One of 2025’s hidden gems is out now on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch (although it doesn’t appear to be available in the UK eShop at the time of writing).
Earthion is a 2D shoot-em-up that’s straight out of the Sega Mega Drive era. In fact, the game was actually developed natively for 16-bit consoles and will be available for the classic Sega system in 2026.
In the meantime, Earthion is now available for modern gaming platforms, where it costs between £15 and £17. This is an absolute steal for one of the most enjoyable shoot-em-ups I’ve played in quite some time.
The 2D shooter is developed by Ancient Corporation, whose previous credits include Story of Thor (Beyond Oasis), Legend of Oasis and Streets of Rage 2 (alongside multiple other studios).
The music, meanwhile, was created by legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro, who is responsible for some of the greatest video game soundtracks of all time. This includes the aforementioned Streets of Rage 2, which is my personal favourite, although The Revenge of Shinobi isn’t too far behind. There are even some voice samples from famous retro gaming YouTube personalities – not that you’ll be able to recognise them.
The soundtrack is suitably up-tempo and evocative, helping to create a thrilling and chaotic atmosphere where each stage feels like a genuine battle for survival. If you like a particular song, you can listen to the soundtrack by visiting the Music Player in the main menu. It’s a nice touch given for fans of Yuzo Koshiro and his work.
Not only does it sound great, but it looks the part, too. The timeless 16-bit art style is reminiscent of genre heavyweights such as Thunder Force IV, complete with screen-filling bosses, flashy explosions and lots of parallax scrolling.
The action is split between eight distinct stages, where the aim is to destroy everything in sight, all the while collecting shield and sub-weapons.
The sub-weapon system is somewhat unique and adds a strategical element to high-octane action.
Players start with two weapon slots, which can be filled with things like laser shots and flamethrowers. Your sub-weapons have their own life bars, which only deplete if you take damage while using them. You can replenish your sub-weapon’s shield by collecting green gems dropped by enemy ships. These gems will also improve your regular shot, so make sure to grab as many as you can.
Needless to say, it often pays to save your sub-weapons for boss battles and other tricky situations, although the constant availability of green gems makes it tempting to use them all of the time.
You can also sacrifice one of your sub-weapon slots for special pods that can be used to permanently upgrade your ship at the end of each level. This includes the ability to add additional weapon slots, enhance your shield and gain extra lives. If you die before the end of the level you’ll lose the upgrade pod and won’t be able to improve your ship, so be careful.
The sub-weapon/upgrade system adds an extra wrinkle to a special game that should definitely be in your collection, especially given the price.
VERDICT: 5/5