Best Classic Shoot 'em Up Games

One of the rarest and most extraordinary RPGs ever made, Panzer Dragoon Saga combined rail-shooter combat with deep RPG mechanics in a richly imagined post-apocalyptic world. Its western release of only 30,000 copies makes original versions highly valuable, but its reputation as a lost masterpiece is entirely deserved.

The definitive Star Fox experience and one of the finest rail shooters ever made. Star Fox 64 delivered exhilarating combat, memorable characters with full voice acting, and a brilliant branching mission structure — and its Rumble Pak integration was the first time console players felt the game through their controllers.

The game that brought polygonal 3D into living rooms. Star Fox used the Super FX chip to render unprecedented 3D graphics on SNES hardware, launching one of gaming's most beloved space shooter franchises.

The landmark 1980 Atari 2600 port of Taito's legendary arcade game became the console's first killer app and sold over 2 million copies. Space Invaders on 2600 added numerous game variations not in the original arcade, making it a more feature-rich experience than the game that single-handedly popularized video gaming.

The home conversion of Atari's legendary 1979 arcade game, bringing the iconic asteroid-blasting experience to living rooms everywhere. A faithful adaptation of one of the most important arcade games ever made, Asteroids on Atari 2600 became one of the platform's best-selling titles.