Summary
Light-gun games arguably reached the peak of their popularityback in the 1990s, when the likes ofVirtua CopandTime Crisiswere firm fixtures in arcades everywhere. In their time, these were some of the most immersive experiences players could have while gaming. Players physically held and aimed prop guns, which reacted to their actions.
Naturally, this kind of immersion lends itself very well to horror games, and players can be exposed to countless frights with this peripheral. More recent releases of 2022’sThe House of the Dead: Remakeand hit virtual reality games likeDuck Seasonshow that there is clearly still a demand for on-rails shooting action even nowadays. Here are some of the best from the light-gun glory days, ranked by their popularity and influence.
10Alien 3: The Gun
Xenomorph Blasting Action
A game that sadly never made it out of arcades,Alien 3: The Gunis an alternate version of the third entry in theAlienmovie franchise. Playing as a space marine on a rescue mission, or two marines when playing in multiplayer, the game takes place on a prison colony overrun byxenomorphs and other enemies.
Across the seven levels, players will encounter sentry turrets, facehuggers, xenomorphs, and even some hostile humans as they battle to survive. Reviewers at the time foundAlien 3: The Gunterrifying, but exciting, and power-ups like flamethrowers were a very popular addition.
Known for its gory violence and dark sense of humor,CarnEvilis another light-gun game that sadly never made it to home consoles, remaining confined to arcades.Featuring creepy clownsand other circus freaks, this is probably one to avoid for any players with coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.
The first three levels can be completed in any order. This unlocks the final fourth level, where players take on the final boss, Professor Ludwig von Tökkentäkker. Amazing names aside, the basic weapon can be upgraded to a shotgun or flamethrower, and players can even use acid rounds to melt the horrific foes before them.
The rise of virtual reality seemed to breathe new life into the dwindling interest in light-gun shooters, and a prime example of success in the horror genre isUntil Dawn: Rush of Blood.Clearly inspired byCarnEvil, and a direct sequel to the horror hitUntil Dawn, players shoot enemies and other inanimate objects while riding a roller coaster at a carnival.
As the game progresses through the seven different rides, enemies and scares become more intense, as do the players' weapons, advancing from a basic handgun up to a flare gun, machine gun and even a shotgun. There are plenty of secrets to uncover, and plenty of jump scares to spook even the bravest VR enthusiast.
Despite a lot of negative feedback from critics,Area 51proved to be a hit with players, and went some way towards reviving Atari’s fortunes at the time. Naturally, given that the game is named after the secretive military facility in Nevada, the enemies here area race of aliensknown as the Kronn, and the zombies they created.
Taking part in a Strategic Tactical Advanced Alien Response (STAAR) incursion, players must repel the Kronn’s attacks and prevent them from taking over the eponymous Area 51. The quirky mix of 2D and 3D graphics and animation, the over-the-top cartoonish violence, and the multitude of hidden items and levels made this game a hit, even spawning a sequel.
6Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles
A Rail Shooter With Some Freedom
Capcom had a few attempts atResident Evillight-gun games, but found their first critical success withResident Evil: The Umbrella Chroniclesfor the Wii and PlayStation 3. Despite the pre-set path, typical of a rail shooter, players do have some level of choice with branching paths and a limited ability to look around at times.
One innovative move for the genre is allowing players to perform melee attacks, which briefly switch the camera to a third-person perspective. Many reviewers even felt that while rail shooters usually feel restrictive, the formula is effective in this game andmakes it even scarier, since there is nowhere to run.
5Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
More Classic Zombie Slaughtering
Building on the success ofThe Umbrella Chronicles,Resident Evil: The Darkside Chroniclesis a prequel to the events ofResident Evil 4. Following the stories of Leon S. Kennedy and Jack Krauser, players must solve puzzles and shoot enemies as they seek to uncover the truth behind the T-Virus and the shady Umbrella Corporation.
Always playing co-op, whether with an AI partner or a second human in multiplayer, players can sometimes evade enemy attacks if they successfully pass a quick time event. One notable change from the previous entry in the series is that headshots are easier, and there are more weapon customization options.
First hitting the arcadesback in 1989and being the oldest game on this list,Beast Bustersis noteworthy for being the first three-player light-gun shooter. The three playable characters with their very catchy names are Johnny Justice, Paul Patriot and Sammy Stately, who are mercenaries trapped in a city ravaged by an outbreak of undead, known as Beasts.
Between each of the seven stages, players are treated to cutscenes explaining the story. In each stage, players can find power-ups, such as rocket launchers and armor. The horror themes and story were praised at the time, and the vibrant art-style is eye-catching to this day.
Following on from the iconic original game,The House Of The Dead 2isstill fondly rememberedby many players over two decades later. Picking up the story roughly a year after the events of the first game, the AMS agent protagonists find themselves in an Italian city filled with hordes of biologically-engineered zombies, while searching for their missing colleague, G.
The auto-reload feature, where players point their aiming reticle off-screen to reload, was among many gameplay features to be praised, as were the graphics and variety of branching paths. The hammy voice acting was met with derision at the time, though many fans nowadays find it endearing, adding to the game’s charm.
Another must-play light-gun shooter released for the Wii and making use of the PlayStation Move peripheral,Dead Space: Extractions, is arguably the best game of its kind. A prequel to the originalDead Spacegame, players control one of four survivors trapped on a planet and spaceship overrun by the Necromorphs.
Featuring a plethora of new enemies and weaponry, players can even utilize their controllers for melee attacks, and in trueDead Spacestyle, dismember enemies. The story is told across ten chapters, using cutscenes and audio logs to advance the story. Many regard this game as worth playing in its own right, even for those unfamiliar with the series.
WhileDead Space: Extractionsmay be a better game overall,The House of the Deadis iconic, and is believed to be responsible for popularizing zombies in the media, alongsideResident Evil. Spawning many sequels and even feature films, the game was quite controversial in its time due to excessive violence and gore.
Despite that, it lives on in the consciousness of many players, inspiring popular films like28 Days LaterandShaun of the Dead,as well as countless games. The gameplay mechanics, graphics and story still hold-up three decades later, and a remake was released back in 2022. Featuring branching paths and several endings,The House of the Deadwas ahead of its time.
