GOTY Watch: What's NEW in 2025?

[Jonpachi]

We're about to get both Cotton Reboot 2 and Salamander III in the next couple of weeks. Finally some NEW shmups. I love a good M2 collection, and I love seeing the classics preserved, but I get tired of playing the same games I've been playing since High School.

What's our list of contenders for 2025's NEW SHMUP OF THE YEAR?

So far I have:
- Cotton Reboot! High Tension!
- Salamander III
- Zaleste
- Truxton Extreme
- Illvelo Swamp: Happy Together
- Bounty Sisters
- Earthion exA
- Sonic Wings Reunion
- Cotton Rock n Roll 2 (AC)
- Night Striker Gear
- Randomax
- Lilac 0
- The Girl From Gunma Kai
- Birdcage
- Cambria Sword (AC)
- Dragon Blaze exA
- ZPF
- Blaze of Storm
- Touhou: Fossilized Wonders
- Touhou: Makuka Sai Part III
- Varynex
- Schildmaid MX

[mojilove]

There's also Bounty Sisters coming out later this year.
Earthion will be out soon on steam as well.
idk if it counts, but Illvelo Swamp Happy Together came out this year as an upgrade of Swamp with a new mode and a new ship.
... there's also Sonic Wings Reunion - just putting it out there to be fair. it could have been someone's goty, maybe

[EmperorIng]

I may have to look around again, but on top of this I should add Night Striker Gear, which is looking to be a great sequel to the beloved (by me!) taito classic.
If Cotton Rock n Roll 2 comes out this year that would be an embarrassment of riches, since the first Rock n' Roll was so good.

I haven't played it myself but Lilac0 seemed to get some buzz from people as a really slick, polished, indie shmup in the vein of ZeroRanger (wire those boys from... discord?).

... there's also Sonic Wings Reunion - just putting it out there to be fair. it could have been someone's goty, maybe

It certainly deserves some type of recognition.

[m.sniffles.esq]

but I get tired of playing the same games I've been playing since High School.

Thankfully, I feel like we've finally got past the 'every game released will be something you played 25 years ago' stage. And that slowly devs have discovered that if they actually make new games, and if they're decent, people will generally buy them.

I mean, do I ever want to play Truxton again? Not particularly. I only played it as much as I did back in 1991 because there were like six games on the genesis at the time. Do I want to play a modern Truxton game made for modern hardware? Actually, yes. That's sounds like something I could be interested in

Anyway, my sole contribution to the subject would be:
-Illvelo Swamp: Happy Together

It's super fun, highly addicting, and (imho) pretty much improves on it's source in every way

[Jonpachi]

Great adds. Updated the list. I didn't realize we're supposed to get Cotton RnR2 this year.

[Steven]

Cotton Rock With You arcade version is supposed to come out this year, in like December. Home versions are next year.

I think BIRDCAGE is supposed to be out this year too.

[Faith]

The Girl From Gunma Kai (Steam) should be out of Early Access soon!~

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3473 ... GUNMA_Kai/

TriggerHeart Exelica Enhanced (Steam) I believe is quite soon too?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3713 ... _ENHANCED/

And I also believe ZPF (Steam & Genesis) was supposed to be released this year? Not yet out on Steam, but demo is:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3095410/ZPF/

Also... does this thread count games already released?

Because if include already released, then...

There was Randomax (Steam) earlier this year:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3096420/RANDOMAX/

And Lilac 0 (Steam):

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3316380/Lilac_0/

Randomax seems very weird lol. I bought it already but have not yet played it.

So far this is what I am excited for:

Spoiler

Marras - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3439240/Marras/
Shockwave Triggers - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2912 ... _TRIGGERS/
Strelitzia - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3729570/Strelitzia/
The Girl From Gunma Kai - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3473 ... GUNMA_Kai/
The War Enders First Strike - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1555 ... st_Strike/
Truxton Extreme - https://store.steampowered.com/app/3323 ... n_Extreme/
Viral Reload EX - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2096 ... Reload_EX/

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Let's not forget the upcoming Exa-Arcadia port of Earthion as well.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[jehu]

Let's not forget the upcoming Exa-Arcadia port of Earthion as well.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Not going to win any friends with this one

If AC only releases count, then add Cambria Sword AC, Jam Jam Jelly (or whatever it’s called), Earthion exA, and, reportedly, Dragon Blaze exA.

[Steven]

Yeah let's definitely forget about exa lol

P-47 II MD or whatever it was called released this year after being in limbo for like 500 years. Does that count?

[Jonpachi]

I'm not counting new ports of old games such as Triggerheart Enhanced, but I've added the others to the list. The year has seen a lot more releases than I realized.

[Nahar]

You are doing god's work here, Jonpachi. I tried to do the same thing last year (or was it 2023... can't remember well) and it was exhausting to keep track of everything.

[reckon luck]

Visegunne and Rainchaser may or may not release this year.


If I had a chance to play it, Cambria Sword AC would probably be my GOTY.

[Stevens]

I didn't clear it, but I did spend a fair bit of time with Lilac0, so maybe that?

Earthion drops tomorrow!

[hamfighterx]

Terarin's newest one, Blaze of Storm, is scheduled for Q4 2025. Looks to have a very Aleste-like weapon system, I'm looking forward to it and wouldn't be shocked if it ends up on my short list of top new STGs for the year. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3513 ... d=41743328

I'm sure a lot of people will be very interested in the 20th mainline Touhou shooter, Fossilized Wonders. Releases August 17 at Comiket. https://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Fossilized_Wonders

I dunno that I believe Zaleste and/or Tatsujin Extreme will actually release in 2025, but we can hope?!?!

P-47 II MD or whatever it was called released this year after being in limbo for like 500 years. Does that count?

Feels to me like it should count. And honestly, probably my top pick from new 2025 STGs that have actually released as of today, that I've played.

[Faith]

Oh I forgot about: VARYZNEX (Steam).

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2976800/VARYZNEX/

This came out in January; from the same dev as Kaikan. STG + Metal = <3 as always!~

[Steven]

I dunno that I believe Zaleste and/or Tatsujin Extreme will actually release in 2025, but we can hope?!?!

For no specific reason, I somehow doubt that Tatsujin Extreme will be out this year and if it is, it's going to be late in the year.

P-47 II MD or whatever it was called released this year after being in limbo for like 500 years. Does that count?

Feels to me like it should count. And honestly, probably my top pick from new 2025 STGs that have actually released as of today, that I've played.

I was going to say that it's the only one from this year that I've played, even if it's actually from like 1992 and just never released until now, but then I remembered Sonic Wings. I got my shipping notification for High Tension an hour ago, so that should be here tomorrow... while I'm bored at work with nothing to do and unable to play it until I go home.

[AGermanArtist]

Terarin's newest one

Nice to to see some Terarin love. That guy should be commended for his efforts and productivity. I've bought pretty much everything he's released on Switch and there isn't a single dud in his already substantial catalogue.

[Nahar]

Also, Touhou Makuka Sai Part III releases on September according to its steam's page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2877 ... _Part_III/

[Bassa-Bassa]

Maybe not entirely GOTY material and maybe not everything for this year but there's a lot of cool stuff coming if you pay attention. Cooler than Sonic Wings Reunion, at any rate lol:

https://gamepavilion.jp/games-202503/usagihoshi/

https://x.com/MTMmatefla/status/1873565782275432772#m

https://x.com/xxxx_kt_xxxx/status/1717473088500375579#m

https://www.1ccgames.com/p/silver-bullet.html

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2825 ... ing_Trail/ (out now)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2882040/VISEGUNNE/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3686 ... tlantis_2/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3439240/Marras/

https://x.com/chunderfins/status/1895543264264274383#m

https://x.com/KaniProGames/status/1857213623682433158#m

Links shamelessly stolen from my friend's place, hopefully he doesn't mind as this just a part, anyway.