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- With so many more exciting titles on the market and more to come over the next few years, the first-person shooter genre certainly isn't slowing down. But quite frankly, the concept isn't for everyone. That's why it's great to have a reminder of the alternatives for gamers to check out!
First-person shooter games are one of the most popular video game genres. Games like Call Of Duty, Halo, and Red Dead Redemption have become staples of the category. Because these types of games are so popular, there is a wealth of FPS options that are developed and released on a constant basis.
Someone looking for a new game to play will undoubtedly come across many first-person shooter games, and that might not be exactly what they're looking for. Lucky for them, there are some first-person shooter games that even those who aren't fans of them will enjoy.
UPDATE: 2022/11/14 BY GEORGE CHRYSOSTOMOU
With so many more exciting titles on the market and more to come over the next few years, the first-person shooter genre certainly isn't slowing down. But quite frankly, the concept isn't for everyone. That's why it's great to have a reminder of the alternatives for gamers to check out!
Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2017)
Fans of the Star Wars franchise will be well aware that there have been multiple iterations of the Battlefront series, and Battlefront 2 got off to a rocky start thanks to its microtransactions woes. However, with a lot of hard work and post-release updates from developers Motive Studio, Criterion Software, EA, and DICE, the title was transformed.
While it's not technically a first-person shooter, there is an option to change the camera angle to make this an FPS. It's a fun and fast-paced game which will surely appeal to fans of the franchise, the chaos of the Star Wars universe making this a unique entry into the genre.
Portal 2 (2011)
Developer Valve Corporation initially created the incredibly versatile and beloved Portal, which offered players quite a different gameplay experience. While the first release was special, thanks to the narrative and mechanical advancements, Portal 2 was a standout.
A title that should never be remade in any capacity, Portal 2 is technically a first-person shooter with players solving puzzles with their robotic companion by shooting portals throughout the environment. It's a change for the genre, but one that would appeal to those not strictly looking to equip a conventional firearm.
DUSK (2018)
Indie team New Blood Interactive put together a modern game with a retro twist. DUSK thus looks incredibly different to other FPS releases on the market because of its throwback aesthetic and limited mechanics. But that's all part of the game's charm.
With a horror aspect that includes cultists, demons, and the possessed, the player will have to defend against the darkest of forces in a compelling story that drops them straight into the bloodshed. The edge of the concept should also appeal to those who are looking for a scarier aspect for their FPS.
Titanfall 2 (2016)
Leaping from the success of the first installment, the campaign alone took Respawn Entertainment's Titanfall 2 to a brand-new level. But it was the online gameplay that was always going to stand out, even for those who traditionally wouldn't go for a shooter with a competitive edge.
The combination of the sci-fi technology and aesthetic, player variation in controlling a soldier versus a mech, and free-running capabilities within the title, allowed audiences to see that this was not a conventional FPS. It's chaos on that battlefield but a far cry from the usual suspects in the genre.
GoldenEye 007 (1997)
A complete throwback from Rare and Ultimate Play the Game, GoldenEye 007 is a retro spectacle and one of the best James Bond titles in history. While its graphics are certainly going to feel dated, there is a certain charm to the limited nature of the release.
While the single-player campaign shouldn't be overlooked, it's the multiplayer option that just turned out to be so fun. The FPS genre is often quite a tense one, but GoldenEye makes shooters fun again, especially as a co-op competition. Plus movie fans will appreciate the callbacks to cinema history.
Sneak Thief (2016)
Sneak Thief is a unique kind of first-person shooter because it's primarily story-based and has options in regard to how the game is ultimately played. If a player wants to make the game more strategy-heavy as opposed to combat, they have that choice.
The game follows a robber as he sneaks into people's homes and completes heists. In addition to creeping around, players are also given puzzles and obstacles to complete, making it much more than just a first-person shooter game.
Midnight Ghost Hunt (2022)
This brand-new game centers around the idea of horror games that let players play as the monster. Players can choose whether to be the Hunters or the Ghosts in this fun take on hide and seek.
As Ghosts, players can possess different objects while they hide from the Hunters in the game. As Hunters, players try to track down the Ghosts before the clock strikes midnight and destroy them with Ghostbusters-esque gadgets. Planning and stealth are key in this game, creating more involved gameplay.
Just Act Natural (2022)
NPCs are often an overlooked aspect of video games. However, NPCs can be either very helpful, like in Super Mario, or even dangerous, like the NPCs in Soulsbourne. Just Act Natural is a game that's all about the NPCs.
Players hide from the Seeker and try to blend in with the actual NPCs of the game while the Seeker tries to figure out who's not a real NPC and shoot them. It's a much less frightening version of hide and seek for those not ready for Midnight Ghost Hunt.
Oblivity (2022)
Sometimes the thing that keeps people from playing some even some of the most under-rated first-person shooters is all of the pressure that comes with quickly aiming and firing. Oblivity is a fun and engaging way for players to improve their skills and be able to join in popular first-person shooters.
Oblivity focuses on measuring the sensitivity of a player's equipment to help them hone their aim and firing process. It has its own "sensitivity finder" to train players to work with their mouse or controller instead of against it.
Chivalry (2012) & Chivalry 2 (2021)
Another reason a video game player may shy away from many first-person shooters is the possibility of being sniped by an unseen opponent and having their game finished before they've even had a chance to do anything.
Chivalry and Chivalry 2 take away the concept of sniping by focusing on more ancient weaponry like swords, bows and arrows, axes, and spears. The melee game highlights close combat so players don't have to feel like they're constantly looking over their shoulders.
The Resident Evil Franchise
The Resident Evil video game franchise is the perfect combo of strategy, puzzles, survival, and very light first-person shooter playing. Players have a limited supply of ammunition, so they have to pick and choose when to shoot and when to hide or evade.
For people who love all things zombie and horror, these games are a great choice to have. They also do an amazing job of having intricate and detailed storylines and fantastic female protagonists to follow, for players that want something more substantial.
Fallout: New Vegas (2010)
If it's not the pressure to aim or the distaste for guns, another reason people may avoid first-person shooters is the inability to see their character and marry what's happening to them with what they can see in the POV. Fallout: New Vegas figured out a way to bridge that gap.
While playing Fallout: New Vegas, players can switch between the third-person point of view and the first-person point of view, giving players a chance to mess around with the perspective before committing completely to a dedicated first-person shooter game.
The Borderlands Series
First-person shooters can get boring and predictable, especially if they're in a timed arena-like format like Call Of Duty or Fortnite. Compelling story and character personalization can make all the difference in a game's intrigue.
Borderlands has six well-loved games amongst fans, and thousands of different options when it comes to characterization and side missions. Even Borderlands veterans can revisit the game and find something new to achieve.
The Wolfenstein Series
For all the history buffs that don't like their games to take place in an unknown random location with characters and plots that they couldn't care less about, Wolfenstein and its sequel games might be the way to go.
The Wolfenstein games are based on WWII and have rich story elements having to do with fighting against the Nazi regime. The games feature a healthy combination of fact and fiction, as well as shooting and stealth. In Wolfenstein: Youngblood, players can even enable "The Buddy Pass" that allows a friend to join in and make things a little easier, even if they don't own the game.
PowerWash Simulator (2021)
If players are looking for something relaxing to play on their day off and don't want the stress of being dropped into a war zone, they can kick back and play PowerWash Simulator, a game where players shoot a spray gun in place of a real one.
PowerWash Simulator is a laid-back game where people get to power-wash different things from trucks to houses to RVs. Like Oblivity, this game can help develop aim and strength for other games, while also scratching the itch of getting something perfectly clean.