Summary
- Overwatch 2 offers diverse gameplay, new content, and team-based action for FPS fans, enhancing the hero-shooter genre.
- Counter-Strike 2 combines tactical gameplay with modern features and polished graphics for a rewarding FPS experience.
- Mullet Madjack brings a unique twist to FPS games with time-based mechanics, rewarding accuracy, and decision-making.
FPS games have dominated both the competitive and casual gaming world for decades now, redefining what an e-sport can be and how players run and gun their way through increasingly absurd enemies. Even if players aren't looking to dominate competitive ladders, there are still plenty of fun and enjoyable titles out there that allow for some satisfying first-person shooting, minus the stress and intensity of online games.
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The following first-person shooters stand out with their memorable narratives.
The fun comes in all shapes and sizes, and there is no shortage of incredibly well-crafted multiplayer shooters to jump in with a group of friends, with just as many single-player titles to keep people entertained for hours on end. The sheer joy that the genre can elicit is hard to find elsewhere, and no matter if it's fantasy, sci-fi, or something in between, there is always a game to fit that bill.
8 Overwatch 2
The Pinnacle Of The Hero Shooter Genre
Overwatch 2
- Released
- August 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Blizzard's flagship FPS title, Overwatch 2, is the revived and updated version of the critically acclaimed original, bringing more maps, heroes, and just as much action. Playing through a variety of modes, ranging from pushing payloads across the map to holding a control point from the enemy, there is so much content to enjoy that it simply never gets old.
Maps and modes aside, the hero list is constantly expanding and offers something for any and all playstyles. Supports that are self-sufficient and flashy, tanks that can dive across the entire screen in a second, and traditional shooter heroes to satiate the itch for gunplay. It is a diverse and deeply replayable title that encourages great teamplay and allows for both competitive intensity and casual enjoyment.
7 Counter-Strike 2
Tactical Satisfaction With A New Lick Of Paint
Counter-Strike 2
- Released
- September 27, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Perhaps the poster child for the FPS genre, CS2 is the new and improved tactical experience that retains all of the legacy and quality of CS:GO and brings with it some more modern features and, most importantly, a much-needed new set of graphics. The gameplay remains the biggest draw, providing the player with tactical gunplay that relies heavily on timing, positioning, and, of course, aim.
The margin for error is so high, and that's what makes the game so fun. Every headshot, every flick feels rewarding and instantly fills the player with a rush of adrenaline. The standards modes host an offense/defense structure of planting/defusing a bomb on a site, but there are so many other maps and modes in the game for people who want to just click heads.
6 Mullet Madjack
A Different Kind Of Shooter Experience
Mullet Madjack
- Released
- May 15, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Hammer95 Studios
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Mullet Madjack is one of the most unique FPS games released in recent times. The basic premise is that in every level, the player only has a limited amount of time to live as they rely on keeping their heart rate high and the adrenaline pumping with it. The time can be extended through shooting and slicing through the various robotic enemies that stand in the player's path, with bonuses for specific kill types like headshots and environmental kills.
Every gunshot has an instant level of gratification, as not only is the player effectively shooting to survive, but they also gain additional combos and stats along the way to help them progress further. Although the game does rely on speed to an extent, accuracy and decision-making are far more important, as in order to succeed, players need to keep the bullets flying right until the stage is over.
5 Team Fortress 2
The Class Shooter Before They Were Cool
Team Fortress 2
- Released
- October 10, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
Despite several decades and attempts at creating an exceptional class-based shooter, few games have been able to replicate the same level of fun as TF2. Nine basic classes to choose from, each offering a completely different playstyle and personality, across a range of unique game modes that quickly became mainstays across the entire FPS genre.
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The reason the game is so enjoyable is the level of complexity that hides just below the surface. Simplistic combat encounters can turn into cinematic scenes thanks to insane rocket jumps and flashy backstabs that completely change how the game is played. A game that has so much more depth than it appears and a gameplay loop that continues to impress and excite for hours and hours.
4 Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Warhammer Never Looked So Brutal
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
- Released
- November 30, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- Fatshark
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Action, Science Fiction
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide takes the grimdark brutality of the Warhammer universe and fuses it seamlessly with intense co-op FPS action. Set in the hive city of Tertium, the game throws players into the role of reject operatives, basically criminals tasked with purging heretical cults and nightmarish creatures. Each mission is a chaotic blend of melee and ranged combat, with hordes of enemies flooding cramped corridors and open warzones alike.
The gunplay feels weighty and purposeful, with weapons ranging from laser guns to plasma rifles, and each class brings a distinct playstyle to the fight. The cooperative element demands teamwork and quick adaptation, especially as missions ramp up in difficulty with randomized objectives and enemy spawns. The game constantly delivers satisfying, moment-to-moment combat that rewards aggression and an appetite for carnage in a universe where survival is anything but guaranteed.
3 Doom Eternal
The Boomer Shooter King Returns
DOOM Eternal
- Released
- March 20, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- id Software
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
It is hard not to mention Doom when talking about FPS games, and the 2020 title is one of the best in the series. The Doom Slayer is back once again and ready to tear through the demonic hordes that await on every level. Eternal really leveled up everything about the series, bringing more guns, more gore, and more explosions to fully immerse the player in this dystopian world straight out of Hell.
The upgrades the player gains access to all feel meaningful, and every stage just increases the intensity and absurdity to new heights that no one could ever anticipate. It really rewards those who use all the tools available to them, like the chainsaw and combo together attack chains, making the most of the long list of weapons against specific enemy types, both returning classics and a few new ones to sink shotgun shells into.
2 Neon White
Movement Shooter Perfection
Neon White
- Released
- June 16, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Angel Matrix
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Puzzle
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Neon White is a gorgeous cartoony FPS game that thrives on player movement and speed. Throughout a stage, players will acquire a set of cards with a corresponding weapon attached to each, from rifles to rocket launchers. But each card also brings its own movement mechanics, which means that not only do players have to carefully dispatch all the enemies with a limited ammo supply, but they also need to carefully navigate the stage with the traversal tech that each gun brings.
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Outside of the game is effectively a comedic dating sim that unlocks certain dialogue options and cutscenes, offering an extra incentive to listen to all the options. And even when the game ends, there are time trials and extra challenges on offer to keep the speed going and allow players to really show off their talents and skills on the leaderboard in what is both a uniquely satisfying and challenging FPS title.
1 Deep Rock Galactic
The Mines Are Never Completely Empty
Deep Rock Galactic
- Released
- May 13, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen due to Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ghost Ship Games
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Deep Rock Galactic delivers one of the most enjoyable and chaotic cooperative FPS experiences available, blending mining, exploration, and heavy firepower into a truly unique package. Players take on the role of space dwarves working for a corporate mining company, venturing into procedurally generated caverns filled with alien swarms and valuable minerals that need to be harvested whilst defending against the incoming hordes.
Each class offers specialized tools and weapons that are essential for survival and teamwork, and the combat is fast-paced and constantly evolving, with enemies attacking in waves that demand quick coordination and precise shooting. From setting up defensive perimeters to drilling through collapsing tunnels, every mission feels dynamic and unpredictable. The game's charm lies in its balance of lighthearted humor and genuinely tense firefights, keeping adrenaline high and providing an addictive and explosive thrill ride.
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