The problem with first-person shooters is that players can’t see all that juicy action with a limited field of view. that’s a defect top down shooters they don’t, and for some players, they may offer a more preferable view of all the flashy violence. A quick look at games like enter the armory, the ascent, either Hotline Miami prove this point well enough.
But as popular as those titles are, some top-down shooters don’t exactly get the bird’s-eye recognition they deserve. Some of them are due to being standalone titles, while other cases come down to player preference. Still, that doesn’t mean these upcoming shooters offer less of an experience; Shooting game fans should broaden their perspective with these top-down shooter games.
8 Synthetik: Legion Rising
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Release year:
2018 -
Other platforms:
nintendo switch xbox one -
steam page
Don’t be fooled by the 16-bit visual style, synthetic is a shooter so loud and bombastic that the gunshots are almost palpable. The audio, animations, and overall gameplay all work together here to deliver some of the most intense shooter gameplay that even FPS games can’t match. The game is also a roguelike so be prepared for that.
There isn’t much of a story here, as with most top-down shooters. Players are simply thrown into dangerous sci-fi military installations where they must shoot their way to their goal, which is to rid the world of the Machine Legion and their gods. Very good excuse to start shooting objects and introduce the main strength of the game.
7 Helldivers Dive Harder Edition
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Release year:
2015 -
Other platforms:
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita -
steam page
I was synthetic too absent for Sony consoles? Don’t worry, because helldivers it’s there for PlayStation devices, and they offer something equally intense. This twin-stick shooter is all about protecting the Earth and defeating the enemies of humanity in an intergalactic war.
Players thus assume the role of Hell Divers, which is an elite team that is usually deployed in hostile areas for search and rescue operations. But during one of the dives, they discovered something sinister that could threaten the future of Earth. That’s nothing a few explosives and a few tons of lead can’t handle.
6 20 minutes until dawn
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Release year:
2022 (early access) -
Other platforms:
Android -
steam page
But enough of top-down sci-fi shooters. How about something with a Lovecraftian theme and some anime girls as the protagonists? because that’s what 20 minutes until dawn deals The premise is simple; Nasty Lovecraftian creatures keep crashing into the night, and it’s up to a few 16-bit anime girls (called Heroes) of different vocations to gun them down.
Each hero comes with a unique selection of strengths and preferred weapons or abilities. The build diversity is pretty strong here, and the action will certainly satiate players who have gotten used to the hellish challenges that games like enter the armory.
5 Foxhole
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Release year:
2017 (early access) -
Other platforms:
Linux, Macintosh operating systems -
steam page
For those who are craving some WWII action, Foxhole offers a unique take on wargaming. Instead of dying on the ground like an ordinary foot soldier in a claustrophobic view, they can watch their soldier die from above. Even better, Foxhole is a massively multiplayer game with a persistent world.
Each soldier is controlled by a player who must take on a specific role during the battle, from raiding the bunkers to driving the tanks. Such an ambitious project is not yet complete as the game is in early access, but any fan of war games should check it out. It is like company of heroes, Foot Soldier Edition.
4 wrecker
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Release year:
2017 -
Other platforms:
Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, Macintosh operating systems -
steam page
Before cyberpunk became too popular as a theme and setting in video games, titles like wrecker took some creative risks. After all, that video game genre was ahead of its time back then and has yet to find its proper audience. That’s why it mostly passed as a sleeper hit.
Yet, wrecker It’s worth it for aesthetics alone. This twin-stick shooter is a cool adventure game that revolves around the most philosophical and thought-provoking core ideas of the cyberpunk environment. It also helps that the action is fast, graceful and relentless. If it had been released today, it would have been more popular.
3 empty
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Release year:
2021 (early access) -
Other platforms: N/A
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steam page
All of these twin stick top-down shooters are pretty serious and gritty, so here’s something to balance out the themes a bit. empty it’s vibrant, chaotic, and colorful, though it focuses on boss fights and dynamic combat. Also, the game is a rogue-lite (semi-roguelike), so expect a degree of difficulty that will be different from the simpler games.
But that just means the game’s visual style will help keep players motivated or distracted enough to keep trying. Once again, the story is mostly cookie cutter and is nothing more than a mere excuse for players to test builds and fight the game. pinata-as enemies. To be fair, the game doesn’t really need context, especially once players see it in action.
two star value
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Release year:
2022 -
Other platforms: N/A
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steam page
Of course, here is a space-themed top-down shooter. After all, it’s one of the more mature scenarios for top-down shooting. star value fill that category. It is also the most recent title on the list since star value it was released only in August 2022. It didn’t get as much attention compared to bigger budget releases, but this game is easily one of the best space RPGs of the decade.
Its impressive Steam review stats say so. star value is similar to games like X4: Foundations where players can choose who they want to become in the vast expanse of space. They can be pirates, bounty hunters, merchants, miners, or business tycoons if they wish. All those possibilities are in the comfort of shooting from the top down.
1 Brigadier: Armored Edition
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Release year:
2016 -
Other platforms:
Mac OS -
steam page
Similar to wrecker, brigadier it was unleashed on the gaming industry long before cyberpunk became popular enough to be mainstream in gaming. The popularity results were similar. brigadier it mostly flew under the radar, but this game certainly deserves more praise for its soundtrack and visuals alone.
Players pilot a robot on an urban rampage to take down the oppressive cyberpunk autocracy. It doesn’t get any simpler than that, but cruising the streets of a cyber dystopia in a vehicle while being attacked by both synthwave symphonies and gunshots was ahead of its time.
