Summary
There has been a plethora of fantastic first-person shooters released over the years. From the iconic entries in Bungie’s legendary Halo trilogy, to the annual onslaught of Call of Duty games, and everything in between, the FPS genre isn’t short on notable titles.
Yet for every first-person shooter which rightfully secures a place in the annals of video game history as an irrefutable classic, there’s plenty which don’t achieve the same honor. Whether it be from poor sales, an underwhelming marketing campaign or a lukewarm critical reception, these FPS games deserve their moment in the spotlight.
10Painkiller
Fast Paced Action Set During A War Between Heaven And Hell
During the 1990s, a majority of FPS gameswere arena shooters. Titles like Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, and Quake were not only instrumental in revolutionizing first person gameplay design, but radically altered the entire industry.
While Painkiller released during a period where first-person shooters were going through a sweeping transformation, it nonetheless doubled down on hearkening back to the classics from the previous decade. Released in 2004 by People Can Fly, Painkillers puts you in the show of Daniel Garner and tasks you with fighting the denizens of Hell.
9F.E.A.R
First Person Combat With A Heavy Dose Of Supernatural Terror
Video games sometimes mix horror and action together, despite the conflict in design. It’s hard to be scared when you’re armed to the teeth and it’s difficult to feel empowered when you’re petrified. However, periodically something will come along which will strike that perfect balance between the two.
2005’s F.E.A.R. is one of the rareexamples of horror and actionworking together in pure unity. Developed by Vivendi Games, the first F.E.A.R. features a heavy dose of high octane combat supplemented with chilling psychological dread, which produces a one-of-a-kind gaming experience.
8Bioshock 2
The Black Sheep Of The Iconic FPS Series
In the conversation of the greatest video games of all time, 2007’s Bioshock should always be included. Even 2013’s Bioshock Infinite, while not held up to the same legendary statusas the first entry in series, is still considered a classic. And then there’s 2010 Bioshock 2.
Being a sequel to one of the most iconic video games of all time made expectations astronomically great for Bioshock 2. While it’s considered the weakest entry in the franchise, Bioshock 2 is still far better than people give it credit for. It boasts many of the elements that made the first game so extraordinary while adding some new things which help make the second trip to Rapture well worth diving into.
7Metro: Last Light
The Grueling Second Chapter Set In A Nuclear Wasteland
Based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novels, the Metro franchise has become well known for its blend of horror, action, and survival elements set in the backdrop of nuclear wasteland Russia. For many, 2019’sMetro Exodus servedas the first introduction to the series. But the previous entries also merit respect.
Metro: Last Light was the follow up to Metro 2033 and surpassed its predecessor in several ways. Not only did it refine a multitude of gameplay mechanics, but featured an exemplary narrative which would have you enthralled through every second of Artyom’s tale of survival and perseverance.
6Star Wars: Dark Forces
A FPS Adventure In A Galaxy Far Far Away
You typically wouldn’t associate Star Wars with first-person shooters. Yet, there have been a handful of FPS titles set in a galaxy far, far away. For most people, Republic Commando is the quintessential Star Wars FPS and, for good reason. But it’s far from the only one.
Star Wars: Dark Forces was developed by LucasArts and released in 1995. Despite favorable reviews and solid commercial success, Dark Forces never quite staked its claim as the pinnacle of Star Wars video games during its initial launch. However, thanks to a 2024 remaster, a new generation of players can now experience this long forgotten gem.
5Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
A Tale Of Outlaws, Bandits, And Revenge In The Wild West
It seems like the Wild West is an underutilized setting in video games. Of course, everyone is familiar with Rockstar’s Red Dead series, but outside of that, there haven’t been many noteworthy games set during the time of cowboys and outlaws.
Techland’s Call of Juarez series ultimately never attained the universal fame needed to keep the franchise alive, but at least the franchise went out with a bang. Call of Juarez Gunslinger is not only the best game in the series, but an exceptional FPS in own right. With its tremendous gunplay, stylized visuals, and magnificent story, Gunslinger is one of the finest games set during days of the frontier.
4Darkness 2
A Fantastic Adaptation Of Top Cow’s Darkly Brutal Comic
In this age of entertainment, comic book adaptations almost always come only from the realms of DC and Marvel. However, it’s the ones which take from other IPs which often stand high above the rest.
Based on the Top Cow Productions comic of the same name, The Darkness 2 was a sequel to 2007’s The Darkness, both of which were developed by Digital Extremes. Much like the comics which it was adapted from, The Darkness 2 is chock full of violence, supernatural horror, and plenty of action. The game perfectly translates the tone of the comic into the video game medium and the result is a must play for any FPS enjoyer.
3Bulletstorm
Explosive Action Sprinkled With A Crude Tone
It must sting for developer People Can Fly that they made not one but two first-person shooter games that became cult classics. Sure, it’s nice for any work to continue to be remembered by a passionate fanbase for years, but the lack of initial commercial success results in most cult classics being one and down affairs.
2011’s Bulletstorm on the surface might seem like a typical action first-person shooter, but looks can be deceiving. The gameplay revolves around dispatching enemies in a slew ofawesome and creative ways. When you add on top of that the severely foul language laced dialogue and surprisingly great story, it’s really shame that Bulletstorm 2 might never happen.
2Resistance 3
The Conclusion To One Of Playstation’s Forgotten Trilogies
For all the fantastic IPs under Playstation’s belt, there are some which have been sadly left behind. The catalog of the forgotten PlayStation series is deep, but perhaps the most unfortunate and disheartening franchise which Sony has neglected is Resistance.
Despite the first twoResistance gamesbeing huge hits, the third entry underwhelmed comedically, effectively killing the first-person shooter series. The true shame is that 2011’s Resistance 3 is not only the best game in the series, but one of the best first-person shooters on the PS3. While Insomniac Games have stated they have no plans to resurrect Resistance.Fans can only hopefor a new chapter in humanity’s battle against the terrorizing and cruel chimera.
1TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
A Charming And Awesome Adventure Through Time
TimeSplitters might be one of the most underrated video game series of all time. Despite developer Free Radical Games releasing three extraordinary games that reaped both outstanding reviews and solid commercial triumph, there hasn’t been a new game in two decades.
2005’s TimeSplitters: Future Perfect is a perfect encapsulation of why the franchise remains so beloved all these years later. The story of Sergean Cortez’s quest through time is full of so much charm, wit, and heart. When you add the incredible multiplayer, including a truly extraordinary map creator, it’s bewildering that TimeSplitters: Future Perfect remains without a sequel.
