| Release Date | 5/3/2021 |
| Developer | 上海アリス幻樂団 |
| Publisher | Mediascape Co., Ltd. |
| Steam App Id | 1566410 |
More Shoot 'Em Up Games
Explore even more rankings for the 100 best Shoot 'Em Up games available on Steam.
| Image | Name | Actions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2 | 11/17/2017 | 95 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 18 | 10/15/2015 | 94 | $2.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 23 | 2/14/2018 | 94 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 1/1/2016 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 104 | 3/27/2019 | 93 | $17.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 12/17/2021 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 25 | 6/8/2023 | 93 | $18.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 1 | 1/22/2016 | 93 | $0.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 6 | 5/31/2017 | 93 | $4.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 5/3/2021 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 16 | 6/9/2022 | 93 | $19.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 3/26/2021 | 93 | $5.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 2 | 11/11/2021 | 93 | Free | Steam Charts | |
 | 4 | 3/18/2019 | 93 | $12.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 12 | 6/6/2020 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 8 | 6/7/2017 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 131 | 4/2/2024 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 7 | 4/2/2019 | 93 | $14.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 5 | 2/13/2023 | 92 | $0.99 | Steam Charts | |
 | 6 | 8/26/2022 | 92 | Free | Steam Charts |
Soures & References
Steambase has best-in-class data powered directly by Steam, our data partners, and in-house experts. Reviews and rankings are enriched, analyzed, and updated in real-time to ensure we surface the most up-to-date insights. Learn more about the Steambase approach to data collection and our review methodology.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 28). Steam Store. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 28). Touhou Tenkuushou ~ Hidden Star in Four Seasons. on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 30). Downwell on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 4). The Void Rains Upon Her Heart on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, February 20). Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, May 8). Nova Drift on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 7). Touhou Hero of Ice Fairy: Prologue on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 16). Voidigo on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 9). Bit Blaster XL on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, March 27). DEEP SPACE WAIFU on Steam. Steam Store.
- Valve Corporation. (2024, April 11). Touhou Kouryudou ~ Unconnected Marketeers. on Steam. Steam Store.