The shoot ’em up (SHMUP) genre has always been an interesting case of push and pull. At times, it’s innovated and pushed into territories and game designs that seem borderline sadistic in nature. Games like Touhou thrive off this chaos and have even created their popular sub-genre, the “Bullet Hell.”

Image | Courtesy of Touhou FDF via Steam

Yet, at times, it plays remarkably safe, basking in simpler, more understandable titles like Nuclear Throne and Enter the Gungeon.

Let’s examine the SHMUP genre and see how it’s evolved through the years.

Beginning Potential - SpaceWar!

The first game in the genre was a game in 1962 called SpaceWar! This little game had a simple concept. Two spaceships set against a starry sky would battle it out, in all in an effort to destroy one another. It was a simple genre involving two players and was notable for its popularity. This simple little game is arguably one of the most influential games of all time. Not only did it inspire countless programmers to try their own hand at making games, but it also made people realize the potential this little shooter game had in it.

Image of SpaceWar! | Courtesy of Kenneth Lu via Flickr

Skyrocketing Popularity - Space Invaders

While other similar games in concept to SpaceWar! would eventually release; Taito's 1978 release of Space Invaders would be the true birth of the genre.

Image of Space Invaders | Courtesy of XanderBakker

Set against a 2D background, Space Invaders had players maneuver their ships around to defend Earth against the alien menace. It was a simple, highly addictive concept, emphasizing player skill and strategy to win the day. Take too long, and the enemy ships would reach the bottom where the player was defenseless. Play too fast, and you’ll run the risk of getting hit by the enemy’s projectiles.

It was a massive hit because it was a great balance of offense and defense. Hundreds of clones of Space Invaders would come out, seeking to capitalize on its popularity. Eventually, games like Gradius would try to innovate the genre, changing the perspectives from top-down shooting to side-scrolling action.

Image of Gradius | Courtesy of Gamedevelopers.com

Innovation at Work - Contra

Other SHMUPs grew in popularity over time. Titles like Asteroids in 1979 and Galaga in 1981 were already proving popular, and other similar titles would soon come to rise.

Asteroids | Courtesy of Atari

However, while copycats did exist, divergences in the genre also became prevalent.  Most notably, Konami’s own run-and-gun arcade shooter Contra took the world by storm. It was a massive success and was the genre at its height.

Screenshot of Contra | Courtesy of Nettvshumen via YouTube

Stagnation

Things peaked with Contra, and while other titles in the same vein would come out, few would shake up the genre as much as Contra did. Games like Seibu Kaihatsu’s Raiden looked technologically impressive and played well. However, compared to previous successes, it didn’t hit the popularity the developers hoped for.

Raiden

Other titles continued to be released, especially sequels to other classic SHMUPs, like the various sequels to Gradius, such as Gradius II and Gradius III, but none would really change things up. It seemed like the genre had stagnated and would never recover.

Resurgence - Radiant Silvergun

And yet, the genre did recover. Live Wire’s Radiant Silvergun is what most fans would call a revitalization of the genre. It’s a design classic that shook up the genre, featuring multiple different weapons, memorable bosses, and a variety of ways to tackle your foes into dust.

Radiant Silvergun | Courtesy of Steam

Radiant Silvergun proved that the genre still had some life in it, and while this arcade title never saw the light of day outside of Japan, its legacy is not forgotten, finding a home on the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Switch. It was a breath of fresh air that kept the genre alive and kept its fans hoping for more.

How It Is Today - Touhou and Co

Today, SHMUPs are a classic genre with many different sub-genres to look forward to. It’s evolved and can be enjoyed in many different ways.

Games, like Enter the Gungeon and Binding of Isaac’s modern designs may resemble little of the initial genre. However, these twin-stick shooters are an enjoyable romp for any fans of the Shoot ‘em Up, featuring their own twists and gimmicks to keep things interesting.

Binding of Isaac: Rebirth | Courtesy of Steam

Fans of a more classic style of SHMUP may enjoy the bullet-hell nature of games like Bullet Heaven 2 or Touhou Unconnected Marketeers. There are tons of projectiles to dodge and a wide variety of bosses to beat down. They require precise movements to beat their gameplay's chaotic, mesmerizing nature.

Touhou Kouryudou, Unconnected Marketeers  | Courtesy of Steam

If you want a more classic SHMUP experience, you may take a look at something like ZPF. This retro-inspired SHMUP promises the classic gameplay of games like Gradius.

Inspired by the 16-bit Sega Genesis games of old, this neat little game promises the best nostalgic side-scrolling action you can look for. ZPF Team’s ZPF will dazzle you with its charm, style, and gameplay. Check out the trailer here if you’re interested, and try out the demo for yourself! ZPF is coming soon to Kickstarter, so make sure to follow the campaign now!

SHMUPs have certainly come a long way, and it’s interesting to see just how much the genre has changed over time. From being a multiplayer-only experience to being one focused on fast, intense, exhilarating movement and combat, SHMUPs prove you don’t always need a deep story to be engaged. Sometimes, you just want an intense, enjoyable experience.

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This article was written by Alexander Cuaycong