Chalk
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Chalk is one of the most original shooters you’ll see. Set against monochrome backgrounds filled with arithmetic equations and filled with enemies that resemble stylized doodles and sketches, the game looks like an ancient classroom chalkboard that’s come to life.

You’ll use the WASD keys to move your character about the screen to dodge enemies and their attacks. But at the same time, you’ll also use your mouse to click and draw lines across the screen to deflect bullets, destroy obstacles, and slash bosses.

Above: Chalk was designed by Joakim Sandberg. If you liked it, we recommend you check out his demo for Noitu Love 2: Devolution

TUMIKI Fighters
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Kenta Cho is famous for creating some of the best freeware shoot ‘em ups out there. In TUMIKI Fighters, you collect broken parts from fallen enemies. As more pieces stick to your ship, you’ll receive additional points and some extra firepower. But if you take a hit, you’ll lose all the precious parts you collected. The bonuses that come with building a fatter ship - and keeping all your extra parts - give TUMIKI Fighters an addictive greed factor that’ll keep you hooked.

Above: TUMIKI Fighters is the Katamari Damacy of shoot ‘em ups 

Above: Footage from the first level of TUMIKI Fighters

If you liked TUMIKI Fighters, we recommend you also check out Blast Works: Build, Fuse, and Destroy for the Wii.

Cloudphobia
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If you let too many enemies pass you by in this shooter, your mother ship will be destroyed. Because of this, Cloudphobia adds an extra element of tension by forcing you to focus on keeping the swarms of enemies at bay in addition to just staying alive. Cloudphobia’s visuals are simply gorgeous for a freeware game. Hit the link above to download this awesome shoot ‘em up. You can’t go wrong.

Protoganda: Strings
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Protoganda is another artsy shooter from Cactus Software, the creators of Ad Nauseum 2. This one cuts to the chase and plays out like an epic boss battle. The purposefully added scratch lines and blurred focus makes it look like an old film print. Check it out by hitting the link above.

Above: Protoganda may be short, but it makes up for it in style

SeizureDome
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Like all the other shooters by Cactus Software, SeizureDome has an incredibly unique look. This top-down arena shooter constantly tries to push you off the screen by throwing crying babies, flabby men, and angry ladies at you. Don’t let chubby babies and men in diapers be the boss of you. Kill them, increase your score combo, and collect power-ups to blast them back.

Detritus
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Detritus starts off as a stupidly easy clone of Asteroids, but give the game about 10 seconds. Before you know it, Detritus will begin kicking your ass left and right as hostile asteroid shapes begin assaulting you with no mercy. You can collect nifty power-ups to help you keep up with taking enemies down, but resistance is futile. Detritus is all about staying alive as long as you possibly can.

Above: Who said shooters should be fair? You will die in Detritus. And you’ll enjoy it too

Echoes
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At its heart, Echoes is a Asteroids/Geometry Wars clone, but blasting enemies to smithereens while needling your way through bullet hell is always fun. Your ship’s movements follow your mouse cursor, which allows you to bob and weave through the waves of hostile shapes with ease as you blow them to bits. The old school difficulty gives Echoes that "just once more" factor as you try to top your high score or beat another grueling challenge. See if you can achieve the Zen-like state required to unlock the game's bonus "CRACK!" game.