Classic Arcade Side-Scrolling and Shoot 'Em Up Games Ranked

Side-scrolling run-and-gun games (Metal Slug) and vertical STGs (Psikyo, Raiden, CAVE) are the two mainstays of the arcade "one life, watch the show" experience. In the GGEMU library, there are approximately 33 shooting Arcade titles; below they are ranked bylevel design, firepower/bullet-hell layering, and 1CC reputation.

Classic Arcade Shooters — S Tier

Game	Type	Signature Mechanic	1CC Key Points
Metal Slug 3	Run-n-Gun	Branching routes, vehicle stages, zombie stage	Route choice affects difficulty; clear the zombie stage with the F gun
Metal Slug X	Run-n-Gun	Remake and enhanced version of MS2; Mission 3 tank	Two-player covering fire; timing your Bombs to clear the screen
Strikers 1945 II	Vertical STG	Charged Bomber + ship evolution	Psikyo's golden age; bosses with phased bullet patterns

Play right here: try the classics online

The embeds below run on the GGEMU browser emulator, so you can play directly on this page with no need to follow an external link.

Metal Slug 3 — Run-n-Gun branching routes

Strikers 1945 II — Psikyo's charged-Bomber golden age

Classic arcade shooters, A tier

Game	Developer	Mechanics
Raiden II	Seibu	Grazing + laser/spread switching; the starting point of classic "grazing culture"
Aero Fighters 2	Video System	Big differences in character performance; hidden fighters
DoDonPachi	CAVE	High-density bullet patterns; chaining system for score
Strikers 1945 III	Psikyo	The series at its most complete; charge shots and evolution
Giga Wing	Capcom / Takumi	Reflect bullets; score multiplier
Sengoku Blade	Psikyo	Sword-based shooter; close-range slashing

Classic arcade shooters, tiers B–D (full list)

Tier	Game	Developer / Year	Genre / Key Points
S	Metal Slug 3	SNK · 2000	Metal Slug 3 is a run-and-gun arcade game featuring intense side-scrolling action, multiple paths, a
A	Contra	Konami · 1987	Contra is a classic run-and-gun action game where players battle through jungles, military bases, an
A	Giga Wing	TAKUMI CORPORATION · 1999	A vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game famous for its Reflect Force mechanic, which allows
A	Metal Slug X	SNK · 1999	Metal Slug X is an enhanced version of Metal Slug 2, featuring improved graphics, new enemy placemen
A	DoDonPachi	CAVE · 1997	A vertically scrolling bullet hell shoot 'em up arcade game known for its intense, screen-filling en
B	Metal Slug	Nazca Corporation · 1996	A classic run-and-gun arcade game known for its detailed pixel art, tight controls, and cooperative
B	Out Zone	Toaplan · 1990	Out Zone is a top-down run-and-gun arcade shooter where players control a soldier fighting through w
B	Metal Slug 2	SNK · 1998	Metal Slug 2 is a run-and-gun arcade game in which players control soldiers battling a rebel army and an
B	Raiden	Seibu Kaihatsu · 1994	Raiden DX is an enhanced version of the classic vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up Raiden, released for
C	Tengai	Psikyo · 1996	Tengai is a classic horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game and the sequel to Sengoku Ace, fea
C	FixEight	Toaplan · 1992	FixEight is a top-down run-and-gun arcade shooter in which players control one of eight unique characte
C	Metal Slug 5	SNK Playmore · 2003	Metal Slug 5 is a run-and-gun arcade game and the fifth main installment in the Metal Slug series. P
C	Cow Boy	Konami · 1992	Cow Boys of MOO MESA is a 1992 arcade run-and-gun shooter developed by Konami. Players control one o
C	Gun Bird	PSIKYO · 1994	A vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game where players pilot a steampunk-style aircraft throu
C	Sunset	Konami · 1991	A side-scrolling run-and-gun arcade game where players become bounty hunters in the Wild West, shoot
C	In The	IREM · 1993	In the Hunt is a 1993 scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Irem for arcades. Vers
C	Gun Bir	Psikyo · 1998	Gun Bird 2 is a vertical-scrolling manic shooter arcade game where players control one of several un
C	Metal Slug 4	Mega Enterprise · 2002	Metal Slug 4 is a run-and-gun arcade game where players battle through enemy forces using various we
C	ProGear	CAVE · 2001	A horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up developed by CAVE and published by Capcom, featuring a steampunk
C	Vs. Duck Hunt	Nintendo · 1984	A competitive arcade light gun shooter in which two players take turns hunting ducks.
C	Puzzle	Taito · 1994	Puzzle Bobble is a classic arcade puzzle game in which players shoot colored bubbles to clear the screen
C	Three Wonders	Capcom · 1991	Three Wonders is a 1991 arcade game by Capcom that features three distinct games in one cabinet: a horiz
D	DoDonPachi III	Cave · 1999	A vertically scrolling bullet hell shoot 'em up arcade game and the third main entry in the DonPachi
D	GRADIUS	Konami · 1989	A classic side-scrolling arcade shoot 'em up in which players pilot the Vic Viper spacecraft
D	Sonic W	Video System · 1995	Sonic Wings 3 is a 1995 vertical-scrolling arcade shooter and the third installment in the Sonic Win
D	Boogie	Data East · 1992	A side-scrolling arcade action shoot 'em up in which players pilot a transforming biplane that can
D	Super P	Capcom · 1990	An arcade action game in which players shoot bubbles to split them into smaller bubbles while avoiding bei
D	Shock T	Saurus · 1998	Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad is a top-down run-and-gun arcade shooter and the sequel to the original Shock Troopers
D	Toki	TAD Corporation · 1989	A side-scrolling platform shooter arcade game in which players control a warrior transformed into an ape
D	MERCS	Capcom · 1990	A run-and-gun arcade shooter in which players control mercenaries fighting through war-torn environments
D	Demon F	IGS · 2002	Demon Front is a 2D side-scrolling run-and-gun arcade game in which players battle alien hordes using a
D	R-Type	IREM · 1987	A seminal side-scrolling shoot 'em up in which players pilot the R-9 Arrowhead to stop the bio-mechanic
D	DoDonPachi II	Cave · 1997	A vertically scrolling bullet hell shoot 'em up arcade game and the second main entry in the Battle

Run-n-Gun and STG: 1CC Survival and Hidden Firepower

• Metal Slug 3 routes: The space route and the underwater route differ in difficulty; in vehicle sections, prioritize keeping your character alive.
• 1945 II charge shots: A fully charged Bomber can clear the screen; after your fighter evolves, its firepower pattern changes.
• DoDonPachi chains: Keep destroying enemies in succession to maintain your multiplier; grazing bullets fills the bomb gauge.
• Raiden II lasersSticking close to the boss deals the most damage; spread shot clears out the small enemies.

How should this be ranked?

Category	Data source	Weighting
1CC / high-score community	Shmups Forum, STG speedrun leaderboards	35%
Stage presentation and mechanical innovation	Vehicle stages, branching paths, charge system	30%
Ports and releases	ACA Neo Geo, Steam ports	20%
Online playable demos	GGEMU browser emulation	15%

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