IMHO.

Games like Akai Katana Shin

If Akai Katana Shin is your kind of game, the closest matches are Deathsmiles I・II, UNDER DEFEAT and Earthion — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its rock soundtrack amplifies intensity, atmospheric and challenging. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.

Get personalized picks →

About Akai Katana Shin: Be guided anew into an epic tale set in the Taisho era with three titles from Cave's Akai Katana series that has captured the hearts of passionate shoot 'em up fans. New features include an online leaderboard and new musical arrangements.

2022Action29.99 USDDeck VerifiedWindowsby CITY CONNECTION, TAKE×0FF
Akai Katana Shin — Steam game cover
Players highlight
Katana evolves mid combo for deeper scoringReplay practice feature enables precise retryingRock soundtrack amplifies intensityAtmosphericChallengingEpic

Players who liked Akai Katana Shin also play

Steam players who put hours into Akai Katana Shin also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.

  1. Deathsmiles I・II

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Top pick for Akai Katana Shin fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Angels swooping across a disastrous sky! The shoot 'em up of gothic horrors is back

    2022Action39.90 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. UNDER DEFEAT

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Second-strongest match for Akai Katana Shin fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    My steed rides, a celestial iron cavalryman soaring through the heavens. The swirling assault shooting that shakes the battlefield returns once more.

    2025Action9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  3. Earthion

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Third-strongest match for Akai Katana Shin fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Earthion is a side-scrolling space shooter developed natively for 16-bit systems. Guide space fighter pilot Azusa Takanashi in her fight to repel the alien invaders and save planet Earth.

    2025Action19.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  4. Gunslugs

    WHY THIS

    Shares a retro mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Ranked #4 for Akai Katana Shin fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Lock and load for chaotic, fast-paced action in Gunslugs! Battle the evil Black Duck Army across wild, procedurally generated levels packed with explosions, jetpacks, chicken guns, and rogue-like permadeath. Unlock heroes, conquer bizarre worlds, and fight your way to the gates of Hell!

    2015ActionIndie4.99 USDSteam ↗
  5. Deathsmiles

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Ranked #5 for Akai Katana Shin fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Deathsmiles is CAVE's bullet-hell shoot-'em-up where you take the role of one of five Angels to defend the magical land of Gilverado from an invasion by Hell itself! Eradicate this devilish assault!

    2016ActionIndie19.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  6. Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef

    WHY THIS

    Ranked #6 for Akai Katana Shin fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    From the developers of the Guns, Gore and Cannoli franchise comes a new 2D run & gun platformer: Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & TEEF! Spearhead an Ork invasion, destroy the hive city and kill your warboss! ‘Ere we go!

    2022ActionAdventure19.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  7. Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Stellar Climax

    WHY THIS

    Shares a retro mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Ranked #7 for Akai Katana Shin fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Stellar Climax is a fast-paced couch co-op action shooter with SHMUP/Brawler gameplay and RPG elements. Choose your mechs, weapons & upgrades then soar through space, defeat evil & save the future... from itself!

    2015ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  8. ZeroRanger

    WHY THIS

    Ranked #8 for Akai Katana Shin fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    This is the story of a fighter who wanted to become...

    2018ActionIndie11.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗

Reviewers mention these as similar to Akai Katana Shin

Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.

  1. Mushihimesama

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Reviewers of Akai Katana Shin cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Battle huge "Koju" bugs in CAVE's beautiful fantasy shooter, Mushihimesama. Experience the thrill of bullet hell from the masters of the genre as you evade visually stunning shot patterns with thousands of bullets.

    2015Action19.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  2. Deathsmiles

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Reviewers of Akai Katana Shin cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Deathsmiles is CAVE's bullet-hell shoot-'em-up where you take the role of one of five Angels to defend the magical land of Gilverado from an invasion by Hell itself! Eradicate this devilish assault!

    2016ActionIndie19.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  3. DoDonPachi Resurrection

    WHY THIS

    Shares a challenging mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Reviewers of Akai Katana Shin cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    The legendary bullet-hell shoot-’em-up series has come to Steam! DoDonPachi is ressurected after a Blissful Death with enough modes to satisfy the beginner and the expert player alike. Tonight we dine in bullet hell!

    2016Action29.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗

Cheaper alternatives

Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Akai Katana Shin at current Steam store prices.

  1. Terraria

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under Akai Katana Shin on Steam right now. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available!

    2011ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. Lethal Company

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under Akai Katana Shin on Steam right now. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    A co-op horror about scavenging at abandoned moons to sell scrap to the Company.

    2023ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  3. Left 4 Dead 2

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under Akai Katana Shin on Steam right now. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Set in the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead 2 is a co-operative action horror FPS takes you and your friends through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the Deep South, from Savannah to New Orleans across five expansive campaigns.

    2009Action9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  4. Hollow Knight

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~50% under Akai Katana Shin on Steam right now. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.

    2017ActionIndieAdventure14.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  5. People Playground

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under Akai Katana Shin on Steam right now. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Shoot, stab, burn, poison, tear, vaporise, or crush ragdolls in a large open space.

    2019ActionIndieSimulation9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  6. Portal 2

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under Akai Katana Shin on Steam right now. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    The "Perpetual Testing Initiative" has been expanded to allow you to design co-op puzzles for you and your friends!

    2011ActionAdventure9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  7. Fallout: New Vegas

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under Akai Katana Shin on Steam right now. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Welcome to Vegas. New Vegas. Enjoy your stay!

    2010ActionRPG9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  8. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~50% under Akai Katana Shin on Steam right now. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a randomly generated action RPG shooter with heavy Rogue-like elements. Following Isaac on his journey players will find bizarre treasures that change Isaac’s form giving him super human abilities and enabling him to fight off droves of mysterious creatures, discover secrets and fight his way to safety.

    2014Action14.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗

Free alternatives

Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.

  1. Life is Strange - Episode 1

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Episode 1 now FREE! Life is Strange is an award-winning and critically acclaimed episodic adventure game that allows the player to rewind time and affect the past, present and future.

    2015ActionAdventureFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  2. Bongo Cat

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.

    Bongo cat needs your help. Bongo cat needz more hatz!!! Every time you press a key, Bongo cat will punch your taskbar. Type, click, play, work to collect more points. Which hats will you find?

    2025IndieSimulationMassively MultiplayerFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  3. Indigo Park: Chapter 1

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Explore the abandoned childhood wonder of Indigo Park! Guided by Rambley the Raccoon, help restore power to the destroyed amusement park while you run from the reason it shut down.

    2024ActionIndieAdventureFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  4. STRAFTAT

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    STRAFTAT is a 1v1/2v2 ONLINE first person SHOOTER with quick rounds in over 350 MAPS ; Including all WEAPONS, proximity chat and 4 players FFA.

    2024ActionFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  5. Counter-Strike:Global Offensive

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Counter-Strike:Global Offensive (CS:GO) expands upon the team-based action gameplay that it pioneered when it was launched over 2 decades ago. CS:GO features new maps, characters, weapons, and game modes, and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content (de_dust2, etc.).

    2012ActionFree To PlayFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  6. Awaria

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Awaria is a short game about working in haunted maintenance tunnels.

    2024ActionIndieFree To PlayFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  7. Grimm's Hollow

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.

    A spooky, freeware RPG where you search the afterlife for your brother. Reap ghosts with your scythe, explore haunted caves, and eat ghostly treats on your journey through death.

    2019IndieAdventureRPGFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  8. The Expendabros

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    The Expendabros have assembled and set their sights on the forces of ruthless arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks in the forests of Eastern Europe.

    2014ActionIndieAdventureFreeDeck VerifiedSteam ↗

More from CITY CONNECTION

Other recommendable Steam games by CITY CONNECTION, ranked by review count so the studio's hits land first.

  1. STRIKERS 1945

    WHY THIS

    Shares a retro mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Another title from CITY CONNECTION, the studio behind Akai Katana Shin. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    The vertical scrolling shooter game released in the arcade by "Psikyo". You can set the difficulty level, controls, screen orientation, etc. In addition, online rankings have been implemented! Aim to be the world's best Striker!

    2020ActionDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  2. STRIKERS 1945 II

    WHY THIS

    Shares an epic mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Another title from CITY CONNECTION, the studio behind Akai Katana Shin. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Easy to play, hard to master. This is one of the most iconic arcade shooter of the 90s, released by Psikyo. It comes back with many customizable options and online rankings!

    2020ActionDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  3. TENGAI

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Another title from CITY CONNECTION, the studio behind Akai Katana Shin. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Miko-san and ninja girl blast away! The best of eccentric Japanese-style shooter is here! With online rankings!

    2020ActionDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  4. STRIKERS 1945 III

    WHY THIS

    Shares a challenging mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Another title from CITY CONNECTION, the studio behind Akai Katana Shin. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Here's a challenge from 90's arcades! The ultimate Psikyo shooter! With online rankings.

    2020ActionDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  5. Game Tengoku CruisinMix Special

    WHY THIS

    Shares a retro mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Another title from CITY CONNECTION, the studio behind Akai Katana Shin. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Game Tengoku CrusinMix is a vertically scrolling shooting game mixing cute characters, a game world parodying a wide range of gaming tropes and history, tight controls, refined mechanics and eggplants?!

    2017Action7.49 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  6. Psyvariar Delta

    WHY THIS

    Shares a challenging mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Another title from CITY CONNECTION, the studio behind Akai Katana Shin. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Thrive on Danger: Master the 'Buzz' to transform peril into pure power. Graze the edge of destruction to fuel your evolution. Harness the fleeting invincibility of each level-up to dive even deeper into the barrage.

    2019Action8.99 USDSteam ↗
  7. Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle + Hell

    WHY THIS

    Shares an epic mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Another title from CITY CONNECTION, the studio behind Akai Katana Shin. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    "Ninja JaJaMaru : The Great Yokai Battle + Hell" est un jeu d'action en 2D. Il s'agit de la dernière interaction de la série Ninja JaJaMaru qui introduit de nouveaux contrôles et de nouvelles mécaniques de jeu dans la série.

    2022Action3.87 USDSteam ↗
  8. GUNBIRD

    WHY THIS

    Another title from CITY CONNECTION, the studio behind Akai Katana Shin. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    "Marion" the little great wizard in the steampunk world. The masterpiece of the "Psikyo Shooting"! Online rankings are available.

    2020ActionDeck PlayableSteam ↗

Plays great on Steam Deck

Valve-Verified or Playable picks from the similar pool — ready to go on Deck out of the box.

  1. Deathsmiles I・II

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Angels swooping across a disastrous sky! The shoot 'em up of gothic horrors is back

    2022Action39.90 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. Earthion

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Earthion is a side-scrolling space shooter developed natively for 16-bit systems. Guide space fighter pilot Azusa Takanashi in her fight to repel the alien invaders and save planet Earth.

    2025Action19.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  3. Deathsmiles

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Deathsmiles is CAVE's bullet-hell shoot-'em-up where you take the role of one of five Angels to defend the magical land of Gilverado from an invasion by Hell itself! Eradicate this devilish assault!

    2016ActionIndie19.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  4. Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef

    WHY THIS

    Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    From the developers of the Guns, Gore and Cannoli franchise comes a new 2D run & gun platformer: Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & TEEF! Spearhead an Ork invasion, destroy the hive city and kill your warboss! ‘Ere we go!

    2022ActionAdventure19.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  5. Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Stellar Climax

    WHY THIS

    Shares a retro mood with Akai Katana Shin.

    Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action with Akai Katana Shin.

    Stardust Galaxy Warriors: Stellar Climax is a fast-paced couch co-op action shooter with SHMUP/Brawler gameplay and RPG elements. Choose your mechs, weapons & upgrades then soar through space, defeat evil & save the future... from itself!

    2015ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗

Frequently asked about Akai Katana Shin

Is Akai Katana Shin verified for Steam Deck?
Yes — Akai Katana Shin is Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve has confirmed it runs well on the Deck with full controller, text legibility, and default configuration support.
How much does Akai Katana Shin cost?
Akai Katana Shin is listed on Steam at 29.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
Does Akai Katana Shin have multiplayer or co-op?
Yes — Akai Katana Shin supports multi-player play according to its Steam store listing (Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op).
What games are most similar to Akai Katana Shin?
Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Akai Katana Shin are Deathsmiles I・II, UNDER DEFEAT, Earthion.
Who developed Akai Katana Shin?
Akai Katana Shin was developed by CITY CONNECTION, TAKE×0FF and published by CITY CONNECTION.

imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on Akai Katana Shin.

For library-aware picks tuned to your specific taste, sign in with Steam on the home page.

40 Games Like Akai Katana Shin — Ranked for 2026 · imho.run