2022 is looking like a good year to be a PlayStation 5 owner, with a bunch of stunning PS5 games due to come out this year as well as a lot more content to enjoy on Sony's flagship console. As the releases are dominated by RPGs and open-world franchises like Horizon Forbidden West, the output of high-quality FPS games has been slower.
Luckily for fans of the intense, action-packed gameplay of FPS games, there is still a decent variety in the content on offer on the PS5. The following titles make up the very best of what's on offer on the platform according to critics, using Metacritic's review aggregator as a guide.
Call Of Duty: Vanguard (2021) - 73
Signaling a return to the gritty battlefields of World War 2 for the massive FPS franchise, Call of Duty: Vanguard is an excellently polished shooter experience from Sledgehammer Games. The campaign mode of the game is surprisingly weighty, with a more substantial story than previous entries in the series.
For PS5 players looking for an online FPS experience, Vanguard doesn't disappoint in that area either, with slick and balanced gameplay that also looks as good as a triple-A title on a new-gen console should. Zombies remains a fun and addictive game mode for Call of Duty: Vanguard, and the game earns its solid critic rating on Metacritic by not doing much wrong.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction (2022) - 73
The newest spin-off game in Ubisoft's massive FPS series, Rainbow Six Extraction develops on the gameplay of previous titles like Siege for intense cooperative multiplayer action. Similar to previous games in the series, players must work together to infiltrate enemy locations and complete objectives, overcoming the parasitic alien enemies.
The gameplay of Extraction is well-realized with more of a focus on tactics than Siege, which may be a drawback for players looking for stripped-back shooter action. However, for fans of the series, this newest title is definitely worth checking out and can be a lot of fun to play together with friends.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) - 76
For players looking for a blockbuster first-person shooter with incredible visuals to enjoy on a next-gen platform, they can't go wrong with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War for the PS5. This title is a solid entry in the franchise, delivering on more or less everything fans expect from a Call of Duty game, with a fun, if short, single-player campaign and online gameplay with an expanded Zombies mode.
Although there is nothing groundbreaking about Black Ops Cold War, and anyone expecting a deep analysis of the geopolitical tensions at the time will be disappointed, the game gets the important things right with simple, satisfying gunplay and interesting environments.
Back 4 Blood (2021) - 77
The recent follow-up to the Left 4 Dead games that brought co-operative zombie-killing action back to the mainstream last year, Back 4 Blood remains one of the best FPS experiences to be had on PS5. The player takes control of a "cleaner", each with their own unique traits, and is tasked with completing missions in a world filled with the living dead.
The game is best enjoyed with friends to get the most fun out of the team-based missions, and cross-platform play makes it relatively easy to do so. Killing zombies is as satisfying as ever, and Back 4 Blood has some very hard missions for players looking for a challenge. The element of building a deck of perks with cards takes some getting used to, but the game's high rating among critics reflects how fun it can be.
Lemnis Gate (2021) - 78
Time loop games may be one of the most unexpected formats to become popular in the last few years, but it has made for some very cool games. This first-person shooter is no exception, making use of time-bending mechanics to bring a unique and clever gameplay style to the PS5.
Described as a "time-warping, turn-based combat strategy FPS", there is a lot to get to grips with in Lemnis Gate. The game is set out like a chess match between players, as they must use tactical intelligence as well as their aim and reactions to beat their opponent in complex four-dimensional combat. Lemnis Gate is an interesting concept and executed well.
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 (2021) - 81
It may not have the catchiest name of any FPS title, but Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is the best sniper-focused shooter on the PS5. The game puts the player in the role of a sniper assassin called Reaper, tasked with completing contracts and ultimately bringing down a powerful crime syndicate.
The gameplay shines when the player is extremely far away from their targets, with the ability to shoot precisely from over 1000 meters away making for extremely satisfying kills. The graphics look good on the PS5 and the game's high critic rating of 81 demonstrates the level of polish it has brought to the sniper FPS experience.
Metro Exodus: Complete Edition (2021) - 83
Metro Exodus brings futuristic survival combat to the next level in this complete edition for the PS5. Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland that looks incredible on the new-gen console, Metro Exodus tasks the player with using homemade weaponry to fight off mutated creatures and hostile human factions while a fascinating and expanded narrative plays out.
Whilst the amazing visuals take the headlines, the gameplay is slick as well as intense and will easily win over FPS players. Survival horror elements and a sophisticated crafting system also keep things interesting and make Metro Exodus a game worth trying for any FPS fan.
Deep Rock Galactic (2022) - 85
In a genre dominated by gritty and dark titles, Deep Rock Galactic stands out for its fun style and twisted sense of humor. The game is a co-op and allows the player to control space dwarves as they explore procedurally generated caves and fight off hordes of aliens in exciting FPS action.
Every environment is completely destructible which only adds to the chaos, especially when there's the maximum four players in the game. The cave exploration can be intense though, and there are genuine thrills to be found in the monster-infested depths. Playing with friends can easily become addictive in this extremely well-made title.
Deathloop (2021) - 88
One of the best time loop games of all time, Deathloop makes the gameplay concept of dying over and over work incredibly well and shows off the best of what Arkane Studios are capable of. With a fascinating mystery narrative and gameplay that mixes stealth with all-out intense gunplay, Deathloop is one of the most well-executed games on the PS5.
For FPS players who are perfectionists, the idea of trying over and over until they can achieve the perfect run can be very appealing, but there is more than enough style and substance here to capture the imagination of all players. Unavailable on other consoles, Deathloop is perhaps the best selling point on the PS5 for FPS fans.
Borderlands 3 (2020) - 91
There aren't many series that can match Borderlands for sheer over-the-top mayhem, and Borderlands 3 brings the thrill of wild shooter-looter action to the PS5. The visual style of the game is as unique as ever and the game is worth a look just for that, but the gameplay is also neverending fun and there is enough content that most players will never run out of things to do.
The story is engaging and the DLC added since the game's release in 2019 only brings more fun to the experience. The PS5 is the best way to enjoy Borderlands 3, with a level of polish that is rarely found in a game with this much content, and it is for good reason that Borderlands 3 is the highest rated PS5 FPS game on Metacritic.