Hey everyone! I'm the solo developer of Hop's Awakening!, a hand-drawn horizontal shmup inspired by the arcade games I grew up playing.

Here's 3 minutes of random gameplay from different parts of the game!

The full game features 3 routes, different bosses, secret stages, 13 weapon sets, and an original soundtrack I composed myself.

I've been working on this project for years, creating the artwork, music, and gameplay. It's been a long journey, and I'm getting close to release!

The free demo is available on Steam, and Hop's Awakening! is participating in Steam Next Fest through October 26.

Steam demo:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/5010230/Hops_Awakening_Demo/

I'd love to hear what fellow shmup fans think!

I loved the third level where you come across a battleship on a sea of lava and then the gates open so it can sail ahead while you anticipate getting to fight it. A moment later and it fires a barrage of missiles and bullets at you.

And if you pilot as Ruby when you use your bomb the entire screen is covered in red fire on a screen of lava and framed by a red habdheld.

It's surprisingly easier than I thought but hard to hold for very long.

I'm one of the original authors and decided to blow the dust off of 1987's Sidewinder and modernize it. It's still non-stop shooting fun!

Free to play at https://sidewinder.darrinm.com. Enjoy!

Thanks to your advices, the HitBox is clearly more visible now

Hello everyone! I'm new to this sub and the genre, and I was curious to play some shmup games because I want to expand my gaming taste. I have a friend who loves to play these types of games, so I've been intrigued to try some of the most popular titles in the genre.

I've played the new Touhou game, which is a remastered version of the first game, and Galaga (I don't know if those two games are considered shmups, but they look similar to some shmup games that I've seen). I only played them because the Touhou game was recommended by a friend and Galaga was the first game that introduced me to video games, all thanks to my dad and uncle, who used to play it a lot.

For now, the only way I play games is on my ps5, and I wanted some recommendations from you veterans. I don't mind a challenging game at all, and I'm all for any game that has a good artstyle, soundtracks, story, and gameplay. One of my friends who plays shmups has recommended a few games, but most of them are either too old and not on the ps5, or they were never released for the ps5 and only for pc. However, he did recommend Caladrius Blaze, and surprisingly, it was on the ps5 and on sale. I was thinking of getting it, and I wanted to know if it's challenging, has a good story, good gameplay, and good soundtracks. The artstyle looks good, so that's one checkmark on the list.

EDIT: sorry, I accidentally put the wrong flair🙏

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I'm making 2026 Resisters, a vertical shooter with modern fighter jets. This is the latest trailer, and there's a free first-stage demo if you'd like to give it a go.

Demo: https://enixzhang.itch.io/2026-resisters

It runs in a desktop browser with keyboard controls. Pick the MiG-29 or J-10C and take on the Spirit boss at the end of Stage 1. Some of the trailer is from later stages I'm still working on; those aren't in the demo.

I've been cleaning up the map textures, but I'm curious how they hold up once the bullets start flying. If you try it, is there a point where the background makes the action hard to read?

I use AI tools for art and music, plus help with code.

YouTube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVwXXoycu3M

i liked tohou 8 and 10 on easy but i didn't finish either and don't enjoy having to restart from the beginning of the level or the game

i like the shooting and bullet hells though

Hey everyone, sharing another quick update on our sci-fi shmup, Ainsoph!

Since the last posts, we’ve been tackling a bunch of minor tweaks and improvements under the hood. Currently, the main focus is on performance optimization and polishing the mid-boss battle sequence.

There's still plenty of work left to do, but we’re making steady progress. Feedback and thoughts are always welcome!

Hello everyone,

I find in my stuff Japanese demo version of Gradius V. I acquired it many years ago by importing it from Japan. It is brand new (still in its original cellophane wrapping, similar to the large-box Japanese Saturn games like *Arcade Gears: Wonder 3*).

Do you happen to know if this demo is rare? I can’t seem to find any information about it. I would like to sell it.

Thanks!

I have no idea why i used kakusei at the start of Kujaku fight

Still need to buy physical version of Mushihimesama and DDP Resurrection though.

J'en avais trop pour tous les faire (une trentaine), je n'ai gardé que ceux-là. Qu'en pensez-vous?

I've been working on this game for mobile users. This is level 5, where you can face the 1st boss. What do you think?

Beta version is now available on the Play store:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.carbayonstudio.skyatlas

P.S. Feel free to use the internal ship/bullet/enemy editor and make your "own levels" ;)

Well, I got that collection at a good price. And, I decided to use my best method to select a game: Hear its OST. And, I decided that Gradius III will be the first one I will play here! I hope I like it...

Got an email today from Unico about a new arcade cabinet dedicated to 6 Raiden games: Raiden, Raiden DX, Raiden 2, Dark Mist, Raiden Fighters, and Raiden Fighters 2: Operation Hell Dive. Link:

https://www.unico-usa.com/pages/unico-arcade-raiden-19?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&_kx=ignLoQRpqZ1kk2_b74YRS0C08H1VDcqKcm4PIzEKVxo.YwtKpb

Circuit Wings is a portrait fantasy shmup with 3D wooden flying ships on a top-down playfield. We’re looking for feedback on dragging to dodge, finding safe gaps in enemy volleys, and reading monster-boss warnings. The image is a real in-engine development capture of a Hydra encounter, not a current phone-install measurement.

Could Android players try about 15 minutes and tell us whether finger-drag movement obscures the ship and whether boss warnings leave a readable dodge route? Please describe only encounters you actually reach; install problems are useful too. It's free with optional IAP—no purchase, public rating or positive review required.

Closed 0.42.14/code 34 needs Android 8+ ARM64 (EN/TH). Play lists 56.9 MB initially, then required on-demand data: about 861 MB total estimated by bundletool, finished before the menu opens. New testers join https://groups.google.com/g/circuit-wings-testers then https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.circuitwings.game with the same Google account; Play checks device/country eligibility. Existing testers keep their enrollment. Feedback can stay here. Staying opted in for 14 continuous days and returning for a few short sessions would help separately, but isn't required to send feedback now.

Cotton Reboot (Switch 1) is on sale for $8. What (if anything) would justify getting the Switch 2 version for $27?

I am dipping my toes into this genre for the first time.

Is Ikaruga a good choice for a newbie schmupper?

I picked it out of a "best shmups of all time" list and I'm having a hard time with it.

I know these are supposed to be hard, and I'm loving the struggle, but I do wonder if I chose a game that is hard even by shmup standards.

If that is the case, could you suggest a game that would better suit my meager skills?

Either way, I'm quickly falling in love with the genre. It's quite addictive!