Not every shooter is about fast-paced gunplay in tight environments. Some of the best games do indeed feel like a rush of adrenaline, from Titanfall 2 to DOOM, and for certain shooter fans, this is the only mode they like to play in. Other players may prefer something slower-paced, or the option to go in more stealthily to situations instead of spreading bullets all over the pavement.
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From 90s classics to modern hits, these first-person shooters will give players plenty of options. The main focus will be on shooters with campaigns, as the idea of patience can be applied to a lot of multiplayer arenas.
Cyberpunk 2077
Relying On Tech
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 has great shooting mechanics for a first-person RPG, but that doesn’t mean players will be constantly in gun battles. If players are smart about their character builds, they can bypass a lot of situations by sneaking around or hacking.
When gunfights do occur, players will want to try to use walls for cover as much as possible to wait for enemies to approach or when it seems like they are reloading. The great thing about Cyberpunk 2077 is its open-ended approach to missions, allowing players to either play it more as a shooter or a patient stealth assassin.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops
CIA Operations
Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Released
- November 9, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Call of Duty: Black Ops is one of the gold standards of the franchise, giving players control of a CIA Operative instead of random soldiers. It’s not completely a game about spies like a Splinter Cell game, but there are missions where players can move around with stealth.
For example, there may be scenarios where players can wait for soldiers to pass by their path to avoid conflict, or players may wait in the shadows to pull off a perfect headshot before moving on. There are other Call of Duty games that use stealth in the campaign, but Call of Duty: Black Ops has the best balance.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Stealth Wins Every Time
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
- Released
- August 23, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Eidos Montreal
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, PC
Deus Ex: Human Revolution has a similar open-ended approach to missions as Cyberpunk 2077, along with being set in a cyberpunk world. That said, the city area is much smaller in this game, and stealth is also more emphasized as the protagonist, Adam Jensen, isn’t as adept at gunfights. It’s more akin to Metal Gear Solid, which is a positive.
Players can customize Adam’s cybernetics to give him various bonuses, while exploring from being less detectable in the shadows to becoming a better hacker. Whether it’s lethal or non-lethal, it’s always best to wait for enemies to approach from behind cover before taking them down.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
Wall Blasting
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
- Released
- December 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Amazon Luna, Stadia, PC
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege has solo mission training, but unlike other Tom Clancy games, this one is purely focused on the multiplayer component. Between various organizations, two teams will compete against each other in a variety of maps on either the counter terrorist or terrorist side.
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Terrorists need to keep hostages or other objectives safe, while counter terrorist units need to keep the peace. Besides guns, both teams can get gadgets like explosives to breach walls, which is the most distinct feature in the game. No matter what, it’s always best to approach maps cautiously or to wait for others to appear before making any brash moves.
Alien: Isolation
Slimy Stalkers
Alien: Isolation
- Released
- October 7, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Alien: Isolation is a first-person horror game all about being stalked without much in the way of fighting back. The story focuses on Amanda, Ellen Ripley’s daughter, who is trying to find her mom and accidentally happens upon a vessel that is filled with Xenomorphs and androids that have gone haywire.
The deeper players get, the more ways they can fight back, but for all intents and purposes, this is a game about solving puzzles and hiding when danger is nearby. Waiting for enemies to pass by and trying to quickly run to safer areas is something players will have to get used to, as Alien: Isolation is very challenging, but great all the same time for an Alien adaptation.
Battlefield Hardline
Handcuffing Criminals
Battlefield Hardline
- Released
- March 17, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Unlike most Battlefield games about soldiers in the heat of war, past and present, Battlefield Hardline is about cops going after criminals. On missions, players could play it like a normal Battlefield game, blasting enemies without regard for human life.
As someone representing the law, it’s more satisfying to wait for the perfect opportunity to stealthily approach an enemy and handcuff them instead. How many games let players do that? It’s one reason why Battlefield Hardline deserves more love from the fanbase for trying something new in a non-lethal way.
Dishonored
A Whale Of A Time
Dishonored
- Released
- October 9, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
Dishonored follows Corvo, a soldier who is blamed for killing the Empress. To clear his name, he has to go after the top brass around the city and get answers, as there’s a conspiracy afoot. This is another game where stealthy approaches are much more rewarding for several reasons.
Even with weapons and powers, Corvo is not equipped to face large numbers of enemies all at once. So, taking down enemies one-on-one is safer, and it’s also a good idea to passively knock out enemies instead of slaying them. The more players kill, the more rats will swarm the city and get in the way, which is not ideal.
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
Prequel Piping
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
- Released
- May 5, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Stealth
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood was released as a standalone prequel to Wolfenstein: The New Order, before the alternate history trip. Instead of a run-and-gun shooter, B.J. Blazkowicz was behind enemy lines on a stealth mission.
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Players had a pipe to take out enemies quietly, or there were instances with classic bloody shootouts, too. Since B.J. Was usually overwhelmed by enemies, being tactful from behind the shadows was the starter of the two plans, especially against the more mech-heavy guards.
GoldenEye 007
An N64 Classic
GoldenEye 007
- Released
- August 25, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
GoldenEye 007 was the first James Bond game that got most everything right about what people like about the films. It wasn’t just a shooter or some weird platformer. Players had to be smart on missions and use gadgets and improvisation in some circumstances when things went wrong.
As an N64 game, it looks rough by today’s standards, but nostalgia is a powerful thing. The mission structure, weapons, tools, and multiplayer all made GoldenEye 007 unique in the 90s, and there are still good times to be had with it.
Prey
Beware Of Chairs
Prey
- Released
- May 5, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Prey is an atmospheric horror game wherein players are stuck on a space station wherein aliens have taken over that can mirror anything. It may be the first video game where players had to be wary of chairs, mugs, cones, and other household objects because these mimics were sneaky.
It may have led to cheap jump scare tactics, but it was effective because of the randomness of the attacks. Careful preparation and always being on guard when entering a room helped players survive longer, along with being quick on the draw with their weapons.
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