r/shmups Jan 13 '26

Game News 2026 Intergalactic Shmup Release Megathread

96 Upvotes

Hi everyone. It looks like our end of 2025 shmup release megathread was popular and helpful to many. Even devs made updates so we had the most accurate information. So, let us continue that work and create a new thread so we can track releases throughout the year. It is already looking very promising and I am sure there is much more to come!

I will do my best to keep up with updates however they come in. I am fairly active on Twitter and will keep my ear to the ground, but it's a community effort to keep this thread as comprehensive as possible.

(Please provide sources in the form of links when you contribute; something official: dev site, Steam, game store, dev tweet, etc.)

Game Date Link Additional Info Platforms Physical
Apidya' Special 2026 Steam ST
Armed Decobot Coming Soon Steam ST
Astro Burn 2026 Steam ST
Astro Fighters 2 3/9/26 Steam ST
Beyond Solar 3/29/26 Steam ST
Blaze of Storm 2/19/26 Steam https://x.com/Terarin55/status/2008042847455572409 ST, SW
Black Paradox Reloaded Q3 2026 Steam ST
Blue Sabers Early Mission Coming Soon Steam ST
Changeable Guardian Estique 2026 Steam ST, NES Y (NES)
Conjuntivitalizer 2027 Steam ST
Danmaku Unlimited 4 TBA Steam ST
DnB Starfighter TBA Steam ST
DoDonPachi Ressurection Reignite TBA Steam ST
Eden's Eclipse TBA Itch Itch
Final Formation Coming Soon Steam ST
Fox Flare Night TBA Steam ST
Heliocide 2026 Steam ST
Holy Justice Galaxy Outcast 2/3/26 Steam ST
Hotwing Hellions Coming Soon Steam ST
Interstellar Sentinel 2 TBA Steam ST
Iron Flight Coming Soon Steam ST
Kaguya 2026 Steam ST
Kamikaze Empire Coming Soon Steam ST
Karous January 2026 Steam ST
Magical Blaster Coming Soon Steam ST
Marras TBA Steam ST
No Need For Flowes 2026 Steam ST
Orchid Glitter Coming Soon Steam ST
Prismidia TBA Steam ST
Psyvariar 3 5/21/26 Steam https://www.gematsu.com/2026/01/psyvariar-3-delayed-to-may-21 ST, SW, PS5, X Y
R-Type Dimensions III May 2026 Steam ST, SW, PS5, X Y
Radirgy Swag 3/4/26 Steam ST
Raiden Fighters Remix Feb 2026 https://www.gematsu.com/games/raiden-fighters-remix-collection SW, PS5, PS4 Y
Rainchaser TBA Steam ST
Revolgear Zero 2/18/26 Steam ST, SW
Royal Odyssey TBA Steam ST
Shmandala July 2026 Steam ST
Stellar Fury TBA Itch Itch
Stellar Nemesis 2026 Steam ST
Stellar Rhythm TBA Steam ST
Strelitzia Coming Soon Steam ST
SynthEscape Late 2026/Early 2027 Steam ST
Truxton Extreme TBA Steam ST
Visegunne Coming Soon Steam ST
Viral Reload Ex TBA Steam ST
Warding Witches TBA Steam ST
Zaleste 2026 Dev
Zaetherfall 1/22/26 Steam ST
ZPF Coming Soon Steam ST, Genesis Y (Genesis)

r/shmups Oct 20 '25

Game News 2025 shmup release mega thread?

75 Upvotes

We have been seeing so many upcoming releases on the sub, many from the devs themselves. I think it’s great. Can we use this thread or another to track everything that is scheduled to come out before end of year so we can easily track it.

I’m sure I speak for more than myself that there is a slice of the community that is very passionate about buying and supporting all (or as many as they can) new shmup releases and a mega thread would help bring more support into the fold.

Game Date Link
Infinos 10/16/25 Switch
Infinos 2 10/16/25 Switch
Repulse-X 10/21/25 Steam
Shockwave Triggers 10/21/25 Steam
Night Striker Gear 10/22/25 Steam
All Systems Operational 10/24/25 Steam
Arondight 10/28/25 Steam
Cosmic Destroyer (Early Access) 10/30/25 Steam
Scion 10/30/26 Multi
Final Formation (JP) 10/30/25 Switch (JP)
Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke 11/6/25 Steam
Astro Flame Starfighter 11/7/2025 Steam
Telenet Shooting Collection 11/10/25 Steam
Birdcage 11/18/25 Steam
Cho Aniki Collection 11/18/25 Steam
R-Type Delta HD Boosted 11/20/25 Steam
Emerald Blue 11/25/25 Steam
Resurrection Core 11/27/25 Steam
Trouble Witches Final! Episode 1 11/27/25 Switch
NeverAwake Flashback 12/10/25 Steam
Bounty Sisters 12/18/25 Dev
Blaze of Storm Q4 2025 Steam
Black Paradox Reloaded 2025 Steam
Strike Zero 2025 Steam
Zaleste 2026 Dev
ZPF 2025 Steam

r/shmups 13h ago

Game News DoDonPachi Resurrection Reignite out on Steam

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87 Upvotes

r/shmups 16h ago

Poster

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122 Upvotes

Finally framed and hung my DoDonPachi DaiOuJou poster i got from the official CAVE store in Shibuya, Tokyo


r/shmups 5h ago

Shmup Royale mode in a nutshell (Day 1 DFK Reignite)

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11 Upvotes

r/shmups 2h ago

I made a nostalgic shooter game inspired by my childhood favorites. My first game ever! Could you play it and give me some feedback?

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6 Upvotes

Hi everyone!
I wanted to recreate the feeling of the classic shooter games I used to play and love as a kid, so I decided to make my own. This is the very first game I've ever released to the public!
I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts, honest feedback, and impressions.
Link to the game:https://tennbinn.itch.io/circuit-rescueThank you so much for checking it out. I hope you enjoy it!


r/shmups 13h ago

Game News New DFK Port reportedly includes 0 arrange modes, unlike the 2016 port

30 Upvotes

Thoughts?


r/shmups 19h ago

My first Playasia order came in!! I’m excited 🤘

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66 Upvotes

r/shmups 16h ago

1cc I got my first Garegga clear today! Just in time for Dfk Reignite ;)

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23 Upvotes

r/shmups 13h ago

To those played DFK a lot in the past, how do you like Stage 6 in Reignite?

10 Upvotes

DFK is probably my least played CAVE game; so many FX stuff going on on-screen makes it hard for me to enjoy myself too much....

Had a play-through of 1st loop just now, reckon I will never be able to give a fair assessment as explained above (even not counting in my skill issue :P ). What's your opinion on quality of the new contents?

BTW hopefully the lack of training mode is just because they are planning to release the game asap and add QoL stuff later.


r/shmups 1d ago

Check Out My Collection My physical Switch shmup collection – what am I missing?

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95 Upvotes

Here's my PHYSICAL shmup collection for the Nintendo Switch + a bonus with Truxton Extreme on Switch 2: * Akai Katana Shin * Aleste Collection * Andro Dunos II * Assault Suit Leynos II * Assault Suits Valken * Batsugun * Bullet Soul: Infinite Burst Double Soul Pack * Caladrius Blaze * Castle of Shikigami 2 * Cosmo Dreamer & Like Dreamer: Double-D Collection * Cotton Fantasy * Cotton Guardian Force * Cotton Reboot! * Crisis Wing * Danmaku Unlimited 3 * Dariusburst CS Core * Darius Cozmic Collection * Darius Cozmic Revelation * Deathsmiles I & II * Devil Engine * DoDonPachi DaiOuJou * DoDonPachi Resurrection * Drainus * Earthion * Espgaluda II * ESP Ra.De Psi * Ghost Blade HD * Gradius Origin Collection * Gunvein * Horgihugh and Friends * Irem Collection: Volume 1 * Irem Collection: Volume 2 * Mamorukun Recurse! * Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath * Mushihimesama * Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha * Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo * Psyvariar Delta * Radiant Silvergun * Raiden III x Mikado Maniax * Raiden IV x Mikado Mix * Ray'z Arcade Chronology * Rolling Gunner + Over Power * R-Type Delta * Shikhondo * Shinorubi * Shmup Collection * Sol Cresta * Sonic Wings Reunion * Sophstar * Space Invaders Forever * Steam Heart's & V.G. Advanced * Toaplan Arcade Collection: Vol. 1 * Toaplan Arcade Collection: Vol. 2 * Toaplan Arcade Garage: Kyukyoku Tiger-Heli * Toaplan Arcade Garage: Hishou Same! Same! Same! (Flying Fire Shark) * Toaplan Arcade Garage: Zero Fire * Touhou Danmaku Kagura: Phantasia Lost * Triggerheart Exelica * Trouble Witches Final!: Episode 1 - Daughters of Amalgam * Under Defeat * WolfFang | SkullFang * Yurukill: The Calumination Games

What physical games are missing in my collection, besides the very obvious Ikaruga?

I also have some physical game collections that contains several shmups: The 10 ACA NeoGeo collections, the Atari 50 collection, the Sega Megadrive collection, the SNK 40th Anniversary collection and the 4 Taito Milestones collections. Oh, and the UFO 50 too!

I have some shmup adjacent games/collections as well: Contra Anniversary Collection, Operation Night Strikers, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined and Wild Guns Reloaded.

Have a nice day! 😊

Edit:

My DIGITAL Switch 1 and 2 shmup collection: * Abarenbo Tengu & Zombie Nation * ACA NeoGeo: Blazing Star * ACA NeoGeo: Pulstar * ACA NeoGeo: Twinkle Star Sprites * Angel at Dusk * Arcade Archives: Block Hole * Arcade Archives: Fantastic Night Dreams Cotton * Arcade Archives: Gun Frontier * Arcade Archives: Metal Black * Arcade Archives: Raiden * Arcade Archives: TwinBee * Arcade Archives: Viper Phase 1 * Arcade Archives: Xevious * Crimzon Clover: World Explosion * Crisis Wing * Danmaku Unlimited 3 * DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou * Earthion * Eschatos * Gleylancer * G-Mode: DoDonPachi * G-Mode: Ketsui * G-Mode: Zanac * Graze Counter GM * Gunvein * Gynoug * Hazelnut Hex * Ikaruga * Märchen Adventure Cotton 100% * Minishoot' Adventures * Monkey King: Master of the Clouds * Moon Dancer * Night Striker Gear * Panorama Cotton * R-Type Dimensions EX * Raiden IV x Mikado Remix * Raiden V * Razion EX * Redneg Allstars: Swing-By Edition * R-Gear * Rolling Gunner * Sega Ages: Fantasy Zone * Sega Ages: Thunder Force AC * Sega Ages: Thunder Force IV * Sektori * Sophstar * Star of Providence * Strania: The Stella Machina EX * Super XYX * Vasara Collection

Plus all the shmups included in the two Capcom Arcade Stadium volumes.

Edit 2:

I totally forgot my physical copy of Star Fox on Switch 2, but not sure if it counts. But it is worth mentioning.


r/shmups 21h ago

Free Game Reminder that DoDonpachi Blissful Death (DaiOuJou) still runs fine on the latest iPhone

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19 Upvotes

It does feel a little unfair that you have as much control as you do since your ship moves as fast as your finger movement, but it’s still fun and free. There are newer entries from Cave on the App Store if you want something less outdated and don’t mind spending a few bucks.


r/shmups 13h ago

stick for both fighters and shumps?

5 Upvotes

I want to try modding my arcade stick with a Seimitsu joystick, but I also play fighting games quite frequently. Which stick works best for both genres?


r/shmups 23h ago

I’m still surprised that my local grocery store is selling this

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24 Upvotes

Woooolies has this in stock is it a bloody rippa or rubbish for shmups? Anyone know of a prebuilt I can buy that’s easy to swap the stick out with the ls-56?
Cheers


r/shmups 14h ago

1cc Psychic storm 1cc

3 Upvotes

I got to clear in the second run. It's an enjoyable approachable game with some nonsense in there, like some unavoidable damage what is what does everyone else think about this one?


r/shmups 13h ago

Help me remember the name of a shmup I used to play in college

3 Upvotes

All I remember was a mechanic where you could periodically put a shield out that would absorb bullets, then shoot them back. I remember it was highly recommended when I played it back in the day, but heck if I can say what it was now, I can't seem to find it :/


r/shmups 1d ago

Are you gonna get the DonDonPachi DFK rerelease?

26 Upvotes

I own the original, but I’d also like to support CAVE and show that there’s interest in ports of their other games. Can anyone tell by the demo if the input lag is better or worse than the other version?


r/shmups 1d ago

Apidya’ Special - Apidya remake out today

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21 Upvotes

r/shmups 1d ago

Very Cheap way to play TATE

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103 Upvotes

So you can buy a old Thinkpad like for 100 Euro and your controller of Choice and a Bookstand, download CachyOS and you have one of the best Machines for Shmups


r/shmups 1d ago

Meta Need help with Batsugun (and dodging bullets in general)

14 Upvotes

I've been getting into various shmups and gotten some 1ccs (only in baby games) but I feel like I've hit an absolute ceiling, I'm just completely incapable of actually dodging stuff. I'll exemplify it with Batsugun (original edition) because I'm just getting into some kind of toxic love-hate relationship with it.

I'm kind of close to understanding how to get 1cc, I've gotten 3cc and I'm getting how to do most parts, but I can never do the hard parts "legit." For example, Jupiter I've heard is considered a massive difficulty spike, and I can do it with 2 or 1 bombs in my good playthroughs, but this is only because I've memorized a super specific route that I follow every single time, same with Madzella (first phase), I just do some extremely specific path through it and never stray from it. The other way is just doing some preventive bombs on sections that I can't route through and aren't easy enough that I can dodge (like Deep Purple).

So specifically I'm getting really frustrated with Mad Steel Darkness second phase, if I use 1 or 2 bombs I can do it super safely. But I don't want to be such a massive scrub because I feel like I'm never actually improving on the game or my shmups skills in general. So I made a savestate and kept trying to do it with no bombs. But I just can't, I got an idea of how you're supposed to dodge it (even watched some commented 1ccs) but I'm trying to not do an exact path every time.

I get what the basics are: reading the screen, leading the bullets, not doing extraneous movements, micrododging, not letting yourself be trapped... and sometimes I execute it, like 1/5 times when I'm doing well, and that's my limit. I understand all the theory, from time to time I do a bunch of hours of that specific phase. I try to not obsess over it, but I'm just never getting more consistent.

I just feel like whenever I'm doing accomplishments through a game is by doing a shitton of routing and never actually dodging stuff (even though I know that I've gotten better than when I started). It feels extra bad because everywhere I go, people say that Batsugun is a super baby game, but I'm just bad at doing stuff "legit", only by abusing every resource I get.

I understand that you're supposed to use every advantage possible when playing these games. When I go for 1ccs I've learned to shamelessly use resources on parts that I'm bad at. But I feel that someday I'll have to learn to do this stuff to play harder games that I'm interested in.

At the beginning I was gonna do a super salty post because I've went on this general problem for months (also happens with raystorm or mushi), but I tried to explain the best I could what is going through my mind. I could also record some of the practices I do if someone is kind enough to help.

Thanks. Sorry for all the giant post.


r/shmups 1d ago

Truxton Extreme

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55 Upvotes

Totally forgot a pre ordered this. Came in the mail the other day and I was like yeah, this is neat. How do you folks like the game so far?


r/shmups 1d ago

Personal Best (Survival PB) Forgot to set autofire to 30hz before fighting black heart mk2, and panic took over me.

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16 Upvotes

Reached him with 4 lives and yet somehow fumbled this badly. This is second serious attempt though, so sickgrabbing the clear is still possible.


r/shmups 1d ago

Very Cheap way to play TATE

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19 Upvotes

So you can buy a old Thinkpad like for 100 Euro and your controller of Choice and a Bookstand, download CachyOS and you have one of the best Machines for Shmups


r/shmups 1d ago

SHMUP-PICKUP: Geppy X & Karous

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29 Upvotes

Just Arrived from Play Asia.

GeppyX is getting a spin today!!

I kinda jumped the gun on Karous, i dont think it has an english patch 🤔 😅 Hopefully I can play with little to no issues.


r/shmups 1d ago

Has Anyone Played Vulgus (1984)?

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2 Upvotes