An Oath to the Stars (2017)

Developer: Himeki Games
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres: Action, Indie
Rating: 3.6 of 5, 28 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 48 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.

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How it feels

A fast, intense bullet-hell shooter where risk-reward close-range combat and relentless enemy patterns create a hardcore, vengeful arcade feel.

fast-pacedintensepunishinghardcorerevenge-drivenarcadeyaccessiblechallenging

What players say

Players praise the polished gameplay and co-op, but many find it brutally difficult with no bomb or slowdown mechanics, and some note a vibration toggle bug that resets. Opinions split on the challenge: some enjoy learning fixed patterns, while others call it frustratingly unfair, especially on bosses in stages 2 and 4.

Screenshots

More games like this

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.