Earthion
Ancient Corporation · 2025 · Action, Retro, Shoot 'Em Up, Pixel Graphics, 1990's
PC
Overwhelmingly Positive95% · 50085Metacritic
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About Earthion
Return to the genesis of 16-bit gaming with Ancient's brand new shoot 'em up, Earthion!
Yuzo Koshiro’s Earthion is a side-scrolling space shooter developed natively for 16-bit systems by legendary Japanese developer Ancient Corporation. Guide space fighter pilot Azusa Takanashi, through eight chaotic levels, each with their own unique environment, enemies, and boss fights, to repel the alien invaders and save planet Earth.Legends of the 16-bit era returnInstrumental in the creation of some of the 16-bit era’s most defining games, Ancient Corporation and Yuzo Koshiro return to their roots after three decades to deliver a generation-defining experience and an unforgettable fight among the stars.Classic Arcade Shooter ActionStrap in and deploy a devastating arsenal as you fight your way through eight chaotic levels, each with unique environments, enemies and boss fights. Beat the game on Hotshot difficulty, up the ante in Challenge mode and become a flying ace to claim your spot in the online leaderboard*.Original Soundtrack by Yuzo KoshiroWith an original soundtrack from one of the most renowned composers of the 16-bit era, Earthion offers a truly immersive audio experience featuring 27 original tracks and incredible soundscape of effects to transport you back to a golden age of retro gaming
Developed natively for classic 16-bit hardwareDeveloped to run natively for 16-bit hardware, pushing the original system to its absolute limits while ported to modern platforms with meticulous care, Earthion offers great quality of life features, including highly customizable scanline configurations to give an authentic retro experience on modern displays*.
About Ancient CorpAncient Corporation is a Tokyo, Japan-based development studio founded by renowned game music composer Yuzo Koshiro. With over 35 years of experience in game development, Ancient has become a pioneer of 2D action experiences, having produced beloved classic hit titles such as Streets of Rage 2, Sonic the Hedgehog on Game Gear, and more. Earthion represents Ancient’s first 2D shooter game, and its first Mega Drive title since Beyond Oasis, which was released back in 1995.*Feature not available for Mega Drive/Genesis editions of Earthion.
What Steam players say
Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.
As a fan of Thunderforce IV, Contra, R-Type and other classic gems, this one hits right on the nostalgia nerve! Great action game with many epic bosses!
Very strong aesthetics and music, especially considering that the game is actually built to run on the original Sega Mega Drive with all of its limitations. However, those limitations do cause some nagging annoyances - hit feedback on both enemies and the player ship can often be difficult to discern and led to some frustrating deaths on my part. The late game missions lean pretty heavily on Shmup Mazes too, which was not a favorite choice of mine. Still, a strong addition to my personal shmup rotation. 4/5
Earthion is the kind of game that immediately establishes its identity within minutes of starting. Developed by Ancient Corporation and Bitwave Games and published by Limited Run Games, Inc., this side-scrolling shooter embraces the spirit of the 16-bit era with unwavering confidence. Rather than reinventing the genre, it celebrates it, presenting an experience that feels as though it was preserved in a time capsule from the early 1990s and released decades later. Backed by the creative influence of Yuzo Koshiro, the project carries a deep appreciation for classic arcade design while benefiting from the conveniences of modern hardware. The game's premise places humanity on the brink of extinction as hostile alien forces descend upon Earth. Players take control of pilot Azusa Takanashi and battle through a series of increasingly dangerous missions across eight distinct stages. The narrative remains intentionally simple, serving primarily as a vehicle for the action rather than attempting to dominate the experience. This minimalist approach works in Earthion's favor, allowing players to focus on the rhythm of combat, enemy formations, and memorable boss encounters. Every stage intro…
Designed to be a quality Megadrive title. Good little game.
I never owned a Genesis - I had a SNES. But I did love shoot-em-ups. This nails it, dude. Period-perfect, beautifully balanced, edge-of-your-seat bullet hell bliss. Also, *gorgeous.* Really really pretty game - amazing what they managed to get 16-bit to do. 'Bout the length of a comparable game cart from the nineties (Blaz-E-On, R-Type, etc.), but better than most of 'em! Easy recommend.
Rad retro.
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