Eigengrau

A shmup where every single stage uses a different mechanic! I was genuinely impressed at the sheer variety and how each boss fight incorporates the mechanics used in that level. The level of creativity and breakneck pacing reminded me of big games like Super Mario 3D World. For an extra challenge, you can aim for a faster completion time on each stage. Optional in-stage challenges reward you with seconds off your time, and getting hit adds to your timer.

A geometrically inventive shmup with a clear love for the genre. Watch what this game does with color!

Eigengrau is one of the most refreshingly creative shmups I have ever played. A lot of thought clearly went into creating its many unique challenges and there is nothing else quite like it. Eigengrau is easily worth the asking price even if you only play through it once, but you can also spend plenty of time going back through each section to figure out its secret objects and how to complete them, giving Eigengrau some collectathon and puzzle game elements. Unlike most other shmups, Eigengrau doesn't just attempt to refine the genre, it constantly innovates on it in spectacular and unexpected ways.

Very fun shmup, and generally speaking one of the coolest games I've played.

An extremely fun and creative game where I was constantly surprised and impressed at just how many unique combat encounters there are, both with standard enemies and the bosses that end up mixing it all up. Lets you play the full game in arcade, but also gives you the opportunity to play each stage's pieces from a menu, going for improvement or just the head-scratching objectives it asks of you. Works great on the Steam Deck, had a blast playing it, and look forward to trying to figure out the remaining goals I have.

A shockingly unique take on the standard SHMUP formula. Eigengrau takes a maximallist approach to gimmicks; every single wave of enemies in the game does something you've never seen before and will never see again. Incredible creativity on display from start to finish. Very forgiving checkpoints as well if you're worried about the difficulty usually associated with this genre.

It's a really fun shmup: you can go for a 1cc if you want, but even if you're just using the level select and/or are focusing on hunting for secrets and challenges, you'll have a great time regardless. The bosses are also just peak in general, especially the final and secret ones