Home light-gun games faded into obscurity around the mid-00s. People gravitated toward newer consoles and more advanced and sophisticated TVs. It meant that this genre was relegated back to arcades, where it first began. G’AIM’E has decided enough is enough, and is overcoming the challenge of modern smart TVs to deliver the most accurate and authentic home light-gun experience yet. I got a special hands-on look at the device at Gamescom 2025.
My family had a PlayStation 1 in the early days. I still remember seeing a toy plastic gun appear in the house one day, only for it to be in the hands of my Dad as he was shooting at criminals, piranhas, and apples atop the heads of Dr. Dan and Dr. Don. Namco’s Point Blank immediately became a staple of our family’s life and introduced me to the light-gun world I’ve loved ever since.
A Time Crisis at Point Blank Range
The age of light-gun games started in the 80s with arcade machines using crude plastic weapons. Many home consoles began to adopt the craze, too. If you loved this type of thrilling gameplay, a home console, gun, and game were much cheaper than throwing your life savings away at arcade machines, barreling through quarters like there’s no tomorrow.
The 1990s were when the craze shot to new heights. The likes of Point Blank, Time Crisis, and House of the Dead dominated. The G-Con controller was life-changing, and everyone was idling about in front of the TV every night, firing fake guns at their television sets. CRT TVs became obsolete in the early 2000s as plasma screens and other newfound innovations forced technology to evolve. Home light-gun titles were designed with CRT tech in mind—rendering them unusable.
This is where G’AIM’E has stepped in and delivered a game-changer. According to the G’AIM’E Kickstarter page, it can be used on “All screens, including Plasma, LED, QLED, and LCD.” A Kickstarter, I might add, that has hit nearly $1 million (as of writing), decimating its $50,000 target. The demand is there, and my hands-on experience at Gamescom 2025 proves why.
Fire Away
Infared technology is replaced by G’AIME’s high-resolution camera and clever AI system. It easily detected my gun, and after a brief setup to establish the calibration, I was off and firing (literally). I got to roll back the years and play a flawless port of the original Time Crisis: Considered to be the definitive light-gun game and franchise.
Immediately, I’m thrown back to my childhood. The game screams “ACTION!” at me, and I’m peeping in and out of cover, picking off bad guys, carelessly taking damage because I get too greedy, and my memory muscle is instantly restored. I was so engrossed by the action that I didn’t really notice any desync or connectivity issues.
When G’AIM’E launches, you can buy the system and gun, or throw in a pedal for good measure. This affects how you reload the weapon, with the pedal giving your calf muscles the workout they’re crying out for. Either method works, and my session flew by as I transitioned from Time Crisis into Namco’s ever-chaotic Point Blank.
If I’m missing my shots, it’s because I’m bad, and that’s fine! The 30 minutes I had with the G’AIM’E system flew by, and I’m left wanting more. It felt accurate, on-point (blank), and perfectly replicates home, light-gun gameplay for the modern era.
G’AIM’E will support Time Crisis, Point Blank, Steel Gunther, and Steel Gunther 2 at launch. I can’t wait to play more and see how the technology evolves. Fingers crossed, this is the dawn of a new home-arcade era.
What are your fondest light-gun memories at home or in the arcade? Head to the Insider Gaming forum to let me know, and share which games/franchises you want to see revived.
For more Gamescom previews, check out our in-depth look at WW1 Gallipoli.
Andy is Insider Gaming's Senior Evergreen Editor and has been in the games journalism sphere in one way or another for over 7 years. His video game taste is as…
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They add machine guns and uzi
Wii had a bunch of rail shooters and also plastic guns to put the remote into.
Wasn’t at all accurate though. The only way you could aim was by looking and moving the on-screen cursor. Not the same thing at all.
This already exists and is widely available. The Sinden Light Gun also works on emulators. Not sure if this does
Glad to hear this, we backed at the deluxe level to be able to add games one day