Sakura Stars (2020)

Developer: Super16bits
Platforms: Windows, Linux
Genres: Action, Indie
Rating: 4.5 of 5, 10 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 20 minutes
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More games like this Watch the trailer

or watch the trailer on YouTube

How it feels

A fast-paced and challenging retro bullet hell with cute anime visuals and a fantasy setting, where you dodge dense enemy patterns as a magical girl.

retroarcadecutecolorfuldifficultfast-pacedshoot-em-upfantasyanime

What players say

Players describe this as a simple, retro-style horizontal shooter with pixel art. Many note it has no mouse support, only arrow keys. Some say the difficulty spikes because destroyed enemies turn into smart bomb rings that also kill the player. A few mention pixel boobs.

Screenshots

More games like this

More by Super16bits

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.