Halo: Combat Evolved will forever go down as one of the greatest first-person shooters of all time, as it helped fix what was wrong with console shooters. As great as it is, there is no sense of progression in the game, something that gradually became a fixture of modern FPS games. Although not 100% guaranteed, most new releases in the genre tend to grant some customization or upgrade paths, be it for the player's skills or their weapons.
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From classic turn-based battles to modern FPS titles, the quality of shooter gameplay in these RPGs is simply unmatched.
For the most part, first-person RPGs have the deepest progression systems, like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, but there are some FPS games with RPG elements too. This does not take into account multiplayer games like Call of Duty either, as those also have good leveling mechanics. Instead, this list will rank the best FPS games and go by how much they can be personalized.
While the quality of the game matters, we are mainly ranking them based on the quality of their progression systems and how well it is implemented.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
10 Far Cry 6
Getting Stronger In The Revolution
Far Cry 6 does not feature a traditional skill tree like previous iterations, instead focusing on increasing ranks and unlocking better gear, including weapons, armor, and backpacks. The gear progression can make taking back the island a lot simpler, as you feel yourself getting stronger and stronger, the greater your arsenal becomes. Backpacks come in various flavors and are like special abilities, like one that fires rockets. Players can also acquire animal companions to fight with them, such as a panther, alongside a large arsenal of guns that can be expertly modified to help take down this toxic regime.
9 Dishonored 2
Two Characters, Many Builds
Dishonored 2 lets players choose between playing as Corvo from the previous game or Emily, the former Empress’s daughter. Both characters have distinct supernatural abilities that, once unlocked, can be upgraded several times. For example, Corvo’s Blink ability lets him teleport short distances initially, but this can be increased, while Emily’s Dark Vision can help her see in dim light. The assassination missions are open-ended, with powers giving players different ways to approach their targets, be it loud or quiet.
8 Immortals Of Aveum
Magic: The Gunning
Immortals of Aveum has a skill tree, called Talents, which is divided into three core zones: Blue, Red, and Green. The game focuses on a magic system around Sigils, which will provide players with different gun-like configurations that will resemble everything from machine guns to rocket launchers, and they all have a corresponding element and color. For example, if players invest in the Red Talent core, which corresponds to close-range and burst weapons, then their power will get stronger for all equipped Red Sigil weapons. All Sigils can be modified to create the ultimate magical arsenal, too.
7 Destiny 2
The Guardian’s Journey
Destiny 2 starts with players creating their character from three races and choosing from three classes: Titan, Hunter, and Warlock. The races don’t matter beyond a visual distinction, but the classes will affect exploration abilities, skill trees, and special powers.
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For instance, the starting special for the Hunter summons a powerful revolver that can blast enemies with charged shots. The initial build of the game wasn’t as diverse once the skill tree was finished, but things have since been expanded upon. Getting the best armor and weapons will increase a character’s overall effectiveness, which is much more important than gaining new levels.
6 Fallout 4
Waste Not, Want Not
When players create their character in Fallout 4, they will have to distribute stats in the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Category, which can be increased in the campaign, but it’s much harder to do than the other progression systems present. Strength, for example, can affect melee weapon power and how much players can carry. Perks will grant players various boosts when leveling up, like Pickpocket, which can make stealing easier, or the ever-cool Bloody Mess that can explode enemies. Weapons can be crafted and modded as well, and overall, as a full RPG, Fallout 4 is better equipped to give FPS fans a more fulfilling experience.
5 Starfield
A More Thriving Bethesda RPG
Starfield is a spiritual successor to the Fallout series, made by Bethesda as well, but players have slightly more control over their created character. When leveling up, players can dump points into several skill trees, including Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech. A Physical example can increase health, which is always important in an RPG. Weapons can be modded as well and come in a wide variety, but the coolest feature that differentiates this polarizing release from many of Bethesda's other games is the spaceship customization, which even puts other space RPGs like Mass Effect to shame.
4 Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Open-Ended Stealth
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is even more open-ended than Dishonored 2 in terms of how players can approach missions. In this futuristic cyberpunk game, players can customize the protagonist, Adam, with several cybernetic implants. They can make him a better hacker, which includes increasing how fast he can capture camera feed or adjust turrets. Players can increase various stealth abilities, like how quiet Adam can move, or whether he can see an enemy’s cone of vision. As a core RPG, players can also persuade NPCs, and the success rate can even be modded. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is definitely more of a first-person stealth game than it is an FPS, but if players want to play it like a hard shooter, then they can.
3 Borderlands 4
Four Classes, Three Branching Trees
Borderlands 4 is stacked with choices, which all start at the beginning when players have to choose one of four classes corresponding to a particular Vault Hunter: Siren, Exo-Soldier, Forgeknight, or Gravitar. Each class has three branching paths, basically giving the game twelve class builds to choose from.
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For example, Vex is the Siren, and in one build, she can summon animal Familiars, and in another, she can clone herself as reaper-like ghosts. Beyond that, there are literally millions of guns to collect, all different, and finding the right combo between weapon loadouts and skill progression can be challenging but satisfying. It’s definitely the most action-heavy shooter of the pack, as are the other Borderlands games.
2 Cyberpunk 2077
Leave Humanity Behind
Cyberpunk 2077 is a lot like Deus Ex: Human Revolution, as both games take place in cyberpunk futures, and players can mod their bodies with cybernetics. The first key difference is that players can create their male or female version of V to give themselves more visual personality. Getting back to cybernetics, they can do things like increase damage to specific enemy types, like drones, or lower the cooldown rates of abilities. While missions can be approached in several ways, Cyberpunk 2077 definitely leans more into the shooting gameplay with guns feeling more futuristic, like ones that can target specific enemy zones.
1 The Outer Worlds 2
Your Flaws Are Great
The Outer Worlds 2 offers players the best balance between core RPG elements and a satisfying FPS experience, brought by the masters at Obsidian Entertainment. Players will get several ways to create and hone their character at the beginning, and when they level up from skills to perks. Every aspect of a character’s core can come in handy during conversations and exploration, including their origin stories, which makes no two playthroughs the same. For example, a broken door may be fixed with engineering skills or smashed open with brute strength. Weapons can be modded, and the shooting itself may not be as sharp as Destiny 2, but it is good enough.
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