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Gamers love to come up with names to categorize game types. Most of these are a passing fad, but a few stick around and gain traction.
Bullet Heaven and Bullet Hell are great examples of the latter, but the names are confusing explanations at best. With this in mind, let me explain what each term means.
What is a Bullet Hell Game?
Bullet Hell is a fancy term to describe a game wherethe screen fills up with enemy fire.
You’lltypically find this in 2D space shooters, but it’s also pretty prevalent inBoss Rush-style games, likeFuri.
If you’re dodging curtains of bullets and weaving through bullet patterns like a pro gamer, the chances are the title you’re playing is classed as a “Bullet Hell.”
Another common feature of Bullet Hell shooters is atiny hitbox, but it’s not required. Most space shooters by CAVE fall into this category, withMushihimesama Futaribeing one of the mostimpressively sadistic examplesI’ve seen of the genre in full swing.
What is a Bullet Heaven Game?
Bullet Heaven is anewer termused to describe a genre that hasn’t existed for too long.
In Bullet Hell, you’re up against a hail of enemy fire. In a Bullet Heaven,you’re the one doing the shootingand filling the screen with projectiles. In many ways, Bullet Heaven games feel likethe reverse of Bullet Hell, as you repel hordes of enemies with your superior gunfire.
The most famous example of a Bullet Heaven game would be Poncle’s legendaryVampire Survivors.
Other titles includeDeep Rock Galactic SurvivorandHolocure: Save the Fans. Most of these titles havedeep meta-progression, which means you get stronger the more you play, but it’s not strictly required.
Games like this havegone by a few other namesin recent years. Inverse Bullet Hell was my favorite, but Bullet Heaven is far more catchy.
In conclusion, while the genre names are similar, thegameplay couldn’t be more different. Bullet Hell games are synonymous with precision and brutal difficulty.
Bullet Heaven games are usually much more accessible and can even enter cozy game territorywhen you get more comfortable with them.
If you’re interested in Bullet Heaven games, Deep Rock Galactic Survivor is a great place to start, and you canlevel up quicklywith some practice.
Great Examples of Bullet Heaven and Bullet Hell
Now you know what each genre entails, you may be wondering what games are worth playing in each one.
You’ll find a table below ofexcellent titles to get you started. At the time of writing, Bullet Heaven games are pretty popular, while Bullet Hell games have always been a niche.
Every game listed below is available on Steam, although many of the Bullet Hell games are ports from the arcade or older hardware.
Bullet Heaven
Bullet Hell
Vampire Survivors
DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviors
Halls of Torment
DeathSmiles 1&2
Holocure: Save the Fans!
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
Radiant Silvergun
Nordic Ashes
Army of Ruin
DoDonpachi Resurrection
Yet Another Zombie Survivors
Mushihimesama
Death Must Die
If you’re a novice, I recommendVampire Survivorsfrom the Bullet Heaven list, as it’s accessible and has hundreds of hours of content.G-Dariusis a great starting pointfor a Bullet Hell beginner,as it’s a solid 2D shooter with many difficulty options.
10 Best Bullet Hell Shooters, Ranked
From Ikaruga to Crimzon Clover, we’ve ranked some of the greatest bullet hell shooters ever made.
