The first-person shooter genre (often abbreviated as FPS) began in the early 90s. Many erroneously cite 1993's DOOM as the "first" FPS, but that title actually goes to Wolfenstein 3D, which was released a year earlier. However, DOOM was easily the most influential as it became a massive hit and sold millions of copies, launched sequels, and, of course, solidified the genre.
Since then, first-person shooters have grown and expanded, developing elaborate worlds with their own lore, histories, and conflicts. Naturally, it's up to players to blast their way through zombies, aliens, demons, and more, all to save the day...and then eagerly await a sequel.
Updated on March 21st, 2022 by Keith Langston: As time goes by, some newer games have finally started being seen as classics and appreciated for the unique qualities they've brought to the gaming world. On the other hand, some older games continue to be more beloved by fans and their excellent playability never seems to get old - which is quite impressive for a genre that has continued to grow and diversify for thirty years.
Titanfall 2 (2016)
Titanfall is a franchise that's riddled with problems, most notable are the hackers that have completely destroyed the game's online multiplayer feature (and Respawn's complete lack of intervention). However, it can't be denied that Titanfall, especially Titanfall 2, are incredibly fun to play.
The games switched up the FPS norms by putting gamers inside giant mechs, called Titans. This completely changed up the standard gameplay, creating a new way in which a character could move and use weapons. Titanfall 2 has a single-player campaign mode that blends human combat with Titan mayhem, becoming an unexpectedly fresh and fun twist on the crowded genre.
Doom Eternal (2020)
The original installment of Doom is an undeniable cornerstone of the modern FPS. For many gamers, it was their first time being placed in the shoes of the protagonist and taking on the role of the now-famous Doom Slayer. Throughout the decades, the franchise has been largely successful, but its most recent installment, Doom Eternal, saw widespread critical and gamer praise.
The game takes place after the events on Mars, and Earth is now overrun by demonic forces. It's up to players to save the world by shooting, smashing, and chainsawing their way through the evil forces of hell.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2010)
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is widely seen as the best in the franchise. It’s praised for its cinematic gameplay and interactive environments. When it was released in 2010, there was nothing else like it.
The main praises for the game were for its beautifully rendered environments, which kept great resolutions even while playing the online multiplayer matches. It was also noted for its great variety of weapons, vehicles, and destructible structures that helped to continuously alter the battlefield.
Borderlands 2 (2012)
Borderlands 2 built on the success of the first game to create a surreal and one-of-a-kind gaming experience that combined great visuals with a compelling story and ample amounts of humor...all while letting players shoot and blow up everything in sight.
The game was packed with epic loot and has thousands of unique weapons to choose from, creating an infinite number of ways to blow bandits to bloody smithereens. Best of all, the franchise (even the newest installment, Borderlands 3) remains faithful to split-screen co-op, allowing friends to buddy up on the couch and play through the campaigns together.
Apex Legends (2019)
Apex Legends is set in the Titanfall universe, though it has very little connection to the game. Instead of fighting in titans, Apex Legends is an online battle royale hero shooter. Gamers can take on the role of a wide variety of different characters, customizing and optimizing them to their personal liking.
In an era where "free-to-play" battle royale games are taking over consoles and PCs everywhere, Apex Legends has managed to stand out thanks to its distinctive characters who all bring their unique touch and special moves, creating a varied and fun gaming experience.
Counter-Strike (2000)
The staying power of Valve’s 1999 release, Counter-Strike, simply cannot be ignored. Very few games have been able to replicate the harmony that Counter-Strike introduced; the ingenious map layouts and supremely balanced weapons have influenced strategy-based shooters since its release over 20 years ago.
Interestingly enough, Counter-Strike started out as a fan-made mod for Half-Life and became massively popular online. Before long, Valve saw the profitability of the brand and bought the rights to the IP and hired on its developers to create a formal release, which came out in 2000.
Left 4 Dead 2 (2009)
Left 4 Dead was a massive hit with the gaming community when it debuted in 2008, creating a new team-based co-op experience about surviving the zombie apocalypse. What made the game so unique was the fact that you literally needed your team in Left 4 Dead. Nobody could run off and try to be the hero, as it would lead to certain death.
Instead, players had to work off each other’s strengths, keep each other safe, and, ultimately, experience a form of online play that they never had before. Left 4 Dead 2 built upon the original, adding more weapons, more special infected, and new levels, creating an improved gaming experience. The new team survival game Back 4 Blood was heavily inspired by Left 4 Dead and was even created by many of the same developers who helped make the original games.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a genre-defining title. It contained revolutionary elements that every FPS game tried to emulate after its arrival, like a progressive multiplayer system, an innovative and entertaining co-op mode, and an epic arsenal of customizable weapons.
Modern Warfare’s single-player campaign still stands as one of the better ones in the franchise’s history, allotting the 2007 blockbuster tons of excellent replay value.
BioShock (2007)
Upon its release, BioShock shook the gaming community to its core when it was released in 2007. It was a creepy, atmospheric masterpiece that examined the reasons behind the collapse of the once-peaceful underwater utopia, Rapture, and wasted no time scaring the daylights out of gamers along the way.
BioShock's graphics are still impressive to this day and the unique plasmid injections (special powers that players can swap and customize) remain tons of fun to play with. Up until more recent releases like Alien: Isolation and Resident Evil Village, there hadn't been many games that successfully combined the action of first-person shooters with the suspense of horror games as well as BioShock.
Unreal Tournament (1999)
Unlike almost every game released before it, 1999’s Unreal Tournament had precisely zero interest in creating a single-player story mode. It had one goal and one goal only: put multiple gamers in an arena with lots of big weapons and find out who could be the last one standing.
Upon release, Unreal Tournament proved to be an addictive and explosive first-person shooter and received rave reviews. It was also decades ahead of its time, being one of the first console games to use online multiplayer functions and introducing the battle royale format long before the genre caught on with players.
Perfect Dark (2000)
After Rare’s success with Goldeneye 007 for the N64, the studio began working on another shooter...this time, centered around an original IP. Though risky, the idea ended up paying off and Perfect Dark went down as one of the best games on the N64.
Upon release, it was one of the biggest and most advanced games ever launched on the N64, pushing the console to its very limits. In fact, an insertable expansion pack was needed to play the game, otherwise, gamers would discover that tons of content was missing. It was also one of the last major releases for the console as the GameCube was unveiled the following year.
Quake (1996)
After creating titles like Doom and Wolfenstein, Id Software moved on to another project that would revolutionize first-person shooters: Quake. Unlike its pixelated predecessors, Quake dropped players into a fully-developed 3-D world, complete with polygon-based levels and characters.
The results were astounding, and fans quickly fell in love with the game's more advanced controls and higher-caliber weapon load-outs. Best of all, Quake improved upon the fledgling Deathmatch mode (online multiplayer) by offering more intense action and a more polished look. The game’s soundtrack was also praised, being composed by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor during the height of the band’s fame.
Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
Halo was big…like, massively big. It was the game that Microsoft needed to be a "killer app" and would singlehandedly have to sell their new Xbox console. Fortunately, it was everything Microsoft hoped it would be. Intense action, stunning landscapes, an in-depth story, and the ability to drive around on warthogs (the game’s version of military jeeps) were exciting, fresh, and created a new depth and fullness that FPS hadn't had before.
Better yet, the game had a split-screen co-op mode and a multiplayer deathmatch where up to four players could split-screen and compete against each other. While the 90s had created the FPS genre, it was clear that Halo and the 2000s were going to revolutionize it.
Half-Life 2 (2004)
Half-Life 2 is another revolutionary, genre-defining FPS game that changed gaming forever. It picks up 20 years after the Black Mesa incident from the first game and was praised for its visual effects, its story-heavy plotline, and its ability to combine various aspects of gaming – shooting, puzzle-solving, open-level exploration – all in one title.
Half-Life 2 went on to sell millions of copies and dominated gaming in 2005, winning almost every publication’s Game of the Year accolades and appearing on virtually every single Top 10 game list. It was later re-released in The Orange Box bundle along with Portal and Team Fortress 2, which itself received ample praise and sold millions of copies.
GoldenEye 007 (1997)
Nintendo isn’t really known for producing great first-person shooters, though a good number have been ported to the Switch. And yet, one of gaming’s most beloved shooters (which many argue is the best ever) is N64's GoldenEye 007. Released by Rare in 1997, critics and gamers were instantly hooked on GoldenEye’s weapon variety, large playing levels, and most notably, the incredible multiplayer mode that let up to four players duke it out.
It was a generation-defying title that was played and enjoyed by gamers of all ages, solidifying itself in the memories of players as a pivotal and special moment in gaming history. 2022 marks GoldenEye’s 25th anniversary and a fan-made HD remaster was set to release...sadly, MGM took legal action against the game, blocking its release.