Bullet hell games are a blast to play through for many reasons, with the incredible chaos on screen making it pretty challenging for players to avoid damage while also taking out their enemies. These games ease players into the action before overwhelming them with projectiles and attacks over and over again, forcing them to improvise, adapt, and overcome the challenges in their way.
15 Best Bullet Hell Games
Bullet Hell games are ideal for gamers who want to jump into some intense action. Here are the genre's best games.
There are many great bullet hell games that players can check out, but not all of them support co-op gameplay. After all, the best way to enjoy the relentless chaos of this genre is with a friend. Players can panic together in the early goings before slowly understanding how these titles work before completely obliterating the opposition that stands in their way.
5 Enter The Gungeon
Metascore: 82
One of the biggest indie hits in modern times, Enter the Gungeon features frenetic bullet hell gameplay where players must constantly improve with every run, acquiring a bunch of weapons that can change their playstyle on the fly. This is imperative for players who don't want to be taken off-guard by enemies who can shave off their health in no time if they aren't careful.
With a partner, runs certainly become easier to manage. Double the firepower is a boon in this game, making progress in each run more feasible as players slowly come to grips with the mechanics of this title. There really aren't many games that are as tight and engaging as Enter the Gungeon in the bullet hell genre.
4 Just Shapes & Beats
Metascore: 83
Combining elements of the rhythm genre with bullet hell gameplay is a winning combination, and no title personifies this better than Just Shapes & Beats. It slowly ingratiates players to the addictive gameplay loop, with the musical excellence of this title escalating with each level before throwing out some major bangers in the latter stages.
The game is pretty challenging, and players tackling this game in co-op must make it a point to learn the title's rhythm if they wish to conquer some of the harder levels. It can take some time, but there's nothing more rewarding in Just Shapes & Beats than overcoming levels that were the bane of a player's existence for quite some time.
3 Returnal
Metascore: 86
The fact that the concepts in roguelikes and bullet hell games are being implemented in AAA games is a testament to the popularity of this genre, with Sony capitalizing on the popularity of this genre with Returnal. This amazing title is built around a time loop that the protagonist, Selene Vassos, finds herself trapped in on an alien planet.
Returnal: 6 Overpowered Builds
To make surviving a run at Returnal a little easier, try equipping one of these powerful builds.
The gameplay is pretty challenging and will compel players to become better at the game with each run, culminating in the slow drip feed of a story that will send chills down a player's spine. To make things even better, players can enjoy this title in co-op with another player, which is bound to be pretty engaging.
2 Vampire Survivors
Metascore: 86
Vampire Survivors
- Platform(s)
- PC , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X , Mobile , Switch
- Released
- December 17, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Luca Galante
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
Vampire Survivors is a title that tapped into a whole new style of auto-battle gameplay that made for a great time. The simple act of positioning a character and obtaining power-ups is as engaging as they come, with the screen slowly becoming consumed with a flurry of attacks, enemies, and loot.
This is why players will need to spend a few runs in Vampire Survivors failing against waves of overwhelming opponents before figuring out what to do. The brilliance of this title stems from its simplicity, and it's easy to see why players will have a great time with other players in co-op, as they coordinate their offense to take out the toughest enemies without breaking a sweat.
1 Cuphead
Metascore: 86
Cuphead dazzled players even before the game was released with its amazing art style, harking back to the golden age of Disney animation when their hand-drawn cartoons were all the rage. Clearly, a lot of work was put into this amazing title that pulls no punches when it comes to making things as difficult as possible.
Players can enjoy this title in co-op, but keep in mind that enemy health is also doubled in this move to keep things fair. Still, the fact that players can parry their partner's ghost to revive them does make things a bit more manageable — even if the difficulty of this move increases with each death.
7 Hardest Bullet Hell Games, Ranked
Bullet hell games are designed to be challenging, but some are a lot more difficult than others. Here are the hardest ones for gamers to try out.
