Bullet hell games are perfect for every player looking for a challenging way to test their reflexes and focus. Let’s explore this exciting subgenre together!
What is a bullet hell game?
Bullet hell is a subgenre of the shoot’em up (shmup) genre. Main characteristics of a bullet hell video game include:
- an extreme amount of enemy bullets arranged in complex patterns,
- gameplay focused on avoiding said bullets,
- achieving victory often depends on survival rather than destroying enemies or obstacles.
Playing bullet hell games requires fast reflexes, focus, and usually some memorization skills, as players take control over a character or vehicle navigating small gaps between enemy projectiles shot in overwhelming patterns. The subgenre is sometimes called danmaku, which is a Japanese word meaning “bullet curtain” or “barrage”.
Bullet hell meaning in games
The subgenre has not only influenced the shmup genre itself, but also inspired multiple modern games created as hybrids of bullet hell and platformer, roguelike, adventure game, et cetera. Here are some examples of popular video games utilizing the bullet hell characteristics:
- Touhou – one of the most famous danmaku franchises, the Touhou Project popularized bullet hell in Japan with its complex bullet patterns, upbeat music, and all-female cast of characters.
- Enter the Gungeon – as a mix of top-down shooter, dungeon crawler, and action roguelike, Enter the Gungeon features bullet hell elements present in both regular stages and boss fights. Procedurally generated rooms are filled with opponents firing dense bullet spreads in patterns unique for every enemy type, and skillful usage of navigation and roll mechanics is crucial for survival.
- Cuphead – this beloved platformer, presented in 1930s cartoon aesthetics, is known for its challenging boss fights, in which memorization and precise movement are key to surviving the complicated patterns of projectile attacks.
Now that you know what bullet hell is, it’s time to test your skills – and patience! – and dive into the challenging yet charming world of danmaku!