Best First-Person Shooters: Top FPS Games on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox, and Switch

First-person shooters have remained one of the most popular genres for several decades, encompassing everything from major AAA blockbusters and hardcore tactical FPS games to unusual indie experiments. The best first-person shooters on PC and consoles deliver a sense of adrenaline, precision, and control, where every well-placed shot can decide the outcome of a fight. For this selection, we have gathered the truly best FPS games — titles with compelling stories, cinematic action, deep co-op gameplay, and competitive multiplayer. Here you will find classic shooters, current online projects, the best shooters for low-end PCs, and modern hits that every fan of gunplay should try.

At the same time, we are not chasing arbitrary numbers or filling out empty lists with a hundred entries: every game in this ranking of first-person shooters was selected for its specific mechanics, atmosphere, and player reception. Some people value story-driven shooters with memorable characters and a well-developed world; others prefer realistic military simulators, tactical online shooters, or fast-paced arena action. The list includes both the best first-person shooters on PC and recent shooters from 2024–2026 that are only beginning to build their audience. Throughout the article, we will also highlight games for low-end computers, co-op projects, free online shooters, and unconventional indie action games, helping you quickly find the format that suits both your hardware and your mood.

First-person shooters, or FPS games, are an action-focused video game genre in which players see the world through the eyes of their character. Since the camera uses a first-person perspective, the screen usually shows only the protagonist's hands and weapon.

The core gameplay revolves around shooting, aiming, movement, and reacting to threats in real time. These games emphasize momentum, reflexes, accuracy, and coordination with teammates when it comes to online projects, while also frequently relying on mechanics such as cover, reloading, and resource management.

FPS games can be single-player experiences built around story and atmosphere, or cooperative and multiplayer projects where interaction between players usually takes center stage. Some games place greater emphasis on realism and tactics, while others prioritize speed and arcade-style action. The genre includes numerous subgenres: military simulators, sci-fi shooters, hero shooters with unique character abilities, and co-op games where a team fights against AI-controlled enemies.

Over the past year and a half, the FPS genre has received several major releases at once — both from industry veterans such as Bungie and id Software, and from EA, which returned to the series' roots with Battlefield 6. If you have lost track of recent releases and want a quick idea of what is worth playing right now, this section is for you. Detailed entries for each of the games listed below can be found in the corresponding themed selections.

Story-driven single-player games. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024) is an adventure action game from the creators of Wolfenstein, with an emphasis on melee combat and stealth. Doom: The Dark Ages (2025) is a prequel to Doom 2016, featuring a heavy medieval aesthetic, a shield saw, and a mech. Also do not miss S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.

Large-scale military shooters. Battlefield 6 (2025) delivered the most successful launch in the series' history and brought back its signature destruction. The game is accompanied by REDSEC, a separate free-to-play battle royale mode. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024) marked the biggest launch in CoD history: a classic Black Ops entry featuring the return of Pick 10, Nuketown, and round-based Zombies.

Online and extraction shooters. The Finals (2023, still actively updated) is a free-to-play shooter with fully destructible environments and a TV show format. Marathon (March 5, 2026) is Bungie's new $40 PvPvE extraction shooter and the biggest premiere of the spring. Escape from Tarkov finally left its seemingly endless beta period and received version 1.0, complete with a story campaign and a Steam release on November 15, 2025.

Co-op. Borderlands 4 (2025) is a looter shooter with a seamless open world on the new planet Kairos and improved four-player co-op with cross-play support. Killing Floor 3 (July 2025) is the third installment in Tripwire's cult classic co-op horde shooter series, returning ten years after Killing Floor 2.

Story-driven shooters rely not only on gunplay, but also on atmosphere, world-building, and characters. Here you will find F.E.A.R., BioShock, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Metro Exodus, Wolfenstein: The New Order, and other memorable stories, including the best video game remakes and remasters that make you want to see a campaign through to the final credits.

A rather unusual blend of horror and high-energy action. F.E.A.R. constantly shifts its tone: one moment it frightens you with disturbing scenes involving a ghostly girl, and the next it turns into a tense shooter where you have to face exceptionally intelligent virtual soldiers.

If you are looking for a first-person shooter with an exceptionally gripping storyline, you cannot go wrong with BioShock. The tragic story of the underwater city of Rapture and its deranged inhabitants holds your attention from the very beginning until the final moments.

Crysis Remastered Trilogy is a collection of three remasters: the original Crysis (2007), Crysis 2 (2011), and Crysis 3 (2013) from Crytek and Saber Interactive, released on October 15, 2021, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. All three story campaigns come in one package, optimized for modern hardware with reworked textures, dynamic lighting, ray tracing, DLSS support on PC, and stable 60 FPS performance on newer consoles.

In the first Crysis, you play as Nomad, a nanosuit-equipped supersoldier on the tropical Lingshan Islands, fighting both the North Korean army and the alien Ceph in what was the most visually impressive shooter of its time. The legendary “Can it run Crysis?” meme was born for a reason. Crysis 2 moves the conflict to a post-apocalyptic New York built around more linear combat arenas — less freedom, but a more cinematic presentation, complete with a soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. Crysis 3 strikes a balance between the two approaches, offering open arenas in a jungle-covered Manhattan where players can choose their own tactics. The collection's main downside is the absence of the multiplayer modes from all three games, as well as the cult classic standalone expansion Crysis Warhead. Its main advantage is that it remains the best way to discover one of the most influential shooter series of the 2000s in a single package today.

Far Cry 3 is Ubisoft's cult classic shooter, which became an example of how to build an “ideal open world” for many years to come. The French developers abandoned the serious tone of the second installment and returned the story to scenery reminiscent of the first game. The plot unfolds across the tropical Rook Islands archipelago, where protagonist Jason Brody is captured by pirates after an unsuccessful skydiving trip. The absurd storytelling and “wild” behavior of its characters would soon become signature elements of the series.

Far Cry 3's key features were its non-linearity, immersion, and open world filled with activities. The game did not constantly lead players by the hand, leaving them free to complete missions in any order. It became one of the projects that helped popularize open-world games packed with content and centered around “capturing towers.”

Far Cry 3 also introduced an equally iconic element: its antagonist, Vaas. This excessively charismatic and completely unhinged pirate became one of the most memorable villains in video game history. Yes, he appeared in relatively few cutscenes, but every one of his monologues, along with behavior that still seems “wild” by modern standards, made the story truly outstanding.

BioShock Infinite is a remarkable shooter with a philosophical story from Irrational Games. The first two installments were largely immersive sims, while the third game transformed the formula into an action title featuring the charming companion Elizabeth. The events take place in 1912 in the flying city of Columbia. The protagonist, former detective Booker DeWitt, travels there to abduct a mysterious young woman and clear his debts.

BioShock Infinite is remembered for its deep and complex story, which explores themes of racism, nationalism, religion, and the multiverse. Elizabeth played a central role in the narrative, and in 2013 her realistic behavior was genuinely impressive. The gameplay was no less accomplished than the storytelling. Alongside traditional shooting mechanics, players could use abilities that proved highly effective in intense battles.

Metro: Last Light is the sequel to 4A Games' linear shooter set in a post-Soviet environment. The story unfolds in post-apocalyptic Moscow, where survivors hide in the metro from radiation and the mutants inhabiting the surface. The protagonist, Artyom, becomes caught up in a maelstrom of factional conflicts, where loyal friends turn into enemies and supernatural creatures become companions. The sequel delivers an eventful new story that never gives players a chance to get bored.

The gameplay in the Metro sequel became less linear. The developers improved the stealth mechanics and refined the shooting. Survival elements are more prominent than in the previous game. Players need to search for ammunition and gas mask filters in order to stay alive in a hostile environment. Last Light differs considerably from the first installment thanks to its new engine and a different approach to storytelling. The sequel made the Metro series popular among the gaming community and saved 4A Games from shutting down.

Many players mistakenly call Doom the originator of the shooter genre. In fact, that title belongs to Wolfenstein 3D, a cult classic that laid the foundation for all first-person action games that followed. Its sequels were decent games in their own right, but none of them managed to reach the greatness of the original. The developers of The New Order were determined to bring the series back from the ashes and make it iconic for modern players. The new Wolfenstein is a full-fledged reboot of the franchise, set in an alternate history where the Nazis won World War II and established global domination.

The gameplay in Wolfenstein: The New Order combines elements of classic shooters with modern mechanics. Players can choose between a stealthy approach and direct action. Every firefight is accompanied by dozens of explosions and countless severed limbs. One of the game's most important features is its well-developed story, which thoroughly explores its alternate-history setting. The narrative and dialogue are delivered in the spirit of Inglourious Basterds.

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus is a large-scale sequel to the series reboot, The New Order. B.J. returns to action to free the United States from Nazi occupation. Following the success of the first game, the developers went all out and created a genuinely impressive continuation with a dizzying story and varied gameplay. The plot became madder and more brutal, while the characters turned out vivid and memorable. The cinematic scenes and dialogue deserve particular praise, as they could easily outshine major big-budget movie blockbusters.

The core game design of The New Colossus underwent significant changes. Players could choose a special gadget that fundamentally altered the way they approached the game. For example, the constrictor harness allowed B.J. to squeeze through narrow openings and act stealthily. Wolfenstein 2 rewarded players for their preferred style of play with new abilities and secrets. The public and the press were thrilled with the sequel. Many outlets named The New Colossus the best story-driven game of 2017. Unfortunately, its strong reviews did not translate into sales. Wolfenstein 2 failed to recoup its costs, which led the publisher to put the series on hold indefinitely.

Metro Exodus is the third installment in 4A Games' series of linear shooters with survival elements. The protagonist, Artyom, escapes from the Moscow underground together with his companions and embarks on a long and dangerous journey across post-apocalyptic Russia in search of a safe place. The story unfolds over the course of a year, with each major mission tied to a particular season. Unlike its linear predecessors, the game is not afraid to give players a certain degree of freedom and allows them to explore large locations.

Metro Exodus creates an outstanding atmosphere of traveling across an entire country, filled with terrifying settlements and tense situations. The third installment received positive reviews from both critics and players.

Far Cry 6 is an open-world shooter developed by Ubisoft Toronto. This time, players travel to the fictional tropical island of Yara, which visually resembles modern-day Cuba. The protagonist must become the driving force behind a revolutionary movement and bring down the dictatorial regime of Antón Castillo, played by renowned actor Giancarlo Esposito.

Far Cry 6 boasts a detailed open world and dozens of ways to explore it. The map features a sufficiently diverse range of biomes and activities unique to the series. The key feature of the new installment is the Resolver system, which allows players to create and modify both weapons and vehicles. Far Cry 6 received high marks from critics for its compelling story campaign and well-designed gameplay.

Atomic Heart is a shooter with RPG elements and tactical melee combat. The game takes place in an alternate version of the Soviet Union, where scientific achievements have led to the creation of robots and other advanced devices. The protagonist, Agent P-3, is sent to a secret facility to investigate an incident connected to a machine uprising.

Atomic Heart's game design combines elements of BioShock and Dying Light. Players have to fight combat robots and mutants capable of killing the protagonist in just a few blows. In addition to firearms and axes, P-3 can use special abilities that make combat encounters easier and improve his chances of survival in critical situations. The game features an open world where players can discover secret bunkers with platforming sections. Atomic Heart boasts stylish visuals, impressive graphics, an engaging soundtrack, and a remarkable Soviet aesthetic and atmosphere.

RoboCop: Rogue City is a story-driven first-person shooter from Polish studio Teyon, known for the solid Terminator: Resistance. It was released on November 2, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The story takes place between the events of the second and third films: megacorporation OCP is preparing to demolish Old Detroit and build Delta City in its place, gangs and ED-209 units roam the streets, while our veteran cyborg begins to experience unexpected doubts about what he truly is — a man or a machine. Peter Weller returned to voice the character at the age of 76, and he sounds almost indistinguishable from his younger self in 1987.

The game honestly presents RoboCop as slow and heavy in modern gameplay terms: he cannot jump, he cannot run in the conventional sense, and he can only advance at a measured pace while blowing enemies' heads off with the legendary Auto-9. Strangely enough, that slowness is exactly the game's defining feature. RoboCop is a tank here: he does not need to hide behind cover, because he can simply walk through a hail of bullets, hurling criminals through windows and tearing off their limbs.

Aside from shooting, the game features detective episodes where players patrol neighborhoods, issue tickets for illegal parking, and can even support candidates running for mayor, with a reactive choice system and an ending slideshow showing the consequences of their decisions. In July 2025, it received a separate standalone expansion, Unfinished Business, focused on an assault on the OmniTower skyscraper.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an adventure action game from MachineGames, the studio behind the Wolfenstein reboot. The story takes place between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade: it is 1937, the Nazis are hunting for an ancient artifact connected to the mystery of the Great Circle, and only Professor Jones can stop them. The game was released on December 9, 2024, for PC and Xbox Series X/S, followed by PS5 in April 2025 and Nintendo Switch 2 in May 2026.

The main feature is the first-person perspective. For most of the game, you will be knocking out Nazis with your fists and whip, hiding from patrols, solving puzzles in tombs, and photographing ancient artifacts. Firearms are present, but they have deliberately been pushed into the background: most fights are more comfortably handled Jackie Chan-style, using whatever objects happen to be nearby. The locations — the Vatican, the pyramids of Giza, and the jungles of Sukhothai — look magnificent. Troy Baker's performance as Indy is so good that it can be difficult to distinguish him from a young Harrison Ford. If you have missed the romance of classic adventure stories, this is an easy recommendation.

Doom: The Dark Ages is a prequel to Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal from id Software, released on May 15, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with day-one availability on Game Pass. The game attracted three million players in its first week, making it the most successful launch in the studio's history. This time, the Doom Slayer has been thrown into a dark medieval fantasy setting with a techno-demonic twist: knights in armor fight shoulder to shoulder with infantry, cybernetic titans soar through the skies, and the protagonist has received a gigantic shield saw, a rideable dragon-like beast, and a combat mech straight out of a kaiju movie.

Unlike Eternal's vertical parkour and rapid weapon switching, the new installment emphasizes grounded, heavy close-range combat built around parries, counterattacks, and crowd control. Gunplay remains central as well, with the arsenal gaining plenty of unusual weapons, including a shotgun that fires ground-up skulls. As we noted in our Doom: The Dark Ages review, the series' formula is not simply repeated here, but boldly rebuilt from the ground up. Some fans consider Dark Ages the weakest game in the modern trilogy because of its slower pace and excessive length, with 22 chapters, but even they acknowledge that id Software is willing to take risks instead of producing the same game over and over again.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the long-awaited continuation of the legendary series from Ukrainian studio GSC Game World, released on November 20, 2024, for PC and Xbox Series X/S, followed by a PlayStation 5 version a year later. Playing as Skif, a rookie stalker whose apartment was destroyed by an anomalous artifact outside the Zone, players must explore a vast 64-square-kilometer open world, navigate conflicts between factions, and unravel a new mystery of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone.

The gameplay retains all of the series' defining traits: heavy ammunition consumption, fragile armor, artifact mutations with demanding drawbacks, and the signature atmosphere of post-apocalyptic hopelessness. The release was met with mixed reactions: critics praised the atmosphere and soundtrack, but criticized its technical state, AI behavior, and sheer number of bugs. By the release of patch 1.7 alongside the PS5 version, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 had truly become the masterpiece promised at its announcement. The game is essential.

Tactical first-person shooters require careful strategy, deliberate movement, and close coordination with your team. This section includes Rainbow Six Siege, Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Arma 3, and other hardcore FPS games where tactics, map knowledge, and coordinated teamwork decide the outcome.

Arma 3 is a tactical shooter from Czech studio Bohemia Interactive. The project is known for its commitment to realism and its vast maps, which host a variety of military operations. The game features a large selection of combat vehicles and weapons, learning all of which takes a considerable amount of time. Arma 3 is still regarded as one of the most realistic military simulations on the market.

The third installment owed much of its popularity to its flexible user-generated content editor. Players could create their own missions and share them on Steam. Thanks to Arma 3, we received hundreds of unique projects, some of which eventually grew beyond modifications and became full-fledged games. The developers continued updating the project for ten years, releasing content updates alongside regular patches. Thanks to this long-term support, Arma 3 remains highly popular among fans of realistic military shooters.

Siege revived the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six series and made it immensely popular among players. Ubisoft managed to create an excellent multiplayer project that remains alive and well to this day. Siege received numerous positive reviews for its strategic gameplay and extensive amount of content. As a result, Rainbow Six became one of the largest esports disciplines, bringing together millions of players from around the world.

At the core of its gameplay are team-based battles between operators from various special forces units. Each team consists of five players performing specific roles, whether on attack or defense. Siege's key feature is the extensive destructibility of its locations. You can shoot an enemy through a wall or blast a hole in cover with explosives. Because of this mechanic, players need to coordinate their actions precisely and plan their moves long before a firefight begins.

Valorant is a tactical shooter in the vein of Counter-Strike, developed by Riot Games. Its distinguishing feature is the ability to choose a character with unique abilities and a specific role, much like in Overwatch. The objective is the same as in CS: plant or defuse a bomb at a designated point on the map. Valorant was one of the most anticipated projects of 2020. More than 5 million people signed up for a chance to participate in the closed beta.

Valorant features deep and layered gameplay that requires strategic thinking and teamwork. Many of its mechanics borrow from Counter-Strike and Overwatch: an in-game economy built around purchasing weapons, assigned roles, character abilities, realistic gunplay, and an in-game store selling weapon skins. Valorant quickly gained popularity and became one of the industry's major esports disciplines. More than 14 million users from around the world play the game every day.

Counter-Strike 2 is the sequel to the iconic multiplayer shooter, developed by Valve using the Source 2 engine. The game preserved the core mechanics and gameplay of Global Offensive while introducing new features that significantly affected combat. Above all, the graphics and physics received a major upgrade. The developers added a new volumetric smoke system, improved Molotov cocktails, removed invisible walls, and modernized the interface. CS2 also features updated maps, reworked weapon and character models, and a more advanced matchmaking system designed to make player selection more balanced.

The release version was far too rough and riddled with all kinds of bugs. Players criticized Valve for removing CS:GO from Steam, as well as for numerous glitches, server issues, rampant cheating, and the limited amount of content. Over time, the developers improved the state of Counter-Strike 2, and player reviews became highly positive.

Ready or Not is a realistic tactical shooter from Irish studio VOID Interactive, and a spiritual successor to the classic SWAT series and early Rainbow Six games. After two years in early access, the game reached version 1.0 on December 13, 2023, for PC, before arriving on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in July 2025. Players take control of the commander of a SWAT unit in the fictional city of Los Sueños and are sent on the most demanding assignments: hostage situations, bomb threats, barricaded suspects, and domestic violence incidents. There is no simple divide between “bad guys” and “good guys” here, only difficult moral dilemmas: arrest or shoot, breach the door or enter quietly.

Ready or Not is a game about methodical planning and nerves. A single well-placed shot can kill an officer, so every raid begins with a lengthy briefing, a choice of equipment — both lethal and non-lethal, including a taser and pepper spray — and careful planning of formations such as Single File, Diamond, and Wedge. In Commander mode, players manage a full squad of six officers with different personalities and gradually deteriorating mental states: losing a teammate or resorting to lethal force when it could have been avoided can affect their morale for a long time. This is one of the best modern tactical shooters and an ideal choice for playing with friends, with co-op for up to five players.

Co-op shooters are an ideal choice if you want to complete a campaign or fight off hordes of enemies together with friends. Here you will find the best co-op games on PC and consoles, including Left 4 Dead 2, Borderlands, Payday 2, Vermintide 2, Back 4 Blood, and other co-op FPS games where supporting your teammates, dividing roles, and choosing the right equipment are essential.

Left 4 Dead 2 is the sequel to the legendary zombie shooter that once established the basic rules for four-player co-op games. The first installment was developed by Turtle Rock Studios, while Valve created the second game on its own. The sequel has relatively few major differences from the original, but it does feature plenty of smaller, targeted changes. The developers overhauled the graphics and engine, introducing weather effects, improved textures, additional enemy animations, meticulously detailed dismemberment, and enhanced artificial intelligence. Left 4 Dead 2 also boasted a large amount of content, including an extensive arsenal and numerous game modes.

Left 4 Dead 2 offers compelling gameplay that can keep players engaged for hundreds of hours. The game is designed around team-based play, so every new match produces unique emotions and unpredictable situations. A global artificial intelligence system known as the Director, or AI Director, affects the gameplay by spawning hordes of zombies, changing weather conditions, and sending special enemies after vulnerable players. Left 4 Dead 2 has not aged in the slightest and still maintains a stable player base on Steam.

Borderlands 2 is a highly successful blend of action and looter shooter mechanics. The first installment was a tentative first step, while the second elevated Gearbox to a new level. The developers abandoned text-based missions and created a full-fledged story campaign with a colorful villain and a highly entertaining plot. The gameplay is very similar to Diablo, where players have to kill hordes of enemies and collect loot in the form of new guns.

Borderlands 2 features an original weapon randomization system. Every new gun can boast not only unique characteristics, but also an unusual appearance. Throughout the entire playthrough, you will not find two identical pistols or shotguns. Another major selling point was its highly dynamic cooperative gameplay. The non-linear narrative and lively missions are also worth noting.

Payday 2 is a highly successful cooperative first-person shooter that considerably expanded on the potential of its predecessor, The Heist. The project offers fairly unusual gameplay that is somewhat similar to Left 4 Dead. Four criminals must embark on an illegal job and fight waves of law enforcement officers. The main emphasis is placed on cooperative interaction: the team must carefully plan its actions and maintain communication while completing the assignment. Most missions in Payday 2 can, and sometimes even should, be completed through stealth.

Payday 2 contains a huge amount of content capable of keeping players engaged for hundreds of hours. In addition to compelling missions, the game features a character progression system and weapon customization. Players can choose and upgrade classes, select perks for specific assignments, and customize unique masks. Payday 2 enjoys immense popularity among players and continues to receive new content updates.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is a cooperative shooter in the vein of Left 4 Dead, albeit with an emphasis on close-quarters combat. The game takes place in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. Players must exterminate hordes of enemies and battle gigantic bosses. Unlike Valve's games, Vermintide 2 gives its heroes unique abilities and skills that directly affect the gameplay.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is an extremely bloody game in which enemies can be dismembered in various ways. There are always plenty of opponents, making it important to coordinate your actions and plan your tactics. As in Left 4 Dead, the project features an artificial intelligence system that sends special enemies into battle at certain moments. The game also contains a vast range of locations and missions, giving its gameplay considerable replay value. It received highly positive reviews and built up a huge fan base.

Borderlands 4 is the fourth mainline installment in Gearbox Software's looter shooter series, released on September 12, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The setting moves away from the familiar Pandora to the new planet of Kairos, ruled by the mysterious Timekeeper. He has brought every resident of the planet under his control, and four new Vault Hunters — the grim forgeknight Amon, the Siren Vex, the rogue Rafa, and the gravity-based class Harlowe — must set the world free.

The biggest new feature for the series is a genuinely seamless open world. The regions of Kairos are connected into a single space, which players can traverse on their personal Digirunner hoverbike or by fast-traveling directly to their teammates. Co-op has received major improvements: up to four players online with full cross-play support, local two-player split-screen with the ability to join a full party of four, and dynamic level scaling. As we wrote in our Borderlands 4 review, the shooting is the best it has ever been in the series: new hybrid weapons from different manufacturers, ricochets, and underbarrel alternate firing modes open up enormous room for builds. One downside at launch was the noticeable technical problems of the PC version — Unreal Engine 5 is still far from perfect here — which Gearbox has been actively addressing through patches.

A charming cooperative shooter about space dwarves mining resources and fighting giant bugs. Deep Rock Galactic avoids many of the problems associated with live-service games: it has no aggressive monetization, and the developers regularly make its battle pass available for free.

Back 4 Blood is a spiritual successor to the Left 4 Dead series, featuring four-player co-op and hordes of zombies. It was developed by Turtle Rock, the studio that created the first L4D game in 2008. At the center of the story is a team of four survivors clearing cities and settlements of hordes of infected mutants.

The developers tried to refresh the Left 4 Dead formula by giving characters unique abilities and attributes. They also introduced a card system that grants players unique bonuses while adding negative modifiers that make each run more challenging. Otherwise, this is a typical Left 4 Dead-style game with crowds of flesh-eating zombies, special enemies, and relentless action. Back 4 Blood features an “AI Director” system that monitors players' actions and unleashes dangerous mutants at the worst possible moments. Back 4 Blood received a warm reception from critics and became one of Warner Bros.' fastest-selling games. By February 2022, more than 10 million people had played the game.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a cooperative first-person shooter from the creators of Vermintide. Playing as Imperial Guard operatives, players fight hordes of mutants and heretics in a grim, Gothic hive city. The core gameplay is similar to the studio's previous games and the Left 4 Dead series.

Darktide features four unique classes, a progression system with character leveling, and a wide selection of melee and ranged weapons. Along with customizing their appearance, players can choose a unique backstory for their character, which is later reflected in their dialogue and interactions with the rest of the group. Darktide also employs an “AI Director” that creates spectacular situations and sends special enemies after players who let their guard down. Completing missions rewards players with a special currency that can be exchanged for new clothing items or weapons.

At launch, Darktide was criticized for its lack of endgame content and a proper progression system, as well as its highly aggressive resource acquisition mechanics. The developers listened to the feedback and focused on addressing its shortcomings instead of adding new content. After a major patch in 2023, the game received widespread approval and earned the title of the best shooter set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Killing Floor 3 is the third mainline installment in Tripwire Interactive's cult classic cooperative shooter series, released on July 24, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The developers moved the setting to 2091: megacorporation Horzine has created an obedient army of bioengineered monsters known as Zeds, and a rebel group called Nightfall stands in their way. Up to six players choose one of the specialists — Commando, Sharpshooter, Firebug, Medic, Engineer, or a Japanese ninja armed with katanas and a grappling hook — and fight their way through waves of Zeds across eight maps.

The signature Zed Time — a slow-motion effect triggered by kill streaks — remains in place, as do dismemberment and fountains of blood. This is one of the most brutal and bloody games. Its strengths include polished gunplay, a weapon modification system, and full cross-play support. Its weaknesses include the way the story is presented, the limited amount of content at launch compared to the mature Killing Floor 2, and its live-service focus with a battle pass. It received the lowest ratings in the series, with a Metacritic score of 69 and Mixed reviews on Steam, but if you have a couple of friends and want to spend three hours blowing up monsters together after work on Friday, Killing Floor 3 does the job.

Online shooters and battle royales focus on competitive multiplayer and regular updates. This selection includes popular online FPS games and battle royales, as well as the best extraction shooters, such as Hunt: Showdown and Escape from Tarkov, where you can climb the ranks, upgrade weapons, and take part in seasonal events for years.

It is extremely difficult to find fault with this Valve masterpiece. Team Fortress 2 is an almost perfect online game, with a timeless visual style, well-balanced classes, clear objectives, and exciting firefights.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is the sequel to a spin-off of the iconic multiplayer series. Back in 2010, DICE still had the freedom to let its creativity run wild. The single-player campaign turned out to be highly entertaining. The game's central events unfold in the near future, during a fictional Second Russo-American War between the United States and the Russian Federation. The latter supports a fictional Latin American militia, a rebel group operating in South America.

Many players still call Bad Company 2 the best game in the series. We fully agree, as you can read in our Bad Company 2 review. The sequel featured remarkable destruction mechanics, which were significantly scaled back in later projects. BC2 also boasted satisfying gunplay, convincing recoil, and well-designed ballistics. Bad Company 2's multiplayer is chaotic and creative. It brings together everything that was best about earlier Battlefield games. The game features 15 types of vehicles, four classes, and five modes. In 2023, EA shut down the servers, but the fan community opened its own, allowing newcomers to experience this classic.

Battlefield 3 was EA's most successful attempt to win players away from Call of Duty. The game offered an exciting multiplayer mode worthy of the famous series' decade-long history of team-based battles, as well as an unusual single-player campaign that at times strongly resembles Modern Warfare. Battlefield 3 received very high scores from critics and a warm reception from players.

Battlefield 3 raised every known standard for online battles, offering the best team-based shooter of 2011. Every map conveys a sense of scale. The gameplay is a sprawling sandbox that encourages exploration and experimentation. The developers managed not only to create memorable level design, but also to balance every aspect of the game almost perfectly.

Overwatch is a team-based multiplayer shooter from the well-known studio Blizzard. The developers created their own take on Team Fortress 2, with heroes distinguished by appealing designs and striking silhouettes. Each character possessed a particular set of abilities and weapons that directly shaped their playstyle. In a way, it was “Dota 2 in shooter form.”

Overwatch takes place in a futuristic world where teams of six players fight against one another. The game features several classes: damage dealers, tanks, and support heroes. There are no perfect heroes in Overwatch: each one has their own strengths and weaknesses. Choosing a character is an important strategic element. The game instantly achieved cult status and became a major esports discipline. Overwatch received numerous awards, including Game of the Year. Its monetization system also deserved particular praise, as it allowed players to obtain rare character and weapon skins without purchasing premium currency.

The events of Battlefield 1 take place during World War I. The project differed sharply from other multiplayer shooters thanks to its distinctive setting, solid story campaign, and deep multiplayer mode. Battlefield 1's main story consists of several episodes following the adventures of different characters. Many players praised the campaign for its emotional storytelling and Hollywood-scale spectacle.

Battlefield 1's multiplayer remained faithful to the series' traditions, offering large-scale battles for up to 64 players. Characters had several classes with unique abilities. The game also introduced the Operations system, in which maps were connected into one continuous campaign. Battlefield 1 received high review scores and became one of the most successful games in the series.

Battlefield 6 is the eighteenth installment in the series and the long-awaited “return to form” fans had been hoping for after the failure of Battlefield 2042. The game was released on October 10, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, and became the most successful launch in franchise history, selling 7 million copies in three days. The story unfolds in 2027–2028: the NATO alliance is coming apart at the seams, while a private military corporation called Pax Armata enters the scene, prepared to do anything to achieve its goals. The story campaign consists of nine missions following the Dagger 13 Marine squad.

The main attraction here, of course, is the multiplayer. Classic modes returned, including Conquest, Breakthrough, and Rush, joined by the new Escalation mode. Alongside them came reworked destruction mechanics, a new Kinesthetic Combat System featuring slides, the ability to drag wounded soldiers, and hitching rides on vehicles, as well as a revived Battlefield Portal with a scenario editor. Two weeks after release, REDSEC, a separate free-to-play battle royale mode, launched and could be downloaded without purchasing the main game.

The Finals is a free-to-play team-based shooter from Stockholm-based Embark Studios, founded by former DICE developers. The game debuted at The Game Awards on December 7, 2023, and immediately attracted 10 million players within its first two weeks. Its setting takes inspiration from dystopian stories such as The Hunger Games: teams of three fight on virtual arenas as part of a brutal TV show from the future, while a holographic audience and commentators enthusiastically react to every shot.

The Finals' main technical feature is its fully destructible environment, with all physics calculated server-side, meaning every player sees the same collapsing buildings and debris. You can blow up the floor beneath an opponent's feet, bring down a bridge, set a building on fire, or bombard enemies with anything you happen to find nearby. There are three available classes with different levels of mobility and weapon options. The game is fully cross-platform. If you are tired of standard battle royales, The Finals is an excellent alternative with unique gameplay.

Marathon is the first major new release in the genre in 2026. It is a PvPvE extraction shooter from Bungie, the studio behind Halo and Destiny, released on March 5, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S at a price of $40. The game is a reboot of the cult classic 1990s trilogy: it takes place on the planet Tau Ceti IV in 2893, 99 years after the original. The colony and the UESC ship Marathon have long since gone silent, and the heroes, known as Runners, must explore abandoned locations, collect loot, and attempt to extract without ending up in their rivals' sights.

Players can enter a match solo or as part of a team of up to three. The map is populated by other Runners, UESC security forces, and local environmental hazards. Bungie has placed an emphasis on long-term support: according to the developers, the project has a multi-year narrative plan, with the story evolving through players' actions. The release was preceded by a difficult development period: following a failed closed alpha test in spring 2025, the game was delayed from September 2025 to March 2026 and substantially reworked toward darker science fiction and an improved solo experience. Whether it is worth playing right now is up to each player to decide, but Marathon is already undoubtedly one of the year's major premieres.

Following the success of the first Destiny, Bungie released a sequel that improved upon the original in every respect. Unfortunately, by 2017 the online shooter formula had lost much of its appeal, and many players did not give the second installment a chance. The core gameplay remained the same: players travel across planets, eliminate enemies, collect loot, and complete various assignments. In addition to solo expeditions, they could set out on cooperative missions or raids. The PvP mode also received significant improvements.

Unlike the first game, Destiny 2 pays greater attention to its overarching story, which revolves around the struggle between the Guardians and the Red Legion, an alien army led by a powerful warlord. Players must unite to reclaim the Light and defeat the enemy. After a terrible start with low player numbers, the developers made the base version completely free. Over time, the player base grew, while paid content expansions helped the project recoup its costs and turn a profit.

Escape from Tarkov is a hardcore multiplayer PvPvE first-person shooter with RPG elements. At its release in 2017, the game was essentially a tech demo with little content, but gameplay that was utterly merciless toward the player. Despite a rough release even by early access standards, the project quickly found its fan base and established itself in the industry as the originator of the extraction shooter genre. After eight years in beta testing, the full version 1.0 was released on November 15, 2025, alongside its Steam launch: the developers added a story campaign with voiced NPCs, reworked the PvE mode, improved performance, and integrated Steam achievements.

In Escape from Tarkov, players need to search for loot across large locations and carry it to safe extraction points. That sounds fairly simple, but the game design is packed with dozens of small mechanics that turn the process into genuine torture. Alongside an awkward combat system, where weapons have randomized firing patterns, players must contend with “cheating” bots that frequently shoot directly for the head, as well as other players eager to take their belongings. EFT also features additional difficulty modifiers in the form of hunger, thirst, and fatigue, which constantly distract from the shooting itself. Escape from Tarkov has a rather punishing raid system in which the protagonist loses everything they were carrying upon death, including weapons and equipment. Even so, its hardcore nature did not prevent the game from achieving cult status and worldwide fame.

Arguably the most successful project from the survival simulator era. Rust can be both funny and genuinely brutal, especially when you are fighting off a raid by players who have decided to rob your base.

Apex Legends is a free-to-play multiplayer shooter with battle royale elements. The game was developed in secret and released without any marketing campaign. Its surprise launch drew the attention of players, and more than 2.5 million people played Apex on its release day. Users liked the shooter so much that its daily concurrent player count reached 600,000.

Apex takes place in the Titanfall universe. Players choose one of several characters with unique abilities and drop onto a vast map to fight one another. The gameplay resembles Titanfall: fast-paced action in which players must communicate with teammates and collect equipment scattered around the environment, in addition to moving quickly and shooting accurately. Apex Legends became highly popular among console players thanks to its responsive controls, seasonal updates, varied characters, and lack of mandatory monetization. It is one of the most popular games in the battle royale genre.

Hunt: Showdown 1896 is a multiplayer PvPvE shooter set in the Wild West of the 19th century. The game takes place in a grim version of Louisiana, where players assume the role of hunters tasked with finding a special boss, defeating it, and escaping with the bounty dropped from its body. Zombies, monsters, and other players stand in the way of completing the assignment successfully, and the latter can easily kill you with a single headshot. Hunt: Showdown is a hardcore, skill-demanding project that has achieved tremendous popularity among Russian players.

Hunt: Showdown can be played solo or in teams of up to three. Players need to search for clues across large locations, which eventually lead them to a terrifying monster. Other players pursue a similar objective, so sooner or later the gameplay comes down to a PvP shootout. The game's key features include realistic Wild West-era weapons and a spatial audio system that allows players to hear footsteps and determine an enemy's location. Hunt: Showdown received positive reviews from players and critics. The game remains popular among fans of hardcore shooters and one of the best co-op horror games.

Military shooters offer spectacular combat operations, realistic weapons, and cinematic missions. This section includes both blockbusters such as Battlefield and Call of Duty and more hardcore projects where players need to make proper use of cover, vehicles, and equipment.

The most important game in the Call of Duty series. The creators of the original Modern Warfare replaced World War II with a fictional modern-day conflict, setting the trend for a new type of military shooter. Its cinematic campaign is still considered a benchmark for the genre.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a cinematic first-person shooter whose story campaign did not end after three hours, unlike Modern Warfare 3, the 2023 reboot. The core gameplay involved mowing down crowds of enemies, destroying vehicles with rocket launchers, and, of course, watching spectacular set pieces unfold from a first-person perspective. The story turned out to be highly intriguing and entertaining. Modern Warfare 2 also features polished multiplayer that people still play around the world. It was MW2 that began the popularization of multiplayer battles on consoles.

Call of Duty: Black Ops came as an unexpected surprise not only to fans of the series, but to the gaming industry as a whole. More than 5 million copies of the game were sold in a single day. The developers at Treyarch did enormous work on the story and presentation, surpassing the achievements of Infinity Ward, the series' key creators. Black Ops received positive reviews from critics and a warm reception from players.

The single-player campaign takes place in the 1960s. The story follows CIA operative Alex Mason as he attempts to remember his past; his objective is to find references to a number sequence needed to activate Soviet agents. Players visit Cuba, Vorkuta, the United States, Vietnam, China, Canada, and Laos. The multiplayer mode also deserves particular praise. For the first time in the series, the game introduced an in-game currency that allowed players to customize their weapons and characters. Black Ops also features a well-developed cooperative Zombies mode, to which the developers added a full-fledged story.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is the franchise's most groundbreaking installment, adding elements of non-linear storytelling to a traditionally linear shooter. The game takes place across two timelines: the 1980s and 2025. The story follows two protagonists, Alex Mason and his son David Mason. The player's actions affected not only the heroes' fate, but also the resolution of a global conflict. Black Ops 2 is remembered for its remarkable villain, who was driven into a military gamble against his will.

Most players bought Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for its multiplayer modes, which received major updates. The game introduced the Pick 10 system, allowing players to customize their classes by choosing weapons, perks, and equipment. Zombies mode received open maps with exploration-based objectives. After the second Black Ops, the Call of Duty series took a wrong turn, and subsequent installments unfortunately could no longer boast such an inventive approach to storytelling.

Alongside Halo: Reach, it is worth immediately considering Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which includes the key installments in the series. It is an excellent option for players who enjoy science-fiction campaigns and feel comfortable playing shooters with a gamepad.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the twenty-first mainline Call of Duty installment and the sixth entry in the Black Ops subseries, released on October 25, 2024, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This was the first CoD released after Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and Microsoft spared no expense: the game launched on Game Pass from day one. The result was the biggest launch in franchise history in terms of first-day player numbers, hours spent in matches, and Game Pass subscribers, as well as first place on the chart of the best-selling games of 2024 in the United States, according to Circana.

The campaign takes fans back to the Gulf War era: the CIA has gone rogue, and the protagonist, William “Case” Calderon, escapes from his own side and assembles a team of operatives. For the first time in many years, multiplayer brought back the classic Pick 10 system, allowing players to build any custom loadout using ten slots, as well as the legendary Nuketown map. The game also marks the major return of Zombies: round-based gameplay in the spirit of Black Ops 2 and 3, without open maps or mandatory quests, just waves of undead on enclosed arenas. It was developed by Treyarch and Raven, the same studios responsible for the best Black Ops installments, and it shows. The fan response was the warmest any CoD title had received in several years.

Unconventional and indie shooters rethink familiar FPS gameplay through unusual visual styles, unconventional weapons, and bold mechanics. Here you will find experimental projects and indie hits that surprise players with their level of freedom, humor, or emphasis on story and atmosphere. This category includes both epic blockbusters and short games to enjoy over a few evenings.

Bulletstorm is an underrated shooter from the developers of the cult classic Painkiller. Due to a poor marketing campaign and an unfortunate release window, the project failed commercially. However, that did not stop it from becoming a cult favorite several years later. One of Bulletstorm's key features is the Skillshot system, which rewards players for creatively killing enemies. The more elaborate the method you use to eliminate an opponent, the more points you earn. These points are not used to climb some kind of player leaderboard, but to upgrade weapons and purchase new guns and ammunition.

Bulletstorm is an extremely fast-paced shooter whose linear storytelling barely registers while you are playing. Its strong story keeps the tension high, while its grotesque characters throw around puns as well as modern stand-up comedians. The abundance of profanity and black humor also gives it the feel of Quentin Tarantino's best films.

Dying Light is an unusual first-person action game with horror elements and parkour. The game serves as a spiritual successor of sorts to the cult classic Dead Island, offering a large open world, considerable freedom, and the ability to complete missions in different ways. The main story unfolds in the fictional city of Harran, which has been consumed by a zombie apocalypse. Players are sent into the area on a mission to find and neutralize a dangerous criminal. Dying Light was highly praised by players and the press. Critics highlighted its engaging gameplay and well-designed co-op mode.

Dying Light's defining feature is its elaborate parkour system, which allows players to move freely around the city and evade flesh-eating monsters. The game features a dynamic day-and-night cycle that affects the gameplay. After dark, terrifying creatures emerge and can easily tear the protagonist apart. Players must constantly plan their routes in advance and try to avoid direct confrontations with enemies. For more projects of this kind, do not miss our selection of the best zombie games.

After the prolonged production of Doom 4, the developers at id Software abandoned all of their previous work and started again from scratch. The result was a major reboot of the series that appealed to both long-time fans and new players. The protagonist, the Doom Slayer, still fights hordes of demons at the UAC corporation's Martian facility, but now he does so to Mick Gordon's energetic music and with an extraordinary degree of brutality.

After the slow-paced, horror-focused Doom 3, the new installment returned to the series' roots, offering fast and aggressive gameplay. There is no need to hide behind cover or conserve ammunition in this game. Charge straight into the monsters and tear them apart with shotgun blasts. The new Doom introduced the Glory Kills system, allowing players to finish off enemies with their bare hands and receive health packs and ammunition as a reward. Doom 2016 featured multiplayer with Deathmatch and Warpath modes, although it never became particularly successful. Even so, critics and players were delighted with the reboot and gave the new installment exceptionally high scores.

Superhot combines a shooter with a puzzle game: time moves only when you do. Every firefight becomes a planning challenge — how to clear a room using as few steps and bullets as possible.

Titanfall 2 is the ideal sequel to one of the best games of 2014. Respawn Entertainment listened to the criticism and polished every gameplay element to near perfection. Alongside an improved multiplayer mode, the project received a full-fledged single-player campaign that stood out for its spectacle and direction. Every mission offered a unique approach to game design. In addition to shooting, Titanfall 2 gave players puzzles, platforming sections, and scripted action scenes to experience.

Titanfall 2 is a fast and dynamic shooter with parkour elements, where players can summon enormous robots called Titans. The multiplayer was substantially improved and expanded with new maps, modes, and customization options. The second installment received high review scores from critics and enthusiastic responses from players. Unfortunately, its release went largely unnoticed by the wider audience. A poor release window and the absence of a clear marketing campaign had a negative impact on sales. The publishers put the series on hold until better times.

Half-Life: Alyx is a full-scale VR shooter with a carefully developed story campaign and a high level of interactivity. The events take place before Half-Life 2. The main character is Alyx Vance, Gordon Freeman's ally, who wages a guerrilla war against the alien invaders occupying Earth.

Half-Life: Alyx is one of the first games worth buying a VR headset for. This is a true big-budget project where every element of the game design has been adapted for virtual reality. Players can interact with objects and move freely through the locations. Shooting, reloading, and puzzle-solving are all performed using VR controllers. The project runs on the new Source 2 engine, which delivers remarkable visuals without placing critical demands on the system. Half-Life: Alyx received high scores from critics and became the kind of game that sells VR headsets.

Doom Eternal is the spectacular continuation of the 2016 reboot. An army of demons has invaded Earth and brought about an apocalypse. The protagonist, the Doom Slayer, assumes the role of humanity's defender, tasked with cleansing the planet of monsters and closing the portals to Hell. In addition to relentless action, the game introduced platforming elements, weapon upgrades, and tactical mechanics.

Doom Eternal features a large number of enemies that need to be eliminated using specific weapons. The protagonist cannot carry an endless supply of ammunition, so players have to think tactically and constantly switch between guns. Most encounters take place in enclosed arenas, turning the core gameplay into a peculiar kind of puzzle-solving. Players need to react to danger quickly, take risks, and show no mercy to the enemy. Doom Eternal features an outstanding soundtrack by composer Mick Gordon. Each location has a unique visual style and compelling design.

Neon White is a unique shooter with platforming elements developed by Angel Matrix. Players take on the role of an assassin tasked with cleansing Heaven of a demonic invasion. The more unholy creatures the protagonist destroys, the more reputation points he earns, which will ultimately affect whether his earthly sins can be redeemed. Neon White's gameplay is very similar to the Surf maps from CS. In addition to performing acrobatic tricks and rapidly moving across platforms, the hero must shoot enemies accurately and keep track of his ammunition.

Neon White implements a card system that serves both as weapons and as movement bonuses. Players always have a choice: activate a card to kill an enemy or use it to overcome an obstacle more quickly. The project's high-speed pace and unusual physics-based acrobatic elements make its gameplay dynamic and unique. Neon White received very high scores from critics and players. Its strengths included the music, anime-inspired visual style, and layered story exploring themes of redemption and morality.

Turbo Overkill is a retro shooter in the spirit of the early Quake games. Taking on the role of the mercenary Johnny Turbo, players must enter a neon-drenched cyberpunk world and clear the city of hostile cyber-creatures and criminals. Turbo Overkill is a stylish action game with an original visual design and dynamic combat reminiscent of late-1990s games.

Turbo Overkill's key feature is its fast and aggressive gameplay, which demands lightning-fast reactions and exceptional aiming precision from the player. Its arsenal includes a large selection of futuristic weapons and cybernetic enhancements that evoke the atmosphere of 1980s action movies. Battles often take place in enclosed arenas, where players must rapidly move from one position to another while landing accurate shots on their opponents. Turbo Overkill is a classic retro shooter with minimalist graphics, stylish presentation, and an outstanding soundtrack. The game received enthusiastic reviews from critics and players alike.

Trepang2 is a kind of reincarnation of the cult classic shooter F.E.A.R., complete with intense firefights and slow-motion mechanics. Players take control of an amnesiac soldier and set out to fight hostile forces seeking to destroy him. The project was created by a small team determined to recreate the game design of Monolith Productions' titles using Unreal Engine.

Trepang2's key feature is its aggressive, fast-paced action, during which players can use superhuman abilities. Enemies feature strong artificial intelligence, allowing them to avoid danger, flank the player, and shoot accurately. The locations have a minimalist design, ensuring that players are not distracted by visual clutter during firefights. Trepang2 received positive reviews for its atmospheric design, dark game world, excellent gunfights, and lovingly recreated gameplay elements of the first F.E.A.R.

Roboquest is a stylized first-person roguelite shooter from French studio RyseUp Studios. After four years in early access, the game was released on PC on November 7, 2023, followed by Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass in summer 2024. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic future, where the protagonist, a combat robot named Guardian, awakens in a lifeless desert and meets a young mechanic named Max. Together, they set out to save what remains of humanity from an army of invading robots.

The gameplay is a dynamic combination of Risk of Rain 2 and Doom: each run is a randomly generated sequence of arenas that the player fights through with two weapons, a set of perks, and combat gadgets. Every playthrough provides new maps and upgrades, while also unlocking access to new classes. Roboquest is a typical indie success story, with beautiful cel-shaded graphics, an excellent soundtrack, two-player co-op support, and almost 95% positive reviews on Steam. If you enjoy Turbo Overkill for its momentum and Hades for its “run, die, upgrade, start again” gameplay loop, Roboquest should be right up your alley.

Classic shooters are the games that established the foundations of the genre and still play remarkably well today thanks to their dynamic gameplay and instantly recognizable mechanics. This selection includes DOOM 2, Quake, Half-Life 2, Black Mesa, and other time-tested FPS games suitable for both newcomers and old-school players.

The first DOOM games deserve attention not only for their contribution to the development of the FPS genre, but also for gameplay that remains extraordinarily fun to this day. When choosing between the classic installments in the series, DOOM 2 is the better option: the sequel has more weapons and enemy types, as well as more engaging levels.

Still one of the most atmospheric FPS games ever made. The first Quake is not merely a fast and brutal shooter, but also a dark adventure steeped in Lovecraftian horror. The oppressive tone of the game is further enhanced by the soundtrack from Nine Inch Nails.

The perfect excuse to visit a gaming cafe with friends, provided there are any still open in your city. Quake 3: Arena is a game of frantic speed, where reflexes decide everything rather than special character abilities.

A prime example of a shooter with impeccable pacing. Throughout its entire campaign, Half-Life 2 constantly tries to surprise players, never allowing them to get bored for a moment. Every mission introduces new situations, from driving a buggy to surviving in a zombie-infested settlement.

The absence of the original Half-Life from this list is no accident: today, the best way to experience the classic is to play its remake, Black Mesa. It is an upgrade in every respect, with improved graphics and sound, as well as numerous reworked combat encounters.

In this FAQ, we have gathered answers to popular questions: which shooters are best suited for low-end PCs, what to play on PS4, PS5, and Xbox, which FPS games with strong stories to choose, and which online shooters remain relevant today. This section will help you quickly find your bearings and select a suitable shooter based on your tastes and platform.

There is no universal answer — it all depends on your preferences. For players who enjoy strong stories, Half-Life 2 and BioShock are ideal choices; fans of tactical gameplay should consider Rainbow Six Siege and Counter-Strike 2; and if you are looking for co-op, Left 4 Dead 2 and Deep Rock Galactic are excellent options.

For a starting point, we recommend Team Fortress 2, which is free and beginner-friendly; Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which offers an excellent balance between arcade action and realism; or Titanfall 2, which is fast-paced but features a solid tutorial.

Excellent co-op choices if you are looking for the best two-player games on PC and consoles include Left 4 Dead 2, Borderlands 2, Deep Rock Galactic, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Far Cry 3, and Bulletstorm. All of these games support cooperative play with friends.

The absolute classics of the genre include DOOM 2, Quake, Half-Life 2, BioShock, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. These games laid the foundations for modern FPS titles and remain relevant today.

Counter-Strike 2 is the undisputed leader in popularity on Steam. Apex Legends, Destiny 2, Rust, and Battlefield 1 also have massive audiences.

Yes, and the list continues to grow every year. Time-tested options include Team Fortress 2, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and Counter-Strike 2: all are completely free and offer hundreds of hours of quality gameplay. The Finals, a fast-paced shooter with destructible environments, and REDSEC, Battlefield 6's standalone free-to-play battle royale mode available without purchasing the main game, are also worth trying. The tactical shooter Valorant is free as well. You can find more free games in our separate ranking of the best free PC games.

The best story-driven shooters for solo play include Half-Life 2, BioShock, Metro Exodus, Wolfenstein: The New Order, and DOOM Eternal.

Quake and Half-Life 2 are benchmarks for atmosphere in the FPS genre. The former immerses players in a Lovecraftian nightmare, while the latter plunges them into grim science fiction.

Classic games run well on low-end hardware: DOOM 2, Quake, Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, F.E.A.R., and Left 4 Dead 2. For more details, see our selection of the best shooters for low-end PCs.

If you have missed large-scale military shooters, go with Battlefield 6, the most successful launch in the series' history, or Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the biggest debut in CoD history, featuring the return of round-based Zombies. Fans of story-driven single-player games should consider Doom: The Dark Ages, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle[/game]. Co-op players should look at Borderlands 4, with its open world of Kairos, and Killing Floor 3, which follows the classic wave-based zombie formula. Among new online releases, Bungie's Marathon, released on March 5, 2026, stands out as the first major extraction shooter of 2026. For a detailed breakdown of all recent releases, see the “New Releases from 2025–2026” section at the beginning of the article.

Which FPS do you consider the definitive example of the genre? Share your favorite games in the comments, especially any we might have missed!

The first-person shooter genre has evolved considerably in recent years. Today, FPS games are not merely about shooting at targets, but also about deep stories, tactical cooperation, and the thrill of competition. In our Top 65, we have tried to gather the projects that define the genre today and will remain relevant tomorrow.

Whether you are looking for a hardcore military simulator, a cooperative action game to play with friends, or a large-scale battle royale, remember that the best shooter is the one that gives you a pure sense of excitement and control over the situation. We constantly update this list so that you do not miss any major release on PC or consoles. But if these games are not enough, take a look at our other selections, where you can find plenty of excellent shooters.