13th Annual Top 25 Shmups of All Time - Results

[Nifty]

Top 25 Shmups of All Time (through 2015)

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##. Game                                               Score  '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '12 '13 '14
01. Battle Garegga (ARC/SAT)                            8.10    +   +   *   +   +   +   =   =   =   =   =   +
02. Ketsui ~Kizuna Jigoku Tachi~ (ARC/360/PS3)          7.98    .   *   *   *   *   *   +   +   +   +   +   +
03. Mushihimesama Futari / 1.5 / Black Label (ARC/360)  6.98    .   .   .   .   *   *   +   ~   ~   -   -   -
04. DoDonPachi Dai-Ou-Jou / Black Label (ARC/360/etc.)  6.96    *   +   +   +   +   -   -   ~   -   =   =   -
05. Armed Police Batrider (ARC)                         5.65    *   *   +   *   -   +   =   -   -   =   +   +
06. Crimzon Clover / World Ignition (PC/NESiCA)         5.504   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   *   *   *   +
07. DoDonPachi (ARC/SAT/PSX)                            5.498   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
08. RayForce / Layer Section / etc. (ARC/PS2/SAT/etc.)  4.37    *   -   +   +   +   +   +   *   *   *   +   =
09. Raiden Fighters Jet (ARC/360)                       4.07    *   *   *   *   *   *   +   -   =   -   +   +
10. Ikaruga (ARC/DC/GC/360)                             3.98    -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   +   +   -
11. Mushihimesama / 1.5 (ARC/PS2/360/PC)                3.80    .   .   *   +   +   -   -   +   *   =   -   -
12. Gradius V (PS2)                                     3.76    .   .   -   -   -   -   -   -   +   *   -   +
13. Ibara (ARC/PS2)                                     3.13    .   .   .   *   *   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
14. R-Type (ARC/PCE/PSX/etc.)                           3.10    -   -   -   -   *   +   +   -   +   +   +   =
15. Batsugun / Batsugun Special (ARC/SAT)               3.05    *   +   +   *   +   -   -   +   +   -   -   -
16. ESPGaluda (ARC/PS2)                                 3.02    .   *   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   +
17. Radiant Silvergun (ARC/SAT/360)                     3.01    -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   *   -   -   -
18. Muchi Muchi Pork! (ARC/360)                         2.91    .   .   .   .   .   *   *   *   -   +   -   *
19. Eschatos (360/PC)                                   2.899   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   *   *   *   *
20. Darius Gaiden (ARC/SAT/PSX/PS2/PC)                  2.898   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   +   *   *   =
21. Darius Burst: AC/EX/Chronicle Saviours (PC/etc.)    2.876   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   *   *   *   *
22. Mars Matrix (ARC/DC)                                2.875   -   =   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   +   -
23. Strikers 1945 II (ARC/SAT/PSX/PS2)                  2.81    -   -   -   -   *   -   -   -   -   -   +   -
24. Gradius Gaiden (PSX/PSP)                            2.77    =   -   -   -   -   -   *   -   *   +   *   *
25. Dragon Blaze (ARC/PS2)                              2.73    *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   -   -   *   *

• = 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

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Game                                                    '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '12 '13 '14
Battle Bakraid (ARC)                                      +   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   -   =   -
Border Down (DC/ARC)                                      .   +   =   -   -   -   -   =   +   +   =   =
Cho Ren Sha 68K (PC/X68)                                  +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   +
Dangun Feveron (ARC)                                      +   =   =   =   =   =   -   -   =   =   =   =
Deathsmiles / Mega Black Label (ARC/360)                  .   .   .   .   .   +   =   =   -   =   -   -
Dimahoo / Great Mahou Daisakusen (ARC)                    +   =   =   =   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   =
DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu / 1.5 / Resurrection (ARC/etc.)    .   .   .   .   .   .   +   +   =   -   =   =
DoDonPachi Saidaioujou (ARC/360)                          .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   +   -   -
DonPachi (ARC/SAT/PSX)                                    -   -   -   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =   =
Einhänder (PSX)                                           =   =   -   -   -   =   =   =   =   =   =   +
ESP Ra.De. (ARC)                                          -   -   -   -   -   -   -   =   =   =   =   =
ESPGaluda II (ARC/360)                                    .   .   .   +   +   +   =   -   -   -   -   -
Giga Wing (ARC/DC)                                        +   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   =   =
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou (ARC/SAT/FC/etc.)              +   =   =   =   +   =   +   +   =   =   +   =
Gunbird 2 (ARC/DC)                                        -   -   -   -   -   =   =   -   -   -   -   -
Guwange (ARC/360)                                         -   -   =   -   =   -   -   -   -   =   =   =
Imperishable Night [Touhou 8] (PC)                        .   .   =   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   +
Kamui (PC)                                                +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Perfect Cherry Blossom [Touhou 7] (PC)                    .   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   =
Pink Sweets ~Ibara Sorekara~ (ARC/360)                    .   .   .   .   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   +
Progear no Arashi (ARC)                                   +   +   +   =   =   -   -   =   =   =   =   =
R-Type Delta (PSX)                                        =   =   -   -   -   =   +   =   =   =   =   =
Raiden DX (ARC/PSX)                                       +   +   -   -   -   =   -   =   -   =   -   =
Raiden Fighters 2: Operation Hell Dive (ARC/360)          +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   =
Salamander 2 (ARC/SAT/PSX)                                +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Soukyugurentai / Terra Diver (SAT/ARC/PSX)                -   -   -   -   -   -   =   -   =   -   =   =
Strikers 1999 / Strikers 1945 III (ARC)                   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   =   =   =   +
Thunder Dragon 2 (ARC)                                    +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
Thunder Force IV / Lightening Force (MD/GEN/SAT)          -   -   -   -   -   -   =   +   =   =   =   =
Under Defeat (DC/ARC)                                     .   .   .   +   -   =   =   =   =   =   =   =

• = 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 2014's Top 25:

• Battle Bakraid (ARC)
• Deathsmiles / Mega Black Label (ARC/360)
• DoDonPachi Saidaioujou (ARC/360)
• ESPGaluda II (ARC/360)
• Gunbird 2 (ARC/DC)

What Dropped from 2014's Honourable Mentions:

• Akai Katana (ARC/360)
• DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu Black Label (ARC/360)
• Flying Shark / Hishouzame / Sky Shark (ARC/NES/etc.)
• G-Darius (ARC/PS2/PSX)
• Gradius / Nemesis (ARC/NES/PCE/etc.)
• Twin Cobra / Kyukyoku Tiger (ARC/PCE/etc.)

Breakdown by Developer

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                   Top 25         Hon.M.          Overall
Cave                  8               10             18
Raizing               2               3              5
Psikyo                2               2              4
Treasure              3               -              3
Seibu Kaihatsu        1               2              3
Konami                1               2              3
Taito                 2               -              2
Irem                  1               1              2
Takumi                1               1              2
G.rev                 -               2              2
Team Shanghai Alice   -               2              2
Toaplan               1               -              1
Yotsubane             1               -              1
Qute                  1               -              1
Pyramid               1               -              1
Siter Skain           -               1              1
NMK                   -               1              1
Famibe no Yosshin     -               1              1
Squaresoft            -               1              1
Technosoft            -               1              1

Breakdown by Original Platform

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System             Top 25         Hon.M.          Overall
Arcade                21             23              44
PC/Windows             1              3               4
PlayStation            1              2               3
PlayStation 2          1              -               1
Xbox 360               1              -               1
Mega Drive/Genesis     -              1               1
X68000                 -              1               1

Most Honourably Mentioned*

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Game                                                No. of appearances
Cyvern: The Dragon Weapons (ARC)                          4
Blazing Star (ARC/NG)                                     4
Gradius IV: Fukkatsu (ARC/PS2/etc.)                       4
Crimzon Clover / World Ignition (PC/NESiCA)               4
Armed Police Batrider (ARC)                               3
Gunbird 2 (ARC/DC)                                        3
Dragon Blaze (ARC/PS2)                                    3
Kamui (PC)                                                3
Akashicverse -Malicious Wake- (PC)                        3
Ketsui ~Kizuna Jigoku Tachi~ (ARC/360)                    3

*That is, times a game appeared in personal HM lists only (denoted by [0]), not games that are HM by total score.



Miscellaneous Stats:

• Number of Counted Voters: 73
• Number of Games Voted For: 401
• Number of Honourable Mentions: 30
• Proportion of Voters who chose to include Personal Honourable Mentions: 0.26 (19/73)
• Number of Games Receiving Only [0]'s: 24
• Games Supported by at least half of voters (>36.5 combined): 3
• Games Supported by at least 1/4 of voters (>18.5 combined): 20
• Top 25 Score Spread: 2.731 - 8.097
• Honourable Mention Score Spread: 1.382 - 2.597
• Total Score Spread: 0.034 - 8.097

Random Comments:

• Battle Garegga is back, officially breaking DoDonPachi's record for the most total T25 victories with a score that would have smashed its own previous best even under the old scoring system. Its closest rival this year proved to be Cave darling Ketsui, who came close but failed to bomb a passing flock of flamingoes in time. Will a different challenger rise again next year? The possibilities are endless! Or at least slightly varied!!!
• Aided by last years' PC releases, newcomers Eschatos and the ever-expanding Darius Burst: Another Chronicle have rocketed onto the list, the latter in particular making its move from outside the top 100 to nestle directly behind its aquatic brethren.
• Since time immemorial, there have been whispers of an ancient traveler watching over the turbulent history of shmupdom. A silent guardian, a watchful protector... a terror that flaps in the night. A being of unbreakable spirit that would be knocked down time and time again, only to rise once more and defiantly declare "I can still fight you!!".
  NO MORE shall the truth remain clouded in darkness. On this day of days, the exploits of the legend that is Thunder Dragon 2 have finally been written into history, enshrined in a legacy that will surely endure until the end of time. Happy shooting, and God bless, my friend.
• Its sequel power was even such that it pulled Salamander 2 along with it, with long-time doujin fan-favourite Kamui finally making it as well. Rejoice!
• The discussion thread for this year's poll is here.
• The votes for this year's poll can be found here.
• The full results may be found right here.

[BIL]

Kamui I am proud.

[Shepardus]

It still says 2014 instead of 2015 at the top of the post!

Good to see that Cho Ren Sha 68k is back in the honorable mentions. And I'm sure trap15 will be happy to see Thunder Dragon 2 appearing there for the first time. I'm surprised though not displeased to see that Ketsui and not Futari is Garegga's closest rival this year - it even had a serious chance at the #1 spot. On another note, how did G-Darius drop from the honorable mentions?

[Perikles]

Can't be too crestfallen with the results - Gradius Gaiden made it into the top 25 again, Salamander 2 finally got an honourable mention, Gradius II at least remains there. Would've loved to see R-Type II somewhere, but I'm not overly surprised.

Thanks a million for your efforts, Nifty!

[Nifty]

It still says 2014 instead of 2015 at the top of the post!

I knew I forgot something

[Squire Grooktook]

Keep on trucking, CRS68K, you'll make it into top 25 eventually.

Rayforce being high-ish up pleases me greatly, however.

[M.Knight]

I wonder if DBCS will still be that high on the list next year.
Don't get me wrong, it is an excellent game and I am glad others think the same, but as mentionned in OP's comments, its very recent release helped it a lot.
Same goes for Eschatos and its PC release.

Aside from that...still no Milestone games on that list, but, oh well, it's not like it was unexpected.

[Zaarock]

yay kamui.

Akai Katana dropping off HM while Pink Sweets is always on is ..weird (pretty much every raizing + cave-YGW game on 25+HM)
I guess DDP DFK & SDOJ are lower because there's a lot of split between themselves and DOJ now.
Psikyo & G.Rev in danger of dropping off top 25 entirely

Surprised hellsinker didnt make HM since it was in like 8 votes.

[Icarus]

Garegga back in first. All's right with the world again.

[chempop]

Thanks Nifty! Pretty good list, Glad to see 2 Yagawa games still in the top 5.
Cyvern is still one of the most underrated shmups it seems.
Not sure how Pink Sweets made the top 50.
I'll have to campaign harder for Dimahoo in 2016

[copy-paster]

Garegga's at it again... Surprised seeing Dragon Blaze does on the list.

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DoDonPachi Daifukkatsu / 1.5 / Resurrection (ARC/etc.)    .   .   .   .   .   .  

So, does black label count?

[Eaglet]

I approve of the top 5.
Especially no. 1.

Now all of you fancy folks on this forum should play some more Garegga!
Smash my scores pl0x.

[Bananamatic]

What Dropped from 2014's Top 25:
DoDonPachi Saidaioujou (ARC/360)

[DJ Incompetent]

Thank you for good work

[monouchi]

Thanks Nifty.

Garegga in top spot is as it should be....but no Gun Frontier anywhere!?!...you people...

DFK BL fell out, surprise there.
And Gradius V in top 25, I need to test that one out some more.

[HardcoreOtaku]

Great job compiling the list.

But results are fail overload, Lords/Winds of Thunder is nowhere on the list.
In fact other than R-Type I don't recall seeing any PC Engine games at all.

The failure is strong here. I give up.

[royalfan84]

Glad to see Battle Garegga over Futari again; and seeing Ketsui 2nd seems well-deserved. I'm disappointed TF IV didn't sneak into the top 25 and am a bit shocked Blazing Lazers\Gunhed not in honorable mentions- seemed like it was getting on quite a few lists. I don't understand MuchiMuchi Pork among the greatest either. But overall it seems like a pretty good top 25- can't argue with most of them. Although; I still have an axe to grind on DFK being split up by label.

[trap15]

Tee Dee Twoooooooo!

[CloudyMusic]

Surprised to see Crimzon Clover so high. Didn't realize people liked it that much, it didn't feel to me like it gets talked about all that much here. But that could just be me not noticing.

[Some-Mist]

well, at least progear is still in the honorable mentions ._.

Surprised to see Crimzon Clover so high. Didn't realize people liked it that much, it didn't feel to me like it gets talked about all that much here. But that could just be me not noticing.

kinda makes sense since ketsui has always been so high and the mechanics have some similarities. or maybe people didn't purchase it midway into 2014 and finally got it on sale last year.

I don't understand MuchiMuchi Pork among the greatest either.

I do! I love the simplicity but difficulty of MMP and would definitely own a board if it weren't so damn expensive. Definitely runs in my top 10.

[trap15]

Biggest weirdness for me is not only that Gradius V is on there, but that it's placing so high.

[LordHypnos]

Mars Matrix managing to cling on for dear life, and Dragon Blaze even more dangerously low. I'm actually a bit surprised about Dragon Blaze. I thought that was pretty popular. I'm not surprised at the drop of Mars Matrix (even though it was at its highest in a while last year), and am just glad it's still in the T25.
Shame about Gunbird 2, as well

[Kollision]

Biggest weirdness for me is not only that Gradius V is on there, but that it's placing so high.

it should be higher actually

[EmperorIng]

Thanks for your hard work again, Nifty!

The list looks a lot different than usual. Not only does it have several entries that have not seen a spot in at least two years, it also contains 5 whole horizontals, which is a larger margin than the list usually has. And two Darius games! Madness! I wasn't sure if DariusBurst was going to make waves, but I will admit I voted for it because as a total package it's probably one of the most extensive and comprehensive shmups sold in ages. That being said I don't understand the love for Muchi Muchi Pork enough to see it among the ranks of my favorite Cave games. The Honorable Mentions list is even better than I expected, showing off some real variety with respect to type of game and developer. It's neat to see Thunder Dragon 2 (first NMK mention ever?); I've played it a bit in MAME after trap's tournament and it is easily a high-quality game. The Honorably-Mentioned [0] list adds another flavor to the proceedings, giving some distinction to games that would never be huge contenders (imo) like Gradius IV, Cyvern, and Akashicverse.

The list convinces me that I really need to get around to playing Eschatos.

NEED PC RELEASE

It's proven to be the best way to secure a spot on the top 25!

Keep on trucking, CRS68K, you'll make it into top 25 eventually.

Cho Ren Sha has to be the most celebrated X68000 shooter ever, though. I suppose that speaks to something. I don't think I've ever read a negative opinion of the game.

[Shepardus]

Mars Matrix managing to cling on for dear life, and Dragon Blaze even more dangerously low. I'm actually a bit surprised about Dragon Blaze. I thought that was pretty popular. I'm not surprised at the drop of Mars Matrix (even though it was at its highest in a while last year), and am just glad it's still in the T25.
Shame about Gunbird 2, as well

Dragon Blaze is actually higher than usual this year - it usually sits in the honorable mentions. It deserves much higher in my opinion. Strikers II seems to be the most consistently popular among the Psikyo games, but even it is at one of the lowest positions it's ever been.

Cho Ren Sha has to be the most celebrated X68000 shooter ever, though. I suppose that speaks to something. I don't think I've ever read a negative opinion of the game.

The fact that it has a Windows port probably helps that.

[louisg]

Wow! I'm surprised that Thunderforce IV got on but not III. I love IV but I tend to think III is the more solid of the two. I'm glad to see that Kamui has been sneaking up higher and higher every year But more people need to play Alltynex Second! I'm also happy to see RayForce right next to DoDonPachi.

[professor ganson]

Lovely list. Thanks, Nifty!

I'd like to see a few more older games and console exclusives, so that the list was a bit more balanced. But these are obviously very fine games. Yay Dragon Blaze! You absolutely deserve a spot in the top 25.

[KAI]

I still don't get all that Kamui love.

[Squire Grooktook]

I still don't get all that Kamui love.

My only real complaint with Kamui is that the excessive amount of health given removes tension from the early game, in both difficulty modes. This can easily be remedied by playing for a 1lc though.

Other then that, it's got some of the best use of Taito Bendy Lasers every (especially in Menace), a fantastic trio of end game bosses, and Lightning Katana feels great. Score play is really fun too, unlike most oldschool flavored games.

[Strikers1945guy]

Top 5 is Amazing except for Futari. Top 10 same thing take away Dot Eater.

Ibara at 13? Hot damn I'll take it. It's the fucking spiritual sequel to Battle Garegga people ! The glory is yours to behold. Happy to see Garegga back in its rightful place.

Mr Yagawa would be proud