Shoot 'em Up Games Online – Raiden, 1945 and Aero Fighters

Vertical, horizontal and bullet hell

Shoot 'em ups are the oldest arcade genre, and the 80s and 90s were their golden age. In vertical shooters like Raiden and 1945 the screen scrolls upward and enemies pour in from the top. In horizontal shooters like Gradius and R-Type you fly from left to right through alien worlds. Most arcade shmups let a second player join, so a friend can fly next to you online.

Raiden

Seibu Kaihatsu's Raiden (1990) is the definition of the arcade vertical shooter: a red fighter for player 1, a blue one for player 2, a red vulcan spread and a blue laser, and bombs that clear the screen. Raiden, Raiden II and Raiden DX are all here, along with the Flash fan game Raiden X.

1943, 1945 and the WWII planes

Capcom's 1943 started the WWII plane shooter craze, and Psikyo's 1945 (1995) carried it into the 90s with a choice of real aircraft and charge shots. Try 1945, then 1945 II and 1945 III, two later arcade shooters built in the same style.

Aero Fighters

Video System's Aero Fighters (Sonic Wings in Japan) is known for its oddball pilots – from national air forces to a dolphin – and its fast, friendly design. Aero Fighters, Aero Fighters II and Sonic Wings 3 (Aero Fighters 3) all support two players.

Gradius, R-Type and TwinBee

The horizontal classics are here too: Konami's Gradius with its power-up bar and Option drones, Irem's R-Type with the detachable Force pod, and Konami's cute TwinBee, where you shoot clouds to reveal power-up bells.

Shmup tips

• Your ship's hitbox is small – usually just the cockpit. Dodge with tiny movements, not big swerves.
• Use bombs before you die, not after. A bomb you never used is a wasted life.
• Keep the power-ups. Dying usually resets your weapon, so playing safe is worth more than chasing points.