Best Sega Genesis Shmups

      In this you can steal enemy's weapons. One of the few 8-meg shmups on the Genny. A Genesis exclusive.

      In this, you can go any direction you want freely and also buy weapons in between levels. One of the few 8-meg shmups on the Genny. A Genesis exclusive.

      In this there's 2-player multiplayer.

      Vertical shmup with multiplayer. It also features a life bar, so you don't die instantly. One of the few 8-meg shmups on the Genny. Ported from the arcades exclusively to the Genesis.

      It's called Crying in Japan. In this horizontal shmup, there's multiplayer. You also have a drone that shoots the opposite direction to the one you're moving. One of the few 8-meg shmups on the Genny.

      In this one you have both an aerial weapon and bombs to shoot the ground. Ported from the arcades exclusively to the Genesis.

      Never left Japan. An 8 meg game. 

      You can alternate at will between 4 modes of shooting (directions).

      Not released in the west. In this you have three ship speeds to choose at will.

      Tatsujin

      Mythologically-themed shmup. Ported exclusively to the Genesis.

      Port of Darius II. In this there are paths to choose. An 8-meg game.

A Genesis exclusive.

      You can alternate between three weapons at any moment. One of the few shmups that came out late in the console's life (93), released only in Japan. It has a fantranslation. An 8-meg game. A Genesis exclusive.

      In Sub Terrania, gravity matters. A 16-meg cart! A Genesis exclusive.

      Gynoug

      Trouble Shooter

            In this game's multiplayer, one plays with an air unity and the other on the ground. The graphics are below average, though. It's Genesis's version of Firepower 2000 from SNES. An 8-meg cartridge.

      This impressive gem never left Japan. A whopping 20-meg cartridge. A Genesis exclusive.

      This is isometric. It was also one of the last good shmup games on the console, having come out in 94. A 16 meg cartridge.

      This is a multi-directional shooter that's stradles the line of what is a shmup and almost isn't.

A.k.a. Super Airwolf

In fact, the game can be considered half-shmup (and half run 'n gun and beat 'em up). It's a 16-meg game.

It fits a jet-packed hero. An 8-meg game.

Nearing the end. An 8-meg game

Treasure really liked this trope. A 16-meg game.

Even Alex had one of those!

Some future levels are shmup levels.