The vivid pixel art caught my attention when I started playing Black Paradox, but it's the addictive side-scrolling shoot 'em up gameplay that kept me coming back. A typical run takes just a few minutes, making it a great game to play in short bursts!
You play as a space-age bounty hunter tasked with bringing in the heads of the Hellraiser Crime Family. To reach your targets, you'll shoot through waves of ships and meteors, collecting cash along the way. You can use that cash to buy power-ups for your ship, like new weapons, shields, or a vampire chip that drains life from your enemies.
Even though Black Paradox is a rougelite, it never feels frustrating. You keep all the money you earn even if your ship is shot down, so you're making steady progress whether you win or lose. The boss fights can get pretty tough, so you'll need all the upgrades you can get.
At times, Black Paradox feels repetitive, but since runs are only a few minutes, I never felt bored. If you love shmups, pixel art, or synth-wave, it's a title you won't want to miss!