The Touhou Project Official Games are a series of bullet-hell shoot-’em-ups developed by Team Shanghai Alice, led by the sole developer, ZUN. These games have garnered immense popularity due to their challenging gameplay, deep lore, and unique blend of characters, drawing heavily from Japanese mythology and folklore. This post focuses solely on the official Touhou games, detailing everything you need to know: from what these games are, where you can play them, and a comprehensive table listing all the titles in the series.
What Are the Touhou Project Official Games?
The Touhou Project Official Games are all developed by ZUN, and they are the backbone of the Touhou universe. These games belong to the bullet-hell genre, where players navigate through dense patterns of bullets while attacking enemies and bosses.
The setting is the magical land of Gensokyo, and the recurring protagonists, Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame, face various supernatural incidents threatening the balance between humans and mythical creatures known as yokai.
Guide to Play Touhou Project Official Games
Fan Games vs. Official Games
While fan games, remixes, and other derivative works are abundant due to the series’ popularity, this guide strictly focuses on the official games—those created and released by Team Shanghai Alice.
Bullet Hell Definition
Bullet Hell refers to a genre where players must navigate complex patterns of bullets while attacking enemies, requiring quick reflexes and precise movements to survive.
Where to Start in the Touhou Official Games?
Touhou 06: Embodiment of Scarlet Devil: This game is a great entry point due to its straightforward mechanics and introduction of key characters.
Touhou 08: Imperishable Night: Considered one of the more beginner-friendly games, thanks to its more forgiving mechanics and focus on time manipulation.
Touhou 10: Mountain of Faith: This game simplifies some of the more complex mechanics and is a fantastic introduction to the series’ Windows-era games.
Complete List of Touhou Project Official Games
| Game Number | Title | Platform | Release Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC-98 Era | ||||
| 1 | Highly Responsive to Prayers | PC-98 | August 15, 1996 | The first game, more of a breakout-style action game than a traditional bullet-hell. |
| 2 | Story of Eastern Wonderland | PC-98 | August 15, 1997 | Introduces the traditional shoot-’em-up mechanics and the character Reimu Hakurei. |
| 3 | Phantasmagoria of Dim.Dream | PC-98 | December 29, 1997 | A competitive shoot-’em-up where players compete head-to-head. |
| 4 | Lotus Land Story | PC-98 | August 14, 1998 | The series begins to solidify its bullet-hell identity with complex patterns. |
| 5 | Mystic Square | PC-98 | December 30, 1998 | The final PC-98 entry, refining the gameplay and story elements. |
| Windows Era | ||||
| 6 | Embodiment of Scarlet Devil | Windows | August 11, 2002 | The first Windows game, introducing characters like Remilia and Flandre Scarlet. |
| 7 | Perfect Cherry Blossom | Windows | August 17, 2003 | Refines bullet-hell mechanics and introduces important characters like Yukari Yakumo. |
| 7.5 | Immaterial and Missing Power | Windows | December 30, 2004 | A fighting game developed in collaboration with Twilight Frontier. |
| 8 | Imperishable Night | Windows | August 15, 2004 | Focuses on time mechanics and introduces a new playable character, Kaguya Houraisan. |
| 9 | Phantasmagoria of Flower View | Windows | August 14, 2005 | Similar to Touhou 3, this game features a competitive gameplay style. |
| 9.5 | Shoot the Bullet | Windows | December 30, 2005 | A photography-themed shoot-’em-up where you capture photos of boss attacks. |
| 10 | Mountain of Faith | Windows | August 17, 2007 | Introduces new gameplay mechanics based on faith collection and new characters from the Moriya Shrine. |
| 10.5 | Scarlet Weather Rhapsody | Windows | May 25, 2008 | Another fighting game in collaboration with Twilight Frontier. |
| 11 | Subterranean Animism | Windows | August 16, 2008 | A more difficult entry in the series, set underground with new yokai characters. |
| 12 | Undefined Fantastic Object | Windows | August 15, 2009 | Introduces the UFO collection system, adding a new layer of strategy to gameplay. |
| 12.3 | Hisoutensoku | Windows | August 15, 2009 | A follow-up to Scarlet Weather Rhapsody, adding new characters and mechanics. |
| 12.5 | Double Spoiler | Windows | March 14, 2010 | A sequel to Shoot the Bullet, focusing on photographing spell cards. |
| 13 | Ten Desires | Windows | August 13, 2011 | A game focused on spirit collection and managing trance mode. |
| 14 | Double Dealing Character | Windows | August 12, 2013 | Introduces new characters and a return to more classic Touhou gameplay. |
| 15 | Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom | Windows | August 13, 2015 | One of the most challenging entries, with unique “point device” and “legacy” modes. |
| 16 | Hidden Star in Four Seasons | Windows | August 11, 2017 | Players can manipulate seasons as a mechanic to clear bullets and deal damage. |
| 17 | Wily Beast and Weakest Creature | Windows | August 12, 2019 | Introduces the spirit collection system, adding a new layer to the gameplay strategy. |
| 18 | Unconnected Marketeers | Windows | May 4, 2021 | Features a card-collecting system that adds roguelike elements to each playthrough. |
How Do You Play the Touhou Official Games?
Where Can You Play the Touhou Official Games?
Steam Availability
Most of the Windows-era games are available for purchase on Steam, making it the most accessible way to experience Touhou today.
Physical Copies
For collectors, some Touhou games are available in physical form at Japanese conventions or online stores such as Suruga-ya.
Key Gameplay Mechanics of Touhou Official Games
Bullet Hell Gameplay: Touhou is famous for its challenging bullet-hell mechanics, where success hinges on dodging waves of bullets and finding safe spots within complex patterns.
Spell Cards: Each boss uses special “spell cards” which represent unique bullet patterns. Successfully navigating these can earn players extra points or bonuses.
Multiple Playable Characters: Most games allow you to choose from different characters, each with distinct attack styles and abilities. Reimu and Marisa are the two core characters, but others join as the series progresses.
Difficulty Levels: The games offer multiple difficulty levels, from Easy to Lunatic, accommodating both newcomers and hardcore players.
Extra Stages: Once you complete a game under specific conditions, an extra stage unlocks, providing even more difficult challenges for players to conquer.
The Touhou Project Official Games offer a vast, challenging, and rewarding experience for players who enjoy intricate gameplay and rich storytelling. Whether you are new to bullet-hell games or a seasoned veteran, there’s always something new to discover in the world of Gensokyo. Start your journey with the official titles listed above and experience the magic of one of Japan’s most beloved gaming franchises.
