The term Arcade shooter refers to a shooter game which has unrealistic elements that are in place to enhance a players enjoyment. It is contrasted by the realistic tactical shooter.

An arcade shooter can contain several of the following:

• A magic satchel in which players can store a very large number of weapons and items
• A quantifiable percentage of health, usually with no ill-effects on performance from massive wounds
• The ability for the player to shrug off weak attacks like bullets with minimal health loss
• Instant health recovery by using a med kit
• Unlimited stamina
• Fast paced and usually focused on action
• Highly numerous weak enemies and occasional bosses