Top 5 Retro Run & Gun Games You Must Play in 2025

The "Run and Gun" genre defined the arcade era. High stakes, one-hit deaths, and screen-filling bosses. In 2025, the genre is seeing a massive resurgence. Here are the top 5 games you simply cannot miss this year.

1. Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

While not brand new, the complete edition of Cuphead remains the gold standard for modern run and gun action. The 1930s cartoon aesthetic combined with punishing difficulty makes it a timeless masterpiece.

2. Huntdown

A gritty, 80s cyberpunk-inspired shooter that oozes style. Huntdown offers tight controls, amazing pixel art, and a synth-wave soundtrack that will pump you up. It's a love letter to 16-bit era action movies.

3. Terminator 2D: Judgment Day

For fans of the classic movie franchise, this is a dream come true. Terminator 2D is a fan-made project that captures the essence of the arcade classics but with modern sensibilities. You play as the T-800, battling through the war-torn future and present-day Los Angeles.

The attention to detail is staggering. From the plasma rifle sound effects to the digitized speech, it feels like the arcade game we never got in the 90s. If you get stuck on the difficult later levels, check out the Terminator 2D wiki for detailed maps and boss strategies.

4. Blazing Chrome

If you miss Contra: Hard Corps, play Blazing Chrome. It wears its inspiration on its sleeve. Fast-paced, explosive, and incredibly challenging, it's a perfect co-op experience for you and a friend.

5. Metal Slug Tactics

Okay, it's a spin-off, but the Metal Slug DNA is undeniable. It brings the beautiful sprite work of the Neo Geo era into a tactical RPG format. It's a fresh take on the universe that still retains the explosive charm of the originals.