10 best bullet hell games and shoot 'em ups for Android
Bullet hell games are a unique subgenre in gaming. The genre made a minor return to the mainstream with the release of NieR:Automata and its impressively fun bullet hell sequences. It takes the fun of a shooting and reverses it on the player. There are still shooting mechanics. However, the point is to dodge bullets flying at you as well as shoot bad guys. Thus, it’s somewhat different from your average shooting games.
Another name for the bullet hell genre is shoot ’em up (or shmup, for short), manic shooter, Danmaku (literally, bullet curtain), and STG (Japanese abbreviation for shooting games). It’s a prominent mechanic in top-down aerial shooters and some action games. It turns out, there’s a decent, if somewhat small, selection of bullet hells on Android. Here are the best mobile bullet hell games we could find.
Bullet Hell
Bullet Hell (called danmaku or «barrage» — literally «bullet curtain» — in Japanese) shooters are a subgenre of Shoot Em Ups that test both your dodging skills and your resistance to seizures. To put it simply, they’re vertically scrolling shooters where all the enemies have lotsa (but not enuff) dakka. They often feature extremely elaborate and beautiful patterns of bullet flows, especially for bosses, with hundreds and sometimes thousands of bullets on the screen at once, requiring constant weaving and pattern memorization in order to get the elusive S++ ranks. Not so painfully slow when they cover the screen, eh, tough guy? These games also tend to have True Final Bosses.
However, the genre is not always as Nintendo Hard as it seems. The player’s hitbox is often very small, sometimes only one pixel. In addition, the majority of enemy bullets are sprayed wildly and have no chance of actually hitting the player. Finally, the player is almost always given some variant of the Smart Bomb, which will remove bullets from the screen. Most modern bullet hell games give the player another way to avoid being killed, such as hypers in Do Don Pachi, Touhous deathbombs, or Giga Wings Attack Reflector. Though by no means easy, a bullet hell game can be cleared without memorizing patterns or continuing. In fact, Bullet Hell games tend to be just as difficult as older, less bullet-intensive games.
In addition, the bullet patterns are not the only elaborate things in these games. The scoring systems often require as much dedication to master as the bullet patterns. Some common elements including «grazing» (where a bullet passes through your character sprite but not your vital hitbox), collecting items dropped by enemies, and not dying. Like the bullet patterns, the scoring systems have become more complex as time went on, going from a very simple Combos based scoring system in Don Pachi to systems that take multiple pages just to describe the most basic elements like Hellsinker. The scores attained have also been subject to inflation.
The types of projectiles fired by enemies and bosses will almost always be colourful Energy Balls to make it easier to tell them from the background, and so you can distinguish them from your own bullets.
Can overlap with Cute’Em Up. Usually unrelated to Platform Hell — these games are consistent about following their own rules and don’t depend on cruel surprises.
5 Best Bullet Hell Games for Android
A bullet hell game, also known as a danmaku game, is a type of shooter game where the player must dodge a large number of projectiles. These games are typically very fast-paced and intense, with the player needing to make quick decisions in order to survive. Many bullet hell games feature stylish, anime-inspired graphics and soundtracks.
Bullet hell is a niche with lots of fans and there are many games catered to them. Here are 5 of the best bullet hell games for Android which are bound to freshen you up.
Table of Contents
Danmaku Unlimited 2
Danmaku Unlimited 2 is one of the rare games that brings the Japanese arcade genre to mobile devices. If you’re looking for a modern, original take on the classic arcade game, then look no further than Danmaku Unlimited 2. You can get a higher ranking on the international scoreboard by flying the Senko fighter and shooting a lot of bullets at the enemy.
In addition to the main story mode, there’s also an endless mode where you can see how long you can survive against an unending onslaught of enemies. Whether you’re a seasoned arcade gamer or just looking for a new casual game to play, Danmaku Unlimited 2 is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.
ShooMachi
ShooMachi is a retro-style JRPG bullet hell shoot ’em up game for Android gamers. In the game, you play as Brave, who can attack the monsters with bullets. When your character becomes powered up, they become invincible.
The story of the game is about a lazy brave who is bothered by always having to fight monsters. When many monsters suddenly appear, the brave attacks them and discovers that money comes out when they do. Now you can strike a bonanza by playing as the brave in this fun and exciting game. And the controls are easy to learn and the gameplay is exciting.
Danmaku Unlimited 3
Casual gamers looking for a challenging new shooter will find everything they’re looking for in DU3. The innovative SPIRIT/GRAZE system with controls tuned perfectly for touchscreens provides a level of depth and control that is unmatched in the genre.
Five handcrafted stages packed with spellbinding bullet patterns and epic boss battles provide hours of enjoyment, while up to 25 unique weapon combinations let you tailor your experience to your own playstyle.
Music by the talented Japanese indie circle BLANKFIELD sets the mood and completes the package. Multiple levels of difficulty across two unique modes cater to players of all skill levels, making Danmaku Unlimited 3 an easy recommendation for any fan of bullet hell shooters.
Space Beat
Space shooters are a dime a dozen on the Play Store, but few manage to mix in an element of music to create a skill tree. As you journey to different planets, you’ll need to collect and combine nodes in order to create powerful abilities. These abilities will help you take on bosses and acquire new rewards.
The game is simple enough to pick up and play, but there’s enough depth to keep you coming back for more. You can buy new ships, upgrade your powers and even change the way your ship looks. The soundtrack is well-done and helps set the tone for the game. There are over 100 levels to play through, and the developers are promising more content in the near future.
If you’re looking for a space shooter with a twist, then Space Beat is well worth checking out. The combination of music and bullet hell makes it unique among its peers, and the amount of content available ensures that you’ll get your money’s worth.
Bullet Hell Monday
This is an authentic bullet hell shooter, perfect for anyone who wants to test their skills against some of the most challenging gameplay around.
The game offers a Chapter mode which is great for beginners, as it gradually introduces you to the mechanics of the game and helps you improve your skills. There’s also a Challenge mode for those who are looking for a real challenge. With 3 different difficulties and 50 stages to play through, there’s plenty of content to keep you busy.
One of the best things about this game is the ship upgrading system. You can use the points you earn after playing a stage to level up your ship, boosting its firepower and making it easier to take on the tougher challenges. So make sure you aim for a high score in the Challenge mode so you can upgrade your ship and take on even harder stages!
Из Steam удаляют спорную серию Bullet hell игр. Прощальная распродажа eXceed в Steam
Компания Nyu Media решила прекратить деятельность спустя 11 лет. В заявлении сообщили, что за минувшие годы индустрия сильно изменилась и японским инди-разработчикам открылось столько возможностей, что в такой компании как Nyu Media больше нет необходимости (и по мнению представителей компании — это здорово).
Nyu Media занималась изданием видеоигр и позаботилась о том, чтобы после закрытия компании они были доступны в продаже в Steam. Однако, не со всеми разработчиками удалось связаться и решить все вопросы. Например, пришлось убрать из продажи Cherry Tree High Comedy Club и Cherry Tree High I! My! Girls!.
В конце декабря 2022 года Nyu Media сообщила, что так и не удалось связаться с авторами серии Bullet hell игр eXceed, игры и OST уберут из продажи.
Nyu Media устроила прощальную распродажу серии eXceed в Steam и до 5 января 2023 года игры можно приобрести со скидкой. Удалить игры из Steam планируют 6 января.
У первой игры серии eXceed смешанные отзывы в Steam, а у остальных очень положительные.