Warding Witches is a bullet hell shoot 'em up that puts defence in the player's hands as well as attack. You alternate between attacking, defending and dodging against a constant storm of bullets, with a scoring system woven into that rhythm rather than bolted on top. Different witches have unique shot types, movement and defensive options, and the game supports shared-screen co-op.

Steam 250 weekly chart: #30 on the Top 50 Games of the Past Week, up +1 place, scored 7.16 from 33 reviews at 100% positive, released 19 October 2026. Chart position via Steam 250.

Key features

An interactive defence system inside a bullet hell

Classic shmups give you one defensive tool: not being there. Adding an active defence changes the reading of a bullet pattern from "where is the gap" to "which threat do I answer and which do I absorb", which opens the genre to players who cannot thread a curtain but can make tactical choices under pressure.

Scoring built into the core loop

The scoring system is designed to weave into gameplay rather than sit in a results screen. That matters because the shmup community is score-driven: a game whose points come from how you survive, not just whether you survived, is replayable in a way that a clear-the-stage design is not.

Split-screen co-op in a genre that rarely offers it

Shared-screen co-op on a sofa is close to extinct in bullet hell, where online leaderboards became the default social layer. Keeping local co-op makes this a usable pick for two people in the same room, which is a genuinely short list.

Where to find it

Warding Witches is on Steam for $9.74, developed by Sonorode and published by Headup. It supports English, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish and Korean, with full controller support.

Frequently asked questions

Does Warding Witches have co-op?

Yes. Steam lists shared or split-screen co-op alongside single-player.

How much does Warding Witches cost?

It is listed on Steam at 9.74 dollars.

Is Warding Witches good for bullet hell beginners?

The developer states the game is designed for easy entry for newcomers as well as genre veterans, with an interactive defence system alongside dodging. Reviews are currently 100% positive from 33 reviews.

Who made Warding Witches?

Sonorode developed it and Headup published it. It released on Steam on 19 October 2026.

Can you play different characters in Warding Witches?

Yes. You choose between different witches, each with unique shot types, movement and defensive abilities.