The Bug Butcher cover

The Bug Butcher

Critic score6 critics
First release
Jan 19, 2016
Engine
Unity
Genres
Indie, Shooter, Arcade · Action, Science fiction

The Bug Butcher is an action-packed 2D side scrolling shoot em up game where peril comes from above. The core mechanics hold old ties from the classic arcade shooter "Super Pang" where you shoot vertically, but with modern day twists. You are Harry, a brash and tenacious exterminator who has a knack for decimating bugs. Harry's current assignment takes him to an infested futuristic research facility on a distant planet. The surviving and dwindling number of scientists employed him for his slaughtering skills.

Also known as The Bug Butcher (ザ・バグ・ブッチャー), ザ バグ ブッチャー, TheBugButcher.exe

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
Harry's mission: survive until the decontamination of the building is complete, hoard coins like his life depended on it, and protect the scientists at all costs. Watch out for the spiders they have a particular fondness for rubber encased scientist brains. After landing, you will move from room to room through the facility blasting rockets, lasers, and wielding the power of lighting upwards at anything not human. Ravenous swarms and ferocious waves of bugs of every size will attempt to kill you, but luckily there will be weapon and health pick-ups to aid Harry on his quest. Fierce reflexes are mandatory for survival, but Harry's brutal power-ups will let the guts fly and make the larva cry! If you love games with humor, perfect platforming, grotesquely cute art, nightmarish bosses, and real personality then The Bug Butcher will suit your fancy.Read more

Harry's mission: survive until the decontamination of the building is complete, hoard coins like his life depended on it, and protect the scientists at all costs. Watch out for the spiders they have a particular fondness for rubber encased scientist brains. After landing, you will move from room to room through the facility blasting rockets, lasers, and wielding the power of lighting upwards at anything not human. Ravenous swarms and ferocious waves of bugs of every size will attempt to kill you, but luckily there will be weapon and health pick-ups to aid Harry on his quest. Fierce reflexes are mandatory for survival, but Harry's brutal power-ups will let the guts fly and make the larva cry! If you love games with humor, perfect platforming, grotesquely cute art, nightmarish bosses, and real personality then The Bug Butcher will suit your fancy.

Release dates
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Jan 19, 2016
Mac
Jan 19, 2016
Linux
Jan 19, 2016
All 8 release dates
iOS
Oct 18, 2016
PlayStation 4
Oct 18, 2016
Android
Oct 19, 2016
Xbox One
Oct 19, 2016
Nintendo Switch
Nov 08, 2018
Game modes
Co-operative, Multiplayer, Single player
Perspective
Side view
Keywords
shmup, bullet hell, steam, achievements, steam trading cards
… All 11, steam achievements, digital distribution, steam cloud, steam leaderboards, playstation trophies, steam play

At a Glance

Critic Score
83

Overview

Steam review summary

Steam users rate this Very Positive, 662 reviews in all languages, recorded 16 October 2026

Valve's summary of Steam user reviews. Valve counts only reviews from purchases on Steam, not key activations, and leaves out review periods it has marked as off-topic. It isn't part of the CritScore score.

Review summary: SteamSteam data provided via the Steam Web API (opens in a new tab)Not affiliated with Valve →

Multiplayer

  • Local co-opSteam · 16 Oct
  • Shared or split screenSteam · 16 Oct
  • Steam Remote Play TogetherSteam · 16 Oct

Feature data: SteamSteam data provided via the Steam Web API (opens in a new tab)Not affiliated with Valve →

About storefront and compatibility information

Compatibility, feature and availability information shown on this page is recorded from the storefronts and services named against each fact, on the dates shown. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks of Valve Corporation; Steam data is provided via the Steam Web API. Other product and service names are trademarks of their respective owners. CritScore is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or certified by Valve Corporation or any other storefront or platform holder, and does not itself test or certify any game.