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Contra Anniversary Collection
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Contra Anniversary Collection

201978/100
ShooterPlatformArcade
The Contra series is a masterclass in twitch-reflex action, with its relentless waves of enemies and screen-filling explosions. Its legacy stems from a laser focus on pure, unadulterated gameplay: precise platforming, rapid-fire shooting, and a constant threat of instant death. Frantic, two-player co-op further cemented its reputation, as players needed to cover each other while navigating treacherous levels and taking down colossal bosses.

About Contra Anniversary Collection

Details
The Contra Anniversary Collection brings this classic Run and Gun franchise back to modern platforms and a new generation of players. Grab power ups and blast your way through waves of menacing enemies and bosses that will put your reaction skills to the test. Also included is a digital Bonus Book with tons of concept documents and sketches, the official chronology of the franchise, an exclusive interview with the veteran producer of the series, and more! Alone or with a friend, Contra provides hours of nail biting action. In a pinch make sure you know the code!

Top 4 Alternatives to Contra Anniversary Collection

1
Match
Recommendation strength
91%

Alien Soldier

1995 · Shooter

If Contra's boss rushes and intense action appealed to you, Alien Soldier takes that concept to the extreme. It's a pure arcade action game focused almost entirely on fast-paced, challenging boss battles that demand mastery.

Why recommended

  • A classic 2D run-and-gun shooter with a heavy emphasis on boss battles and intense action, providing a similar arcade feel to Contra.
  • Criteria - The game is pure Action, and its notoriously high Challenging Difficulty comes from its relentless boss encounters and complex attack patterns.
  • Features a unique 'hover' mechanic and weapon switching on the fly, adding strategic depth to the rapid-fire combat and requiring quick decision-making.
2
Rating
Critic & community
79
Match
Recommendation strength
89%

If you loved the bullet-ballet action and precise platforming of Contra, My Friend Pedro offers a similar adrenaline rush with its stylish slow-motion gunplay and acrobatic maneuvers, all while navigating challenging environments.

Why recommended

  • Features intense, fast-paced shooting action combined with acrobatic platforming, reminiscent of Contra's run-and-gun gameplay.
  • Criteria - Action and Challenging Difficulty are core to the experience, demanding precision and quick reflexes to chain together kills and survive.
  • The game's unique 'bullet time' mechanic allows for creative and stylish ways to clear rooms, adding a modern twist to classic arcade shooting.
3
Rating
Critic & community
87
Match
Recommendation strength
85%

Embrace the visual style of a 1930s cartoon while enduring the brutal difficulty of a classic arcade shooter. Like Contra, Cuphead is a relentless test of reflexes and pattern recognition, but with a unique boss-rush structure.

Why recommended

  • Demands pixel-perfect platforming and shooting, with bosses and levels designed to test player skill and memory, akin to Contra's demanding stages.
  • Criteria - Action is fundamental to its run-and-gun and boss-fight mechanics, and it is famously known for its Challenging Difficulty, often requiring many attempts to master.
  • Features a cooperative multiplayer mode where two players can tackle the challenging levels and bosses together, multiplying the chaos and fun.
4
Rating
Critic & community
82
Match
Recommendation strength
78%

Trade Contra's side-scrolling for a top-down perspective, but keep the relentless alien hordes and cooperative chaos. This game delivers intense, challenging, and often hilarious multiplayer action against overwhelming odds.

Why recommended

  • Offers cooperative, challenging combat against waves of alien enemies, requiring teamwork and precise shooting, much like Contra's multiplayer experience.
  • Criteria - Action is central to the gameplay, with constant combat encounters, and Challenging Difficulty is inherent in managing enemy swarms and strategic objectives, with Multiplayer being a core component.
  • Features a variety of weapons, stratagems, and enemy types that keep the combat fresh and demanding, rewarding coordinated play.

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