Top 25 Shmups of All Time (through 2018)

Code: ##. Game Score '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17

01. Ketsui ~Kizuna Jigoku Tachi~ (ARC/360/PS3/PS4) 7.72 . * * * * * + + + + + + + + +

02. Battle Garegga (ARC/SAT/PS4/XB1) 7.27 + + * + + + - - - - - = - = +

03. DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou / Black Label (ARC/360/etc.) 6.67 * + + + + = = ~ = + + = + - -

04. Mushihimesama Futari / 1.5 / Black Label (ARC/360) 6.33 . . . . * * + ~ ~ - - - - = +

05. Crimzon Clover / World Ignition (PC/NESiCA) 6.16 . . . . . . . . * * * + + + +

06. DoDonPachi (ARC/SAT/PSX) 5.76 - - - - - - - - - = - - + = -

07. Armed Police Batrider (ARC) 5.35 * * + * - = - - - - - - - - -

08. Ikaruga (ARC/DC/GC/360/PC/SWI) 4.77 - - - - - - = - = + + - + + +

09. Gradius V (PS2) 4.76 . . - - - - = - + * + + + + +

10. R-Type (ARC/PCE/PSX/etc.) 4.21 + - + - * + + - + + + + + + +

11. Mushihimesama / 1.5 (ARC/PS2/360/PC) 4.20 . . * + + - - + * = - - = = +

12. Radiant Silvergun (ARC/SAT/360) 4.11 - - - - - - - + * + - - + - -

13. RayForce / Layer Section / etc. (ARC/PS2/SAT/etc.) 3.75 * - - + = + + * * * + - - - -

14. ESPGaluda / Arrange (ARC/PS2) 3.48 . * + - - - - - - - - + + * +

15. Dangun Feveron (ARC/PS4/XB1) 3.40 * * * * * * + = * * * * * + +

16. Gradius Gaiden (PSX/PSP) 3.26 + + - - - - * + * + * * + + -

17. R-Type Delta (PSX) 3.24 * * + + + * * * * * * * * * *

18. Under Defeat (DC/ARC/360/PS3) 3.20 . . . * + * * * * * * * * + =

19. Batsugun / Batsugun Special (ARC/SAT) 3.15 * - - * + - - + - - - - - + -

20. Thunder Dragon 2 (ARC) 3.12 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * +

21. Strikers 1945 II (ARC/SAT/PSX/PS2/SWI) 2.95 - - - - * = - - - - + - + - +

22. Gunbird 2 (ARC/DC/SWI) 2.824 + - - - - * * - - - - - * - -

23. DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu/1.5/Resurrection (ARC/etc.) 2.822 . . . . . . * * * = * * * * *

24. Deathsmiles / Mega Black Label (ARC/360) 2.68 . . . . . * * ~ - * - - * * *

25. ZeroRanger (PC) 2.67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

= denotes the game holds the same position now as the year indicated.

+ denotes the game holds an improved standing compared to the year indicated.

- denotes the game holds a reduced standing compared to the year indicated.

* denotes the game was not on the list for the year indicated.

. denotes the game was not released or otherwise eligible for voting for the year indicated.

~ denotes the game vote was classified (significantly) differently for the year indicated.



Honourable Mention

Code: Game '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17

Cho Ren Sha 68K (PC/X68) + + + + + + + + = = = + = = +

Darius Gaiden (ARC/SAT/PS2/etc.) + + = = = = = = - = = - - - =

DoDonPachi Saidaioujou (ARC/360) . . . . . . . . . + - - = = =

DonPachi (ARC/SAT/PSX) - - - = = = = = = = = = = = +

Dragon Blaze (ARC/PS2/SWI) + + = = = = = = - - = = - = -

Einhänder (PSX) = = - - - = = = = = = + = = +

Eschatos (360/PC) . . . . . . . . + = = = - = +

ESP Ra.De. (ARC) - - - - - - - = = = = = = = =

Flying Shark / Hishouzame / Sky Shark (ARC/NES/etc.) + + + + + + + + + + = = + = =

G-Darius (ARC/PS2/PSX) + = = = = = = = = = = = + = =

Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou (ARC/SAT/FC/etc.) + = = = + = + + = = + = = = =

Gradius / Nemesis (ARC/NES/PCE/etc.) = = = + + + + = = + = = + + =

Great Fairy Wars [Touhou 12.8] (PC) . . . . . . . . . + = + + = +

Guwange (ARC/360) - - = - = - - - - = = = = = =

Ibara (ARC/PS2) . . . = = - - - - - - - - = =

Judgement Silversword (WSC/360/PC) . . + + + + + + + + + + + = =

Mars Matrix (ARC/DC) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Muchi Muchi Pork! (ARC/360) . . . . . + + + - - - = - = -

Perfect Cherry Blossom [Touhou 7] (PC) . + + + + + + + = = = = = = =

Progear no Arashi (ARC) + + + = = - - = = = = = = - -

Radirgy / Radio Allergy (ARC/DC/GC/PS2) . . . + + + + + + + + + + + +

Raiden DX (ARC/PSX) + + - - - = - = - = - = = - =

Raiden Fighters Jet (ARC/360) + = = + + = - - - - - - - - =

Salamander 2 (ARC/SAT/PSX) + + + + + + + + + + + + = + =

Soukyugurentai / Terra Diver (SAT/ARC/PSX) - - - - - - = - = - = = = = =

Strikers 1999 / Strikers 1945 III (ARC) + + + + + + + + = = = + = = =

Thunder Force IV / Lightening Force (MD/GEN/SAT) - - - - - - = + = = = = = = =

Triggerheart Exelica (ARC/DC/PS2/360) . . . . + + + = + + + + + + +

Twin Cobra / Kyukyoku Tiger (ARC/PCE/etc.) + = + + = = + + + = + = + = +

Zero Gunner 2 (ARC/DC/SWI) + - = = + + = = = + + + + + +

= denotes the game was also on the HM list for the year indicated.

+ denotes the game was on neither the HM list nor the top 25 for the year indicated.

- denotes the game was in the top 25 for the year indicated.

. denotes the game was not released or otherwise eligible for voting for the year indicated.





What Dropped from 2017's Top 25:

Dragon Blaze (ARC/PS2/SWI)

(ARC/PS2/SWI) Mars Matrix (ARC/DC)

(ARC/DC) Muchi Muchi Pork! (ARC/360)

(ARC/360) Progear no Arashi (ARC)

What Dropped from 2017's Honourable Mentions:

Akai Katana (ARC/360)

(ARC/360) Battle Bakraid (ARC)

(ARC) Border Down (ARC/DC)

(ARC/DC) Darius Burst: Another Chronicle / EX / Chronicle Saviours (ARC/PC/PS4/Vita)

(ARC/PC/PS4/Vita) ESPGaluda II (ARC/360)

(ARC/360) Giga Wing (ARC/DC)

(ARC/DC) Giga Wing 2 (ARC/DC)





Breakdown by Developer

Code: Top 25 Hon.M. Overall

Cave 9 7 16

Psikyo 2 3 5

Konami 1 3 4

Treasure 3 - 3

Raizing 2 1 3

Taito 1 2 3

Toaplan 1 2 3

Irem 2 - 2

Seibu Kaihatsu - 2 2

Team Shanghai Alice - 2 2

Qute - 2 2

G.rev 1 - 1

NMK 1 - 1

Yotsubane 1 - 1

System Erasure 1 - 1

Milestone - 1 1

Squaresoft - 1 1

Famibe no Yosshin - 1 1

Technosoft - 1 1

Warashi - 1 1

Takumi - 1 1





Breakdown by Original Platform

Code: System Top 25 Hon.M. Overall

Arcade 20 23 43

PC/Windows 2 2 4

PlayStation 2 1 3

PlayStation 2 1 - 1

Mega Drive/Genesis - 1 1

X68000 - 1 1

WonderSwan Color - 1 1

Xbox 360 - 1 1





Most Personal Honourable Mentions ([0])

Code: Game No. of appearances

Blazing Star (ARC/NG) 4

Deathsmiles / Mega Black Label (ARC/360) 4

RayForce / Layer Section / etc. (ARC/PS2/SAT/etc.) 3

Einhänder (PSX) 3

Thunder Force V (SAT/PSX) 3





Miscellaneous Stats: Number of Counted Voters: 62

Total Vote Weight: 58.0

Number of Games Voted For: 372

Number of Honourable Mentions: 30

Proportion of Voters who chose to use a Shortlist: 0.26 (16/62)

Proportion of Voters who chose to include Personal Honourable Mentions: 0.27 (17/62)

Proportion of Personal Honourable Mentions included where eligible: 0.37 (17/46)

Number of Games Receiving Only [0]'s: 35

Games Supported by at least half of voters (≥29.0 combined): 2

Games Supported by at least 1/4 of voters (≥14.5 combined): 17

Top 25 Score Spread: 2.669 - 7.716

Honourable Mention Score Spread: 1.352 - 2.570

Total Score Spread: 0.043 - 7.716





Random Comments:

The lead rotates again as Ketsui claims its first ever first place. Meanwhile, blitzing out of essentially nothing comes the sudden finisher now known as ZeroRanger , described by waves of new fans as being "as irresistible as unripe citrus".

claims its first ever first place. Meanwhile, blitzing out of essentially nothing comes the sudden finisher now known as , described by waves of new fans as being "as irresistible as unripe citrus". It's been a long time coming, but Mars Matrix 's chain timer has finally run out. Only DoDonPachi and Ikaruga now remain as perennial no-missers, both of which continue to look like they won't be flirting with the lower end of the list anytime soon.

's chain timer has finally run out. Only and now remain as perennial no-missers, both of which continue to look like they won't be flirting with the lower end of the list anytime soon. More and more as time goes on, the benefits of sticking around and weathering the genre hype phases are showing themselves. The Honourable Mentions are always open for a steady re-entry, but a fortunate enough game might even find themselves in the position R-Type Delta has this year - that being a position right back up at the pointy end. After what a brief count appears to be a record period of time off of over a decade (beating out the previous period held by Under Defeat ), and almost getting enough votes the last couple of years, the game has now not only returned but vaulted to its highest placing ever.

has this year - that being a position right back up at the pointy end. After what a brief count appears to be a record period of time off of over a decade (beating out the previous period held by ), and almost getting enough votes the last couple of years, the game has now not only returned but vaulted to its highest placing ever. To top off proceedings, one more milestone has been reached this year as Radirgy also makes the HMs at last and I'm so happy I finally get to make that pun

also makes the HMs at last and I'm so happy I finally get to make that pun The discussion thread for this year's poll is here.

The votes for this year's poll can be found here.

The full results are just down the page there but if you want a shortcut you can click here. _________________

Live to fly, fly to live, it's all very orthodox



Last edited by Nifty on Fri Feb 28, 2020 8:11 am, edited 4 times in total.



