Best FPS Game From Every Year In The 2000s

The FPS genre has always proven to be remarkably popular. Even in the 1990s, various shooters were known all around the world, such as Wolfenstein 3D, Goldeneye 007, Quake, and DOOM. Even towards the end of the 90s, FPS games were not slowing down, with massive releases such as Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Medal of Honor setting the stage for the genre's evolution in the following decade.

The 2000s didn't hit the brakes when it came to the FPS either, as the gaming industry saw the release of some of the most well-known and highly regarded games in the genre. Some were continuations of games launched in the previous decade, and others were new series that took the world by storm, with every year releasing a new FPS giant.

2000 — The Operative: No One Lives Forever

One Of The Best Spy Games Ever

The Operative: No One Lives Forever never seems to be talked about as much as it should be, and its delisting from digital stores pushes it further and further into obscurity. Still, at the time of its release, it was ranked extremely highly and competed with other big FPS games released in 2000, such as the original Counter-Strike.

Those who enjoyed 1997's GoldenEye 007, or James Bond in general, will most likely also want to give The Operative: No One Lives Forever a playthrough. Indulging in the genre of spy-driven stories, the gameplay revolves around stealth and, being an FPS, shooting bad guys. Typical of the spy genre, there are multiple weapons and gadgets for the player to employ in various situations, and the story is jam-packed with charming characters, including an all-time great protagonist in Cate Archer.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2000

• Counter-Strike
• Deus Ex
• Perfect Dark
• Soldier of Fortune
• Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion

2001 — Halo: Combat Evolved

The Most Important Console FPS Game Of All Time

The two main juggernauts of the FPS genre in the 2000s were Halo and Call of Duty. While Call of Duty remains popular to this day, the Xbox franchise has dropped off somewhat; however, the original Halo: Combat Evolved exploded when it released in 2001, with many buying an Xbox just to play it. This allowed the Halo series to become one of the most legendary franchises in gaming.

Controlling a supersoldier known only as Master Chief, players shoot their way through any opposition — namely the alien Covenant and The Flood — to complete objectives. With numerous weapons and vehicles, and one of the best starting guns in gaming history, the sandbox of killing aliens can be very diverse, especially with local co-op, due to the game being one of the best to implement splitscreen.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2001

• Aliens Versus Predator 2
• Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis
• Return to Castle Wolfenstein
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon

2002 — Medal Of Honor: Allied Assault

The Foundation Of The Modern Multiplayer Shooter

Despite the Call of Duty series becoming the more well-known gaming FPS franchise today, especially when dealing with real-world wars, the Medal of Honor games were the progenitor to Activision's golden goose.

As was popular at the time, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault took place during the Second World War, and is regarded as one of the best games to do so. Set in the European theatre, the game is spread over various missions, with numerous weapons available, as one would expect of an FPS title. Multiplayer is also an option, with four modes that depend on players gathering the highest score. The Omaha Beach mission is particularly amazing, delivering a level of immersion that was unprecedented at the time. Allied Assault arguably wrote the blueprint for modern military shooters.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2002

• 007: Nightfire
• Battlefield 1942
• Metroid Prime
• No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way
• Red Faction 2
• Serious Sam: The Second Encounter
• Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
• TimeSplitters 2
• Unreal Tournament 2003

2003 — Call Of Duty

The Biggest FPS Franchise Makes Its Debut

Call of Duty has been inescapable for roughly two decades, but its original game tends to be overshadowed by later entries like Modern Warfare. Very reminiscent of Medal of Honor, the shooter emphasized fast kills, scripted cinematic sequences, and fluid pacing, all of which helped set it apart from the crowd. As is the case, multiple different weapons are available for players to use and even aim down the sights with, a feature that Call of Duty popularized.

The first CoD game is also quite different from the later entries, with no regenerating health and a clear adherence to maintaining a grounded tone. The single-player story is split up between various WWII campaigns, that of the Americans, Soviets, and British, the last of which would become almost synonymous with Call of Duty stories, especially the Modern Warfare games.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2003

• Day of Defeat
• PlanetSide
• Postal 2
• Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield
• XIII

2004 — Half-Life 2

The Best FPS Game Ever?

The FPS genre holds some of the most revolutionary video games in existence. Case in point is the original Half-Life, which became a household name when it launched in 1998. Its successor, Half-Life 2, only solidified just how popular the FPS genre, the Half-Life franchise, and Valve would become.

Taking place after the first Half-Life, Half-Life 2 pits the player, controlling protagonist Gordon Freeman, against the Combine, a tyrannical interdimensional empire. In typical Half-Life fashion, the player gets a vast amount of weaponry to use against numerous adversaries, the standout of which was the Gravity Gun. Featuring a nuanced and mysterious story, Half-Life 2 set a bar so high that a direct sequel would need to be the best game ever to live up to it. While we might never get Half-Life 3, Valve has released a few spin-offs and expansions.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2004

• Counter-Strike: Source
• Doom 3
• Halo 2
• Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
• Painkiller
• Star Wars: Battlefront
• The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
• Unreal Tournament 2004

2005 — F.E.A.R.

One Of The Greatest Horror-FPS Game Of All Time

F.E.A.R. Was and still is impressive. In 2005, Monolith's game had arguably the best combat AI for enemies in the industry, as they flanked, suppressed fire, and reacted in ways that seemed dynamic. Even in 2026, F.E.A.R. Still puts to shame many modern FPS games in this area, and it has far more going for it than just this aspect.

One of the only FPS-horror hybrids to actually work as part of both genres rather than just be a shooter with monsters or a survival horror game with guns, F.E.A.R. Blended high-octane and intense firefights with psychological horror, paranormal storytelling, and eerie moments. While not offering anything too unusual by today's standards, the core mechanics have aged pretty well, especially bullet-time.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2005

• Battlefield 2
• Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
• Call of Duty 2
• Darkwatch
• King Kong
• Star Wars: Battlefront II
• SWAT 4
• Quake 4

2006 — Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter

A Technical Showcase With A Brilliant New-Future Setting

While most FPS games are connected with action and an in-your-face atmosphere, the first Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is a lot more toned-down and tactical, emphasizing caution and strategy. Missions in GRAW are what players would expect from an FPS game: eliminate enemies, rescue allies, and destroy certain locations. However, the way in which these objectives are handled is what sets the game apart from the crowd, and players must be careful about what actions they commit to, as only a few bullets can kill them. Various weapons and vehicles can be used, and ally characters can be given commands to help with the completion of objectives.

On the Xbox 360, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter was arguably the first proper HD console experience, one that showed true next-gen quality. While set in the near future of 2013 and focusing on urban combat, the game is still 100% an authentic military shooter, with realistic weapon handling and tactical action.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2006

• Battlefield 2142
• Call of Duty 3
• Resistance: Fall of Man
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas

2007 — BioShock

An Undeniable FPS Video Game Masterpiece

2007 was a colossal year for the FPS genre, featuring some of the biggest and most popular games to ever be released. Despite being surrounded by so many other shooters, BioShock was nevertheless an easy pick; while 2007 had dozens of solid shooters, it only had one BioShock​​​​​​.

BioShock features elements of stealth gameplay that can be used in conjunction with the numerous weapons and powers available. The world is littered with items that can be interacted with to provide immersion. Of course, players navigating the world will come in contact with various enemies, with Big Daddy becoming an incredibly well-known adversary. However, BioShock is most recognized for its narrative, ranked as one of the best story-driven FPS games.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2007

• Crysis
• Halo 3
• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
• Portal
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
• Team Fortress 2
• The Darkness
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
• Unreal Tournament 3

2008 — Left 4 Dead

Overshadowed By Its Sequel, But Still A Massive Co-Op FPS Game

The original Left 4 Dead is in somewhat of a weird spot. On the one hand, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest and even most influential FPS games of all time; conversely, it was superseded by Left 4 Dead 2 in just a single year, rendering it slightly obsolete. Although not completely dead nowadays, Left 4 Dead's online scene pales in comparison to its sequel, and it could be dismissed as just a stepping stone.

However, let's try to take ourselves back to 2008 and without the knowledge of what comes after... Left 4 Dead was such a breath of fresh air. A co-op shooter with relentless action and a revolutionary AI system, Valve's game was ahead of the curve in more ways than one, and it wrote the DNA that would spawn plenty of horde shooters in its wake. The gunplay is still a blast, too, ensuring that it could be fun to pick up and play in 2026.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2008

• Battlefield: Bad Company
• Fallout 3
• Far Cry 2
• Resistance 2
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2

2009 — Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

The Peak Of The Blockbuster FPS Movement

Call of Duty had always been more of an action FPS game, but the second Modern Warfare entry dialed it up to eleven. With more explosions, guns, and overall awesomeness, Modern Warfare 2 is where the Call of Duty series truly exploded into stardom.

It featured even more guns than the first Modern Warfare, a more involved multiplayer system, an intense single-player story, and the introduction of the Spec Ops mode. Many fans consider Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to be their favorite in the vast franchise, and it isn't hard to see why, as it took everything great from the first Modern Warfare and improved upon it while adding more. It isn't any surprise, then, that this Call of Duty, along with its predecessor and the first two Black Ops games, are regarded as the best.

Honorable Mentions: Other Great FPS Games Released In 2009

• Arma 2
• Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
• Killzone 2
• Left 4 Dead 2