Whereas the primary recreation style I performed was the standard platformer, it did not take lengthy for me emigrate to run & gun. What took for much longer was truly studying to be good at it.
At first, I performed NES Contra with my babysitter, and commonly crashed and burned. Then my pal and I minimize our tooth on Contra III: The Alien Wars. And ultimately, I began to get the cling of issues with Contra: Shattered Soldier.

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That have took me from being a distant admirer to changing into a lover of this style. A few a long time later, I am right here writing up my listing of a few of the finest run & gun platformers in latest historical past.
If I had been allowed to incorporate solely video games from manner again within the day, greater than half of this listing could be crammed with the steroid power of Contra.
With that in thoughts, let’s get out our ammo belts and staff as much as defeat nefarious forces on this pulse-pounding listing!
10 Contra: Operation Galuga
Again to Fundamentals
I am positive after that lead-up, you are questioning why Contra is sitting at lifeless final on this listing. The straightforward reply is that a few of Contra’s finest years are behind it, with the likes of Contra III, Shattered Soldier, Contra 4, and Exhausting Corps.
However there could be no run & gun with out Contra, so I noticed match to incorporate the newest entry, Operation Galuga.
What’s good concerning the recreation is that it is a radical combination of old-school issue and fashionable comfort.
Due to the arduous work of WayForward, there are novel options like voice performing, a number of playable characters, distinct character skills, and the insane Overload assaults.
In true Contra vogue, the sport is healthier with a pal, although there’s additionally a strong single-player expertise right here.
As you’re employed your manner by way of Operation Galuga’s eight intense ranges, you may should grasp the timing and efficiently dodge enemy assaults for an opportunity of success. A enjoyable and bombastic journey.
9 Mighty Goose
The Goose is Free!
Let me begin by saying that video games like Mighty Goose are why I am such a fan of the art work of Richard Lems, of KUNAI fame.
Lems outdoes himself right here with a candy-coated journey stuffed with arcade power. In the event you’ve by no means heard of Mighty Goose, let me let you know why you may wish to change that.
Mighty Goose balances frenetic arcade pacing, epic boss battles that would slot in completely with Mischief Makers, and humor that continuously had me chuckling.
You will race round, dodging bullets, charging your Mighty Meter, and strategically unloading on foes. You may also staff up with companions, use highly effective secondary weapons, and trip earth-crushing mechas.
The one draw back to the sport is that it lacks some key audio cues, can generally be overwhelming, and is comparatively quick. However in case you do not thoughts a fast burn and love a loopy premise, staff up with this feathered bounty hunter and take down the Void King!
8 Mechstermination Pressure
Destroy the MegaMechs
Among the best issues concerning the Contra sequence is the epic boss battles. Hörberg Productions minimize out the center man in Mechstermination Pressure, and targeted on taking down titanic, multi-layered bosses all recreation lengthy.
It wasn’t what I used to be anticipating from the developer after Gunman Clive, however I used to be actually comfortable they flexed their inventive muscle groups.
Very like Shadow of the Colossus, every stage is in opposition to one titanic MegaMech you may should take down. Typically, you may chase them throughout the stage; different instances, you may be trapped in a small area with them.
It doesn’t matter what the case, you may should grasp their assault patterns and discover a protected method to navigate them.

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As a serving to hand, you may ultimately get some neat gear to offer you a combating probability, corresponding to Magnet Gloves and Enhance Boots. Belief me, you may want all the assistance you will get to beat every of those devious MegaMechs.
7 Broforce
Do It For ‘Murica
Whereas Contra had its fair proportion of testosterone-fuelled mania, Broforce takes that power and provides a heaping serving to of parody.
Actually, it was having enjoyable on the USA’s expense earlier than it was fashionable, and mixed with single-player and aggressive modes, it provided a delightfully ridiculous expertise.
Not solely are there tons of titular bros to play as, every with their very own distinctive weapons and equipment, however the recreation provides a ton to do. Positive, the primary marketing campaign is just a few hours, however with the extent editor, you’ll be able to expertise a bunch of player-created arenas.
As a result of it is Broforce, just about every little thing you see might be blown up. Destructible environments permit for some on-the-fly strategic madness or only a method to kill issues to de-stress. A win-win for run & gun fanatics.
6 Weapons of Fury
A Livid Metroidvania
Platform |
PC, Nintendo Change |
Writer |
Gelato Video games Ltd. |
Style |
Run & Gun; Metroidvania |
Launch Date |
February 13, 2025 |
Of all of the video games on this run-and-gun listing, Weapons of Fury is the newest one. However that is not the one manner it distinguishes itself. It is also a really uncommon hybrid of the run & gun and Metroidvania genres.
Although the primary instance of that hybrid was Omega Strike again in 2017, Weapons of Fury is arguably essentially the most profitable marriage of such disparate ideas.
The sport has you answerable for Vincent Fury (no, not that agent Fury) as he fights to defeat the villains that stole the highly effective Tetra Cell. It was supposed to assist finish an power disaster, however as a substitute is getting used to make conflict machines.
Whereas the fight within the recreation is sort of frenetic, you may additionally discover wide-open environments and collect new instruments to achieve distant areas.
If all that wasn’t sufficient, Weapons of Fury additionally options a number of endings, destructible partitions hiding loot, and highly effective mechs to blast foes to smithereens. A stable journey from Gelato Video games Ltd.
The Mightiest of Slugs
Steel Slug X
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation, Neo Geo, PlayStation Moveable, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, iOS, Android, PS Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Change
- Launched
- March 1, 1999
One other iconic sequence within the run & gun sequence is Steel Slug. Whereas leaning extra into the gun than the run half, it is nonetheless an unbelievable and difficult journey that has charmed many avid gamers.
Whereas we will argue about which ones is the very best, I made a decision to incorporate the very satisfying Steel Slug X.

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Not solely did this recreation remaster Steel Slug 2, including new day and evening sequences, extra highly effective weaponry, and character transformations, nevertheless it additionally threw in new foes corresponding to Mummy Canines.
As you struggle your manner by way of hordes of foes, both on foot or in your trusty tank, you may discover rather a lot to take pleasure in on this basic journey. Now, let’s cross our fingers for a extra fashionable launch than the ACA NEOGEO library model.
4 Iron Meat
Recent Meaty Violence
It is fairly uncommon {that a} fashionable recreation so effortlessly captures the power of a basic sequence, however Iron Meat managed to take action completely. Not solely is that this a well-balanced and fast-paced run & gun journey, nevertheless it deserves a number of playthroughs to unlock a wide range of character skins.
The all-consuming Meat, which may infest and intermingle with flesh, metallic, and equipment, escapes a laboratory on the Moon and shortly causes utter chaos.
Enjoying because the heroic Vadim, you may should struggle off unwavering hordes of mutant creations, from humanoid grunts to gigantic prepare monsters and far more.
Like Contra, Iron Meat options a wide range of weapons to blast foes away with. You will want each little little bit of assist to defeat the titanic bosses, together with the ultimate battle in opposition to the avatar of the Meat itself. An incredible fashionable instance of retro achieved proper.
3 Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider
From JoyMasher With Love
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider
Whereas the idea of run & gun naturally lends itself to video games with weapons, they do not strictly have to incorporate them. It is extra of a fast-paced, arcade power that is required, and Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider captures that completely.
In it, you play a vengeful tremendous soldier that activates people who created you. Although you had been made to protect a totalitarian state, you need nothing a lot as to render it to bloody ash.
To assist together with your quest, you may discover modifier chips to alter the way you play, which lends itself completely to the sport’s quick, snappy fight.
Mixed together with your katana blade and a wide range of acrobatic maneuvers, you may have every little thing you must lay waste to every little thing in your path.
Although Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is an excellent instance of the retro skills of JoyMasher, it is not the final on this listing.
2 Cuphead
Deal With the Satan
Although Mechstermination Pressure is an excellent instance of a boss rush run & gun, Cuphead is the superior entry.
Not solely does this super-challenging journey function run & gun platforming sections, nevertheless it has you proving your price in opposition to over-the-top bosses aplenty and ultimately taking down the Satan himself!
The sport’s visible type helps distinguish it, trying like a live-action Thirties cartoon full with Huge Band music that will help you benefit from the expertise as you die many times.
Regardless of the harrowing issue, Cuphead is an ideal instance of the contract every run-and-gun recreation provides. Grasp the patterns, and you will find victory. Although it does not damage, you’ll be able to purchase new weapons and highly effective tremendous strikes.
1 Blazing Chrome
Go Down in a Blaze of Glory
I promised we weren’t achieved with JoyMasher, so I saved the very best for final. Not solely is Blazing Chrome a unbelievable instance of the skills of the staff, nevertheless it’s additionally an ideal love letter to the run & gun platformer type launched by Contra.
The sport’s premise feels very related because it’s all about how an AI-controlled military of robots almost decimates humanity. The surviving resistance should struggle in opposition to the machines and discover a manner ahead.
You may lock your gunfire in a wide range of instructions, however the sport additionally has bike segments, mecha rides, and really epic boss battles that usually give a cheeky nod to Contra within the course of.
Although the sport is not large, every stage is stuffed with foes and has a definite type all its personal. In the event you take pleasure in run & gun platformers in any respect, you completely have to play Blazing Chrome.

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