10. Doom (2016)
I know Doom (2016) being this high on the listis going to upset a lotof you, but hey, this is my list, and I love every game in here.Ijusthappen to enjoy some more than others. Doom (1016) is the game that finally managed to properly create a modern take on the classic boomer shooter original, and it ended up redefining the FPS landscape with its relentless action, fast-paced gameplay, and unapologetic brutality (like the original, but newer!). As a first-person shooter, it thrusts players into the role of the Doom Guy, an always angry man hell-bent on eradicating the forces of hell because they’re being naughty, and every sane human being would doexactlythe same if their nap was disturbed.
In Doom (2016), players traverse through sprawling levels filled with familiar demonic hordes and twisted Martian, industrial and hellish landscapes,all the whilearmed to the teeth with an arsenal of iconic weapons upgradable with devastating new abilities.
With its breathtaking visuals, fantastic sound design, relentless gameplay, and an absolute banger of a soundtrack, Doom (2016) managed to steal the first-person shooter crown as the best game to come out in years! It’s weird to think the game is already 8 years old.
9. Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2was developed by Valve and saw the light of day in 2004. Two decadeslaterthe videogame stands as a monumental achievement inthe realm offirst-person shooters (FPS). Building upon the foundation laid by its revolutionary 1998 predecessor, Half-Life. Half-Life 2 thrusts playersonceagain into the shoes of crowbar-wielding physicist Gordon Freeman in a dystopian future ruled by the oppressive Combine (aliens) regime. The game’s set in the decaying urban landscape of City 17.
At its core, Half-Life 2 still remains a masterclass in narrative-driven FPS gameplay.Players arenot merely passive observers butactive participants in a gripping tale of resistance and survival against the combined menace.Today, Half-Life 2’s innovative physics engine still stands proud asthemonumental technical achievement of Valve during their heyday, adding another layer of depth to the gameplay, allowing players to manipulate objects and solve environmental puzzles with unprecedented fidelity.
If you’ve never played Half-Life 2, you’re doing yourself a disservice. In the year Half-Life 2 turns 20, you need to boot this gem and enjoy its unparalleled level of immersion and attention to detail. From the haunting beauty of the dystopian landscapes of City 17 to the eerie silence of the abandoned city streets, every aspect of the game’s world feels meticulously crafted. Valve’s commitment to atmospheric storytelling is evident – Half-Life 2 remains a timeless classic that continues to influence the FPS genreto this day. Now, where is Half-Life 3, Gabe?
8. Hell Let Loose
A couple of years agopickingHell Let Loose overRed Orchestracould raise suspicious eyebrows. But with the addition of the Eastern Front to Hell Let Loose,there’snota whole lotof the excellent, but old Red Orchestra 2 does better than Hell Let Loose.It’s, at the present time, the best and most realistic depiction of PVP World War 2 tactical warfare. 100 Players battles, a comprehensive arsenal of American, German, Soviet and British weaponry. With large maps, beautiful graphics, and a community with a penchant for realism and roleplay, World War 2 gruntsare sure toenjoy themselves amidst thechaos,from Normandy to Stalingrad. Add tothat,that the whole game is enjoyable even without teammates to play withandit’seasy to drop him, get on with the fight and leave without much of an investment. Firefights are super intense and ingrained into your brain, everyfight is a story.That is, to me, the best Hell Let Loose and games of this genre bring to the table.Emergent storytelling.
Hell Let Loose is a fun, semi-realistic romp through the battlefields of the Western front with a rich roadmap ahead, promising a lot of new content that will keep World War 2aficionadosengaged for years. Hell Let Loose is a solid tactical-shooter and the uncontested king in its timetable of the late 1940s.
7. Brothers In Arms: Hells Highway
Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway is a historical first-person shooter set during World War II, offering players a gripping and immersive gameplay experience. As an FPS game, it follows the story of the 101st Airborne Division as they fight their way through the harrowing events of Operation Market Garden.
There are thousands of reasonsas towhy the previous two entries in the series could be here instead ofHell’sHighwaybutthe last piece in the B.I.A series was a visual treat when it came outall the wayback in 2008andit remains beautiful to this day, even more so if the machineyou’replaying on can run it at 4K, maximum settings. The third entry followsalong withthe Market Garden misadventures of the 101st Airborne Division.It’san FPS that turns third-person when in cover, making for cinematic, movie-like scenes reminiscent of Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan.Coordinate your fire teams to suppressyour enemies and flank themfor ultimate victory.Thegunplaypairedupwith the tactical movement of squad elements and fantastic setpiecescarries the campaign.
6. Battlefield 1
What can I say about Battlefield 1 that hasn’t already been said? To me, this is the best Battlefield ever made. It took the series almost 20 years to thrust players into the harrowing and chaotic battles of World War 1. Yes, Battlefield 1 isn’t realistic, nor is it trying to be, itinsteadopts to reinterpret thepopularimage people have of the war, and it captures it flawlessly.
The same Battlefield formula applies here: as an FPS game, it places players in the boots of soldiers from various nations, tasked with engaging in large-scale warfare acrossa variety oficonic WW1 settings with semi-authentic weaponry.From the Western Front to the Middle East,there’s a slice for everyone to enjoy.
Even today, Battlefield 1 is an excellentgame,with stunning visuals (and art style), immersive sound design, and pixel-perfect animations.
5. Turbo Overkill
This.This is my favourite shooter of 2023,anditranks amongst my top 5 best first-person shooters ever created.Turbo Overkill is a retro shooter that melds ultra-fast-paced FPS action with a cyberpunk aesthetic, delivering a high-octane experience that does more thanjustpay homage to classic shooters. Turbo Overkill picks up the Boomber Shooter formula and builds on it so muchthat,it’s in a league of its own. Set in a dystopian future where mega-corporations rule with an iron fist, players take on the role of a cybernetically enhanced mercenary equipped with a chainsaw for a leg (and later, 2 legs if that suits you). It’s more similar to Duke Nukem thanit isDoom or Quake, with massive arenas andhugebosses to fight.
What makes Turbo Overkill stand out is how itmanages to effectively combinethe adrenaline-fueled gameplay of classic FPS titles with modern graphics and its physics-based chainsaw leg thingy, resulting in a visually stunning and action-packed experience. With its fluid movement system, dynamic gunplay, and customizable cybernetic upgrades, the game is packed with replayability, and Idon’tdoubtI’llbe playing it for years to come. If you can only buy one game from this list, buy Turbo Overkill.
4. Squad
After I stopped Armed Assault 2, I think thatit wasthe launch of Squadthatbrought me back to the tactical first-person shooter genre,and that wasmostlydue to its emphasis oncommunication,and realism in its gameplay mechanics.As an FPS game that ownsa lotof its design to Project Reality 2, Squad places players in the boots of infantry soldiers engaged in large-scale battles across vast and detailed environments. With a focus on operational coordination and squad-based tactics, victory only comes with one thing, and one thing only: order and discipline.
Some of my best memories in first-person tactical shooters come from Squad.From engaging in prolonged firefights that could last up to 45minutes,todesperately defending and assaultingimportantpositions,tocommanding units while implementing true-to-life tactics, Squad will forever live in my memory as a gameI’llalways enjoy and be ready to jump into.Its only negative side is that you need to be in the right place of mind to work with a squad. Venture alone and nothing gets done.
3. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Halo:The Master Chief Collectionis the best way to enjoy the Halo first-person shooter games developed by Bungie. Itoffers players the opportunityto experience the iconic Halo franchise in its (almost) entirety. The collection includes remastered versions of classic titles such as “Halo: Combat Evolved,” “Halo 2,” “Halo 3,” and “Halo 4,” along with additional content such as multiplayer maps and game modes. As an FPS game, the Halo series is known for its good storytelling, excellent sci-fi setting, tight gunplay, and epic and visceral multiplayer.
With Halo: The Master Chief Collection, players can relive the adventures of the first-personshooter’smost iconic character: The Master Chief. Jump into the Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor of this faceless protagonist as he battles against the Covenant and the Flood acrossa variety ofmemorable and futuristic landscapes. The collection also offers enhanced graphics and updated features, allowingbothlongtime fans and newcomers to experience the Halo universe in stunning detail. If you want, you can even switch to the original graphics! Overall, with its extensive content and impeccable gameplay, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the way to play Halo in 2024, and it stands as a testament toBungie’slegacy in first-person gaming history.
2. Ready or Not
Ready Or Not is precisely one thing, and one thing only: what the SWAT series would be in 2024 if they kept it alive. Ready Or Not is a modern, tactical first-person shooterthat emphasizestactical realism and strategic gameplay. It does its best to immerse players in the role of elite law enforcement officers tasked with confronting various high-risk scenarios, from hostage rescues to counter-terrorism operations. In fact, the game is so immersive that I legitimately have several jumpscares whenever I get shot at by someoneandmy team never saw coming.
In “Ready Or Not,” players are equipped with an array of realistic weaponsand equipment, as well asadvanced tactical gadgets and tools.While Each mission presents unique challenges and objectives, the campaign is where the real meatis at.Not only doplayers have to coordinate their teams on the ground, butalsotake care of their men when they get back to the station.It’s one of the few games where a wrong decision can spell doom for an entire operation, and no matter how often you play every mission, it alwaysmanages to feeltense and challenging.
Ready or NotAIis also incredibly complex to deal with. Some enemies refuse to surrender the moment you order them to stand down, someeven fake surrender and pull out their weapons, otherswill lure you and try to shank you. It’sreally impressiveand heart-pounding stuff. On top ofthatadd the game’simpressivegraphics and unique sound designandfew games manage to do what Ready or Not does: providing players with a thrilling and rewarding first-person shooter experience.
1. ARMA 3
ARMA 3 still stands as a pinnacle of tactical first-person shooter gaming, long after its original released, all the way back in 2013. This mil-sim renowned for its realistic depiction of military combat and its neverending stream of high quality mods. As an FPS game, it places players into whatever role they wish, amidst a sprawling battlefield that extends for kilometers, where strategic decision-making and teamwork are paramount. The game’s emphasis on realism extends to its intricate weapon mechanics, detailed ballistics simulation, playercontroled movement, environmental factors such as weather, terrain and even sound, and the importance of combined-arms tactics.
The game’s thousands and thousands of mods basically means that if you can dream of a conflict, you can recreated it. With its combination of realism, depth, and modding capabilities, ARMA 3 is still my go-to game whenever I want to experiment with military tactics and equipament I read/saw somewhere else. It’s a unique game that offers an experimence unmatched by any other game in the first-person shooter scene.
If youneverplayed ARMA 3, you own it to yourself to at leastgive it a try.
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