Non-Steam - Freeware - STGs (Shoot 'em Up; Shmup)
Non-Steam Freeware STGs List
Update frequently
I include fan-games as well!
For more freeware STGs outside of Backloggd: STG Wiki - Free to Play List
๐ Links provided in bold and underlined in Note per title. All links are safe to explore.
Notes about links:
As Backloggd is entirely English, some games' link pages are entirely in Japanese. In case some sites like Itch.io has pages in English, I'll provide those instead. Freem, Free Game Mugen, and Vector are always Japanese.
Update Notes:
Feb 02 '24 (I'm finally back! Also, I'm sorry if the update is slow due to staff needing to fix the website's lag)
๐ฅ๐ New to this list: Linux / Steam Deck compatibility notes per game (I'll add and/or update from time to time)
โ Added the Linux/Steam Deck compatibility notes to following titles: Sispri Gauntlet
โ Added the new titles to this list plus link:
Not shown on IGDB:
BLESSED (link will be added later), CARAVAN STAR -KAI-, Chuboom!, DESTRUCTION (Prototype; link will be added later), P6mk2, PENETRATOR, Renshatei (Prototype), Stargunner
โ Added link to following titles: Gekihaden, Gunroar, Idinaloq, PENETRATOR, REDNEG 3STARS
โ Updated the link to latest version: UNIVERSE (Gradius fan game)
โ Updated the notes: Zakesta
Not listed on IGDB: (I'll put up a link to my .txt file regarding Linux/Steam Deck compatibility notes per title)
โ Bomber Bomber Gaiden (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ Bomber Bomber Gaiden II (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ BLESSED (EN; I'll upload it to Archive.org later)
โ Blue Wish Resurrection (JP; Vanilla ver.; ๐ Itch.io)
โ CARAVAN STAR -KAI- (JP; ๐ Download Link (from SHOOTING GAME DEVELOPER UPLOADER)) (latest version: 0.62)
โ Chataan (KR)
โ Chuboom! (JP; ๐ Download Link (from SHOOTING GAME DEVELOPER UPLOADER))
โ DESTRUCTION (JP; Prototype; I'll upload it to Archive.org later)
โ EX Jaguar Hellfire (JP)
โ Flew Fighter (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ Good Nightmare! (JP; I'll upload it to Archive.org later)
โ GRASLAY (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ ImageStriker2 (EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io)
โ Kirisame Blade (JP; ๐ Free Game Mugen)
โ Kirisame Blade 2 (JP; ๐ Free Game Mugen)
โ Maho Shoot (ใพใปใทใฅใผ) (JP; ๐ Free Game Mugen)
โ Mecha Ritz (JP; Vanilla version)
โ Mid-Nightmare! (JP; I'll upload it to Archive.org later)
โ MoonStriker (EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io)
โ Odd Mobs (KR-only)
โ Okashi Kurenakattakara Itazura Shichauyo!! (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ OSP RAID (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ OPEN ARMS MAXIMUM (EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io)
โ OPERATION EGZA (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ P6mk2 (JP; ๐ Official Website) (on the download page, click ใใฆใณใญใผใ button and wait a few seconds)
โ PENETRATOR (JP; ๐ Download Link (on the download page, click ใใฆใณใญใผใ button and wait a few seconds)
โ Renshatei (้ฃๅฐๅธ) (JP; Prototype; ๐ Download (from SHOOTING GAME DEVELOPER UPLOADER))
โ Shippu Senki Force Gear Gaiden: Sapphire Spirit (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ Snowball Power (JP; ๐ Archive.org)
โ Sonic Sisters (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ Tatakae Kikasan (JP; ๐)
โ Tiny Xevivos (๐ Itch.io)
โ Trigonometry Wars 3
โ UNIVERSE (Gradius Fan Game) (JP; ๐ Download Link (from SHOOTING GAME DEVELOPER UPLOADER)) (updated to latest version)
โ Vsys (JP)
โ Xeno Fighters (Original)
Update frequently
I include fan-games as well!
For more freeware STGs outside of Backloggd: STG Wiki - Free to Play List
๐ Links provided in bold and underlined in Note per title. All links are safe to explore.
Notes about links:
As Backloggd is entirely English, some games' link pages are entirely in Japanese. In case some sites like Itch.io has pages in English, I'll provide those instead. Freem, Free Game Mugen, and Vector are always Japanese.
Update Notes:
Feb 02 '24 (I'm finally back! Also, I'm sorry if the update is slow due to staff needing to fix the website's lag)
๐ฅ๐ New to this list: Linux / Steam Deck compatibility notes per game (I'll add and/or update from time to time)
โ Added the Linux/Steam Deck compatibility notes to following titles: Sispri Gauntlet
โ Added the new titles to this list plus link:
Not shown on IGDB:
BLESSED (link will be added later), CARAVAN STAR -KAI-, Chuboom!, DESTRUCTION (Prototype; link will be added later), P6mk2, PENETRATOR, Renshatei (Prototype), Stargunner
โ Added link to following titles: Gekihaden, Gunroar, Idinaloq, PENETRATOR, REDNEG 3STARS
โ Updated the link to latest version: UNIVERSE (Gradius fan game)
โ Updated the notes: Zakesta
Not listed on IGDB: (I'll put up a link to my .txt file regarding Linux/Steam Deck compatibility notes per title)
โ Bomber Bomber Gaiden (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ Bomber Bomber Gaiden II (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ BLESSED (EN; I'll upload it to Archive.org later)
โ Blue Wish Resurrection (JP; Vanilla ver.; ๐ Itch.io)
โ CARAVAN STAR -KAI- (JP; ๐ Download Link (from SHOOTING GAME DEVELOPER UPLOADER)) (latest version: 0.62)
โ Chataan (KR)
โ Chuboom! (JP; ๐ Download Link (from SHOOTING GAME DEVELOPER UPLOADER))
โ DESTRUCTION (JP; Prototype; I'll upload it to Archive.org later)
โ EX Jaguar Hellfire (JP)
โ Flew Fighter (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ Good Nightmare! (JP; I'll upload it to Archive.org later)
โ GRASLAY (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ ImageStriker2 (EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io)
โ Kirisame Blade (JP; ๐ Free Game Mugen)
โ Kirisame Blade 2 (JP; ๐ Free Game Mugen)
โ Maho Shoot (ใพใปใทใฅใผ) (JP; ๐ Free Game Mugen)
โ Mecha Ritz (JP; Vanilla version)
โ Mid-Nightmare! (JP; I'll upload it to Archive.org later)
โ MoonStriker (EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io)
โ Odd Mobs (KR-only)
โ Okashi Kurenakattakara Itazura Shichauyo!! (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ OSP RAID (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ OPEN ARMS MAXIMUM (EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io)
โ OPERATION EGZA (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ P6mk2 (JP; ๐ Official Website) (on the download page, click ใใฆใณใญใผใ button and wait a few seconds)
โ PENETRATOR (JP; ๐ Download Link (on the download page, click ใใฆใณใญใผใ button and wait a few seconds)
โ Renshatei (้ฃๅฐๅธ) (JP; Prototype; ๐ Download (from SHOOTING GAME DEVELOPER UPLOADER))
โ Shippu Senki Force Gear Gaiden: Sapphire Spirit (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ Snowball Power (JP; ๐ Archive.org)
โ Sonic Sisters (JP; ๐ Freem)
โ Tatakae Kikasan (JP; ๐)
โ Tiny Xevivos (๐ Itch.io)
โ Trigonometry Wars 3
โ UNIVERSE (Gradius Fan Game) (JP; ๐ Download Link (from SHOOTING GAME DEVELOPER UPLOADER)) (updated to latest version)
โ Vsys (JP)
โ Xeno Fighters (Original)
67 Games
๐ Itch.io
๐ Itch.io
Game's text is entirely Japanese.
Game's text is entirely Japanese.
๐ Windows Ver. 2017 (archived)
๐ X68000 Ver. 1.10 (JP)
The X68000 version requires the real Sharp X68k hardware or emulation.
๐ X68000 Ver. 1.10 (JP)
The X68000 version requires the real Sharp X68k hardware or emulation.
๐ Itch.io
Game's text is entirely Japanese.
Game's text is entirely Japanese.
๐ Itch.io
The game is Japanese only.
The game is Japanese only.
JP; ๐ Official Site
Despite the game being made by Japanese, all of the game's speech and interface is English! Although the subtitles during cutscenes is Japanese only.
Despite the game being made by Japanese, all of the game's speech and interface is English! Although the subtitles during cutscenes is Japanese only.
๐ Official Site
Japanese-only; ๐ Download Link (from Vector)
JP-only
๐ Itch.io
EN/JP; ๐ Official Site
JP-only
JP-only
Formerly commercial product.
Formerly commercial product.
๐ Official Site
Japanese only; ๐ Official Website
๐ซ Not working on Linux and Steam Deck.
Sadly, no known compatibility solutions for Linux and Steam Deck found.
๐ซ Not working on Linux and Steam Deck.
Sadly, no known compatibility solutions for Linux and Steam Deck found.
EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io
Also available on Steam.
Also available on Steam.
JP-only
๐ Itch.io
JP-only
EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io
Also available on Steam.
This game was formerly commercial product and Japanese exclusive.
Also available on Steam.
This game was formerly commercial product and Japanese exclusive.
๐ Archive.org
The options on launcher is entirely Japanese. In-game is entirely English.
Used to be on official website and Freemu. Unfortunately, the original developer went disbanded some years later. The archive link is provided instead.
There is also a Linux port, but I couldn't find the link.
The options on launcher is entirely Japanese. In-game is entirely English.
Used to be on official website and Freemu. Unfortunately, the original developer went disbanded some years later. The archive link is provided instead.
There is also a Linux port, but I couldn't find the link.
JP-only; ๐ Freem
โ ๏ธ 30 FPS Locked
โ ๏ธ 30 FPS Locked
JP-only
JP-only; ๐ Freem
JP-only
EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io
Japanese only; ๐ Freem
JP-only; ๐ Free Game Mugen
JP-only; ๐ Free Game Mugen
๐ Official Site
MS-DOS; Formerly commercial product.
Need to use DOSBox with some tinkering if running on modern systems.
MS-DOS; Formerly commercial product.
Need to use DOSBox with some tinkering if running on modern systems.
JP-only; ๐ Official Site
Formerly commercial product.
โน๏ธ IMPORTANT: the compressed file type is .lzh instead of usual .zip. You need to search for the free software that allows you to access this type of file.
โน๏ธ All the info is taken from my other list: ๐ Obscured PC Titltes I Never Heard of But I'm Interested
๐ฎ Steam Deck Playability: โ Fully Playable; however, tinkering is required (see Steam Deck Compatibility notes) (tested using Proton 6.3 and Proton GE ver. 7.43 (later versions can work))
โ ๏ธ Game breaking bugs alert:
Though the game is highly playable, there are few game breaking bugs that is unforgiving:
โ Setting the game's music to .OGG resulting the game to have a chance to crash.
โ On the Penetolope stage (I forgot what's the right name of the stage), it features a crash. If there is too many sprites and effects on screen, the game can crash. If the enemy giant mecha's beam attack animation is glitched and is not removed, then it crashes. And lastly, if you let the giant mecha's beam attack line up perfectly horizontal, then it crashes instantly.
Fortunately, you can avoid crash most of the time. There is a solution by Pearl's video (links down below) on chapter 7 regarding how to avoid the bugs.
About this game:
A top-down shooting game based off the light novel & anime series, Sister Princess, created by Kimono Sakurako, who is best known as a creator of later popular franchise, Love Live!.
History:
In 2013, developer, D5, has uploaded the game on their official website as freeware; however, the developers said the game is not freeware. I guess you can call it abandonware at this point, as the final game was released on disc in 2007. The original retail version is out-of-print and is extremely rare due to only sold at Comiket.
We're very lucky that this game was re-released as freeware by the original developers. Same goes for Gal Pani X, also by D5.
๐ง Linux Compatibility:
โ Compatibility Layer: Proton 6.3-8
โ Launch Parameter: (Proton only. For any Linux OS; however, Steam Deck and HoloOS doesn't need it due to system built-in settings)
WINE_FULLSCREEN_INTEGER_SCALING=1 %command%
(the reason why you need this parameter, because the game does not run in windowed mode. Instead, it's full screen exclusive, resulting the game to run with bilinear filtering which makes the game awfully blurry mess. When the launch parameter is used, the blurriness is gone. This only works for Linux OS w/ Proton compatibility layer forced (not sure how to do in Windows).)
๐ฎ Steam Deck Compatibility:
Compatibility Layer: Proton 6.3-8 (can be used either standard Proton or GE Proton)
Recommended settings:
โ Filter: Pixel (formerly Nearest)
โ TDP Watt: 5
โ PowerTools (optional): governor - Powersaving
How to tinker:
Add the game's executable (sg.exe) as non-Steam game. Right out of the box, the game works. On Linux OS desktop, it runs up to 120 FPS, but it doesn't break the game. On Steam Deck and HoloOS, if running in desktop mode, the game runs at low framerate; if in game mode, the game runs at proper 60 FPS.
But one thing you'll notice is, the game doesn't play any music, thus tinkering is required. Firstly, before you do tinkering, it's important to go to the game's options and change the music type to "MIDI", as setting it to "OGG" makes the game unstable and has a chance to crash.
I refer the Big Trov's guide for System Shock: Enhanced Edition on Steam Deck for getting the music working (this can work for this and other games as well): Big Trov's guide
โน๏ธ (Notes: If using Linux OS on desktop PC, you do not need the launch parameter for Midi; you just need Qsynth running in the background (you can see the Qsynth icon on taskbar when minimized).)
As for Soundfonts, it can be anything. I personally pick PC-98 YM2608 SoundFont, as I find it sounded wonderfully. Here's the link I'm referring: PC-98 YM2608 SoundFont
Videos:
๐ Overview video by Pearl | ASE-PRL
๐ STG Weekly #197: Sispri Gauntlet by Shooting Game Weekly
Formerly commercial product.
โน๏ธ IMPORTANT: the compressed file type is .lzh instead of usual .zip. You need to search for the free software that allows you to access this type of file.
โน๏ธ All the info is taken from my other list: ๐ Obscured PC Titltes I Never Heard of But I'm Interested
๐ฎ Steam Deck Playability: โ Fully Playable; however, tinkering is required (see Steam Deck Compatibility notes) (tested using Proton 6.3 and Proton GE ver. 7.43 (later versions can work))
โ ๏ธ Game breaking bugs alert:
Though the game is highly playable, there are few game breaking bugs that is unforgiving:
โ Setting the game's music to .OGG resulting the game to have a chance to crash.
โ On the Penetolope stage (I forgot what's the right name of the stage), it features a crash. If there is too many sprites and effects on screen, the game can crash. If the enemy giant mecha's beam attack animation is glitched and is not removed, then it crashes. And lastly, if you let the giant mecha's beam attack line up perfectly horizontal, then it crashes instantly.
Fortunately, you can avoid crash most of the time. There is a solution by Pearl's video (links down below) on chapter 7 regarding how to avoid the bugs.
About this game:
A top-down shooting game based off the light novel & anime series, Sister Princess, created by Kimono Sakurako, who is best known as a creator of later popular franchise, Love Live!.
History:
In 2013, developer, D5, has uploaded the game on their official website as freeware; however, the developers said the game is not freeware. I guess you can call it abandonware at this point, as the final game was released on disc in 2007. The original retail version is out-of-print and is extremely rare due to only sold at Comiket.
We're very lucky that this game was re-released as freeware by the original developers. Same goes for Gal Pani X, also by D5.
๐ง Linux Compatibility:
โ Compatibility Layer: Proton 6.3-8
โ Launch Parameter: (Proton only. For any Linux OS; however, Steam Deck and HoloOS doesn't need it due to system built-in settings)
WINE_FULLSCREEN_INTEGER_SCALING=1 %command%
(the reason why you need this parameter, because the game does not run in windowed mode. Instead, it's full screen exclusive, resulting the game to run with bilinear filtering which makes the game awfully blurry mess. When the launch parameter is used, the blurriness is gone. This only works for Linux OS w/ Proton compatibility layer forced (not sure how to do in Windows).)
๐ฎ Steam Deck Compatibility:
Compatibility Layer: Proton 6.3-8 (can be used either standard Proton or GE Proton)
Recommended settings:
โ Filter: Pixel (formerly Nearest)
โ TDP Watt: 5
โ PowerTools (optional): governor - Powersaving
How to tinker:
Add the game's executable (sg.exe) as non-Steam game. Right out of the box, the game works. On Linux OS desktop, it runs up to 120 FPS, but it doesn't break the game. On Steam Deck and HoloOS, if running in desktop mode, the game runs at low framerate; if in game mode, the game runs at proper 60 FPS.
But one thing you'll notice is, the game doesn't play any music, thus tinkering is required. Firstly, before you do tinkering, it's important to go to the game's options and change the music type to "MIDI", as setting it to "OGG" makes the game unstable and has a chance to crash.
I refer the Big Trov's guide for System Shock: Enhanced Edition on Steam Deck for getting the music working (this can work for this and other games as well): Big Trov's guide
โน๏ธ (Notes: If using Linux OS on desktop PC, you do not need the launch parameter for Midi; you just need Qsynth running in the background (you can see the Qsynth icon on taskbar when minimized).)
As for Soundfonts, it can be anything. I personally pick PC-98 YM2608 SoundFont, as I find it sounded wonderfully. Here's the link I'm referring: PC-98 YM2608 SoundFont
Videos:
๐ Overview video by Pearl | ASE-PRL
๐ STG Weekly #197: Sispri Gauntlet by Shooting Game Weekly
EN/JP; ๐ Itch.io
Desktop/GOG; MS-DOS; ๐ GOG Page
Formerly commercial product.
Also available on Steam.
Formerly commercial product.
Also available on Steam.
JP exclusive; Freem
Sorry, no high quality cover art available.
Sorry, no high quality cover art available.
๐ Itch.io
Formerly commercial release on Xbox Live Indie Game and Ouya.
The later arcade version is completely different.
Formerly commercial release on Xbox Live Indie Game and Ouya.
The later arcade version is completely different.
๐ GOG
MS-DOS; formerly commercial product.
Went freeware since 2005.
MS-DOS; formerly commercial product.
Went freeware since 2005.
๐ Official Site
๐ Itch.io
Freeware
๐ Itch.io
๐ Itch.io
๐ Archive.org
Prototype
Originally released on PC Format magazine.
Prototype
Originally released on PC Format magazine.
JP exclusive
Was released as part of tenth anniversary celebration of original 2005 commercial release. Unfortunately, only available for limited time. Although it could be found somewhere else.
Was released as part of tenth anniversary celebration of original 2005 commercial release. Unfortunately, only available for limited time. Although it could be found somewhere else.
6 Comments
Might wanna update CRS68k, version 1.10 is free and just requires either an X68k or emulator thereof.
Just wanted to thank you again for this list. I pop in and check out the new entries from time to time, which is super convenient since you always provide the download links. Easily the coolest and most practical list on the site
Funbil
6 months ago
http://www.esc-j.net/stg/stgdu/upload.php?page=all&gal=0&mode=list&sword=&andor=