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Start with Gunbird, Samurai Aces, or Strikers 1945, depending on the setting you want: comic fantasy, historical fantasy, or military aircraft. They are useful first stops for sampling three distinct sides of Psikyo’s shooter catalog—not a verified easiest-to-hardest ranking. Psikyo’s official product information does not compare their difficulty.
Which Psikyo game should you play first?
Choose by theme rather than by an assumed difficulty order. Psikyo’s catalog includes several shooter series, and these three give newcomers clear, different entry points.
Gunbird: comic fantasy
Pick Gunbird for a lighter, character-driven fantasy tone. It is included in both Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo for Nintendo Switch and Psikyo Shooting Library Vol. 2 for PS4. Nintendo’s listing confirms the Switch collection’s contents; Clear River Games’ collection page lists the PS4 library lineups.
Samurai Aces: historical fantasy
Choose Samurai Aces for a historical-fantasy setting and a route into the related Tengai and Sengoku Cannon entries. All three appear in Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo and Psikyo Shooting Library Vol. 2, alongside Gunbird and Gunbird 2.
#1 Best Overall
Strikers 1945: military aircraft
If you would rather fly military aircraft than explore fantasy settings, start with Strikers 1945. The broader series is represented in Psikyo Shooting Library Vol. 1, which also contains Strikers 1945 II and Strikers 1945 III.
What comes in the collections?
If you want several games in one purchase, the collections provide a straightforward way to compare options by platform and lineup.
Rank #2
![Psikyo Shooting Library Vol. 1 - (NSW) Nintendo Switch [Pre-Owned] (Japanese Import)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51avb9SXJRL._SL160_.jpg)
- Features Strikers 1999's first home release
- Strikers 1999 series: Blockbuster sequel to Strikers 1945, offering intense vertical scrolling action
- Strikers series renowned for its accessible yet challenging gameplay
- Diverse STGs: Magic, dragons, and unique mechanics await
- Action-packed titles: Soldivide's magical attacks, Dragon Blaze's powerful dragon, and ZeroGunner 2's 3D models
| Collection | Platform and format stated by source | Games included |
|---|---|---|
| Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo | Nintendo Switch; Nintendo’s US listing is digital | Samurai Aces Episode I, Samurai Aces Episode II: TENGAI, Samurai Aces Episode III: SENGOKU CANNON, GUNBARICH, GUNBIRD, and GUNBIRD2 |
| Psikyo Shooting Library Vol. 1 | Physical PS4 edition | STRIKERS 1945, STRIKERS 1945 II, STRIKERS 1945 III, SOL DIVIDE, Dragon Blaze, and ZERO GUNNER 2 |
| Psikyo Shooting Library Vol. 2 | Physical PS4 edition | Samurai Aces Episode I, TENGAI, SENGOKU CANNON, GUNBARICH, GUNBIRD, and GUNBIRD2 |
Nintendo lists Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo as released on February 18, 2020, published by NIS America, with Japanese and American English supported. Clear River Games lists January 5, 2023 as the release date for the two PS4 physical libraries. Check regional compatibility and current stock before buying.
Where can you buy Psikyo games now?
The official Psikyo portal lists games with digital storefront listings for Switch, PS4, and Xbox One, as well as Steam links. Its catalog is Japanese-market oriented, so its listed prices should not be treated as universal; check the store for your region and the individual title.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →There is an important Steam exception. In a notice dated October 15, 2025, Psikyo said sales of twelve titles on Steam would end on October 31, 2025 because a licensing agreement was ending. The notice says existing purchasers can continue playing and that sales on other platforms continue. For a new purchase, check a supported local storefront rather than assuming a Steam listing is still available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose your first game
- Want comic fantasy? Start with Gunbird.
- Want historical fantasy and related entries? Start with Samurai Aces.
- Want aircraft and a military setting? Start with Strikers 1945.
- Want multiple games together? Compare the Switch Bravo lineup with the two physical PS4 libraries, then confirm regional availability.
These recommendations distinguish the games by theme and collection, not by proven beginner difficulty, port quality, input lag, or accessibility. The official product information cited here does not establish comparative scores for those qualities.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- RETRO GRAPHICS: Immerse yourself in nostalgia with the Arcade Classics Pac-Man’s classic arcade graphics that look just like the original!
- AUTHENTIC GAMEPLAY: Use the joystick to guide Pac-Man through the mazes as you collect Pac-Dots and power-ups. Just don’t get caught by those sneaky ghosts!
- FULL COLOR SCREEN: With a brighter, full color screen that makes it easy to see the characters and dots, you’ll be cruising through those mazes like a pro.
- CLASSIC MUSIC: Pac-Man fans will love the authentic music and sounds that play just like the original arcade game.
- SHARE AND COLLECT: Arcade Classics are a must-have retro toy for collectors or for anyone looking to share this classic toy with the next generation!
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
