There are various reasons why FPS games are a hit among gamers. The fact that you’re playing from your perspective makes the experience more realistic, therefore getting you more invested in the game. The triumph of killing your opponents doesn’t just make you win the game, either. It also gives you a sense of dominance and power. And, apart from guns and the oddly-enjoyable experience of killing bad guys, FPS games also test your flight and fight skills. Without realizing it, these games hone your cognition and focus. So apart from being fun to play, they also improve skills that you can apply in real life.
Best FPS Games
[powerkit_alert type=”success” dismissible=”false” multiline=”true”]
? Our Honorable Picks?
» Best Tactical Team Shooter For 2020: Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege at Amazon
“For those looking to experience what it’s like to be an elite tactical unit (or an organized terrorist group).”
» Best Battle-Royale Shooter For 2020: Apex Legends at Amazon
“Apex Legends has fast-paced action like Overwatch, while being an accurate gun-shooting game like the Call of Duty series.”
» Best Warfare Shooter: Battlefield 1 at Amazon
“If you are a history buff and are fascinated by the World Wars in history, then you can’t miss this game.”
» Best Horror/Survival FPS: Dying Light at Amazon
“Brutal combat, a dynamic day and night system that affects gameplay, and compelling single-player campaign.”
Best Tactical Team Shooter – Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Those looking to experience what it’s like to be an elite tactical unit (or an organized terrorist group) will find Rainbow Six Siege to be the hottest game this year. It appears to be similar to other games in the genre at first glance. However, once you start playing a few games, what makes the game different will shine. First off, it’s not as simple as other shooters of its kind. It offers various game modes, on top of the standard “Bomb” and “Hostage” modes. Rainbow Six Siege has Terrorist Hunt, Secure Area, and other modes that make the game much more complicated.
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4
- Multiplayer: Yes
- PC system minimum requirements:
- Operating System – Windows 7 or higher (64bit)
- Processor – Intel Core i3 560 @ 3.3 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 945 @ 3.0 GHz
- Graphics Card – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 / AMD Radeon HD 5870
- Memory – 6 GB
- Audio – DirectX® 9.0c compatible sound card
- Disk Storage Space – 30GB
- Multiplayer – 256kbps upstream or higher
Complexity is the key to this title. The way to complete a team’s objectives isn’t pigeonholed, and often creative solutions to things are rewarded with success. It lives up to the “tactical” part of the genre’s name and will require a lot of careful planning, teamwork, and nerves of still to win game after game.
Key Features
-
- Multiple operator options – the “character classes” of the game, each one with a unique set of abilities and specialties. The developer regularly adds operators.
- Environmental interactivity – walls, floors, and doors can be used or destroyed during the game to create advantages for you, and disadvantages for your opponents. The “RealBlast” engine allows for the environment to get destroyed differently every game.
- Realistic AI – reactive “Strategy Manager” AI system makes opponents react correctly to the player’s actions.
- Regular developer support – The development team is always making tweaks, fixing bugs, and adding new content to the game. Player feedback is responded to and helps steer the game content.
Editors Rating: [usr 5 size=14]
Best Battle-Royale Shooter – Apex Legends
Combining the best elements of some of the most popular shooters on the market today, Apex Legends has millions of players, increasing every day. It hit 25 million players in 7 days, a fantastic feat, to say the least. Especially considering that the battle-royale genre of fps games is cutthroat, with various AAA games competing for the top.
- Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4
- Multiplayer: Yes, online
- PC system minimum requirements:
- Operating System – Windows 7 or higher (64bit)
- Processor – Intel Core i3-6300 3.8GHz / AMD FX-4350 4.2 GHz Quad-Core
- GPU – NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 / Radeon HD 7730
- Memory – 6 GB
- Audio – DirectX® 9.0c compatible sound card
- Disk Storage Space – 22 GB
- Multiplayer – 256kbps upstream or higher
Apex Legends has fast-paced action like Overwatch, accurate gun-shooting like the Call of Duty series, and the battle-royale excitement of PUBG. Combining these elements has made Apex Legends not just the most successful battle-royale game to date, but one of the best FPS games to come out in recent history.
Key Features:
-
- Character class freedom – you can choose characters or “Legends” from any class, each with their unique abilities. Select the right “Legend” for your 3-man squad to create your unique style of combat.
- Dynamic team action – work with your squad to eliminate the other 19 units and win the game. You can also revive downed teammates to keep on fighting and playing.
- Simple and easy to understand map layout – an easy-to-follow map that shows where loot locations are terrain variations and other information. This makes the game easier to navigate and makes the action much faster.
- Cloud gaming – this allows you to play Apex Legends on any platform or device. Android users can play the game from powerful servers available globally.
Editors Rating: [usr 5 size=14]
Best Warfare Shooter – Battlefield 1
Arguably the most-hyped shooter (perhaps the most-hyped game overall) of 2016, and it lived up to the hype. Three years on, and it still stands at the peak of large scale warfare gaming. Set in World War I, Battlefield I offers a truly immersive fps gaming experience unlike any other before it. Almost “theatrical” in nature, aka, just like how a Hollywood blockbuster would present it. It puts you right in the heart of the action of the most brutal war in human history. Unlike other games in this list, this one has a historical component to it that makes it that much more visceral when you play.
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Multiplayer: Yes
- PC minimum requirements:
- Operating System – Windows 7 or higher (64bit)
- Processor – Intel Core i-6600K/ AMD FX-6350
- GPU – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 2GB / Radeon HD 7850 2GB
- Memory – * GB
- Audio – DirectX® 11.0c compatible sound card
- Disk Storage Space – 50 GB
- Multiplayer – 512kbps upstream or higher
The game’s single-player mode provides hours of gaming content and tells the story of the war from the perspectives of different characters. If the player character dies, another soldier with a different role takes over, just like in a real theater of war. It is a fresh take on a single-player experience wherein dying or failing means reloading from a previous save or checkpoint.
But this is not where Battlefield I shines. Play online with others, and you get to see just how large-scale the game can be. Take control of a soldier who can use various weapons, drive different vehicles, and use all sorts of strategies to win against the opponent. All set in the early 1900s.
Key Features:
-
- Dynamic weather and environments – no game will be the same, as weather and other environmental factors all play a part in each setting. Each new multiplayer game will be a unique experience in itself.
- Multiple classes with “elite” class pack – similar to other games in this list, Battlefield 1 features different class types depending on your play style. An elite class pack also features powerful, highly specialized classes for you to pick from.
- Vehicle combat – from horses to massive airships, ride different vehicles to war.
- Six multiplayer game modes and other custom games – from massive Conquest and Operations modes to the fun and unique War Pigeons mode (yes, pigeons. like how they did it historically).
- Hardcore servers – for a more thrilling, push-to-the-limit experience.
Editors Rating: [usr 5 size=14]
Best Horror/Survival FPS – Dying Light
If you’re a fan of horror, shooting, and open-world online co-op gameplay, then Dying Light is a shooter of choice. Taking cues from successful predecessors like Left4Dead 1 and 2, Dying Light has earned its spot in the pantheon of the best horror survival games of all time.
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Multiplayer: Yes
- PC minimum system requirements
- Operating System – Windows 7 or higher (64bit)
- Processor – Intel Core i5-2500 3.3GHz / AMD FX-8320 3.5 GHz
- GPU – NVIDIA GeForce GT 560 / Radeon HD 6870 1GB VRAM
- Memory – 4 GB
- Audio – DirectX® 11 compatible sound card
- Disk Storage Space – 40 GB
- Multiplayer – 256kbps upstream or higher
The game is set in the fictional city of Harran in modern times, which is implied to be located in the country of Turkey. It contains high-rise buildings, tight alleyways, and lots and lots of debris and obstacles. This is also the site of the Harran Virus outbreak, which is what caused the game’s zombies, aka “Infected.”
With brutal combat, a dynamic day and night system that affects gameplay, and compelling single-player campaign. It is worth every penny, especially for fans of the horror gaming genre. And with Dying Light 2 on the horizon, now is the time to play the first installment in what is poised to be the best horror shooter series for many years to come.
Key Features:
-
- Freerunning system – if you’re going to start a game trying to survive hordes of horrors, then you’d better be able to run. And Dying Light gives that in spades. You can climb over cliffs, cling to ledges, and make huge leaps over gaps. But just like in real life, these actions also have inherent risks.
- Unique Day and Night system – as with the classic horror tropes in movies, it’s often safest to explore during the day (Because night time causes the horrors to come out). And this is what Dying Light has. Stay outside during nighttime, and you’re in for a wild ride.
- Light and Shadow system – can’t have a good day and night system without also having a good light and shadow system. Using a flashlight will make you see things better, but the infected will home in on you faster. Sneaking in the darkness is safer, but you won’t know what’s ahead until it’s too late.
- Intuitive and realistic combat – from hand-to-hand techniques to using melee and ranged weapons, Dying Light gives you freedom. You can also target different body parts for varying results. Heads are prime targets but are even harder to hit. Legs hitting the legs can slow enemies down or knock them off their feet. The list goes on.
Editors Rating: [usr 5 size=14]
What better way to unwind from a stressful workday than by firing at a bunch of zombies with heavy artillery? First-person shooter or FPS is a popular genre in gaming that brings a different level of high to any gamer. With deadly weapons, exciting journeys, and grotesque enemies coming out of nowhere, what’s there not to like?
In an FPS game, gamers get to play from the protagonist’s point of view. They are designed to make you see and do things that an actual person would in real life. The screen displays your arms and whatever weapon you choose to equip yourself with. When walking or running, the screen does a rocking motion mimicking actual human movements. You would also be able to hear your character’s breathing and footsteps. These features may seem simple, but they make the game all the more realistic.
For some reason, there is a satisfaction that playing a violent game brings. If you’re looking for an outlet to release those innate savage urges, then why don’t you get yourself an FPS game? It will give you a completely immersive experience killing enemies either with a machine gun or a sharp knife without getting in trouble in real life.
The concept of first-person shooting was introduced in 1973. But while Game War was the pioneer in FPS games, it was Wolfenstein 3D (1992) that made it widely famous. Some of the most notable FPS games include Half-Life: Counter-Strike, Doom, and Quake.
Apart from shooters, other genres also make use of the first-person perspective. For instance, there are boxing and racing games that let you play from your character’s point of view. But, let’s be honest, when it comes to first-person games, shooters are the most fun.
Today you’ll see all sorts of FPS games out on the market. You can play them via a gaming console, a PC, or other devices. But of course, you’re only interested in playing the most exciting and satisfying of them all. And this is what this article is for. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about FPS games and let you in on the best FPS games you definitely must try.
What to Look For in an FPS Game
So, if you’re on a hunt for the best FPS games, here are the things you need to look out for. These are the primary elements in an FPS game that will give you a mind-blowing experience. Don’t worry, because we’ll be sharing the best FPS games that got all these elements in the bag.
An Engaging Adventure
Perhaps the most critical component of an FPS game is how immersive it is. And how can creators achieve this? By making the player feel as if it’s genuinely them doing all the bad*ss things their avatar is doing, that is. This is not difficult to imagine if the game has nailed human gait down to a tee. The best FPS games will place you in the mindset of truly being in the game’s virtual world.
For instance, if you are playing the character of a soldier, a good FPS game will make you think and act like a real soldier. You’ll know that the game is immersive when suddenly you understand what “Oscar Mike” means, and checking corners becomes an instinct.
Fluid Movements
In gaming, nothing is more annoying than your screen freezing moments before you make the winning shot. As such, smooth gameplay is a vital aspect of an FPS game. This element is not only desirable – it is a necessity to make playing it possible.
The best FPS games make sure transitions from one movement to another are done smoothly. You shouldn’t suffer from glitches where some random character appears from nowhere and disrupts your gameplay.
Various Game Modes
The best FPS games feature a range of game modes you can choose from. Apart from the standard quests, these games will also offer other variations such as last man standing and capture the flag (more on these later). If you want an FPS game with more variety, then this feature is a must.
These game modes change the way a particular FPS game should be played. Since the mechanics are different, players have to come up with a whole new strategy to win. In Call of Duty, for instance, a particular game mode will require players to work together, instead of against each other, to wipe out the zombies.
The Weapons
Personally, this is one of the first things I look for in an FPS game. You can’t have excellent experience in slaughtering your enemies if you have lousy weapons, can you? And I’m not talking about instagibs or weapons that kill opponents in one shot. An excellent gun is one that works exactly like its original version, or even better.
The best FPS games model their weapons on actual guns and enhance their characteristics. For instance, instead of a flak cannon firing buckshot, it shoots a fatal stream of plasma.
Well-Designed Maps
The best FPS games have excellent layouts and maps that make sense. Maps help players strategize their gameplay. As such, a map design must be easy to understand. A good map must have level layouts – there can’t be broken areas or sections with a strategic advantage over others. It should also offer exciting easter eggs that are always fun to discover.
Top-Notch Graphics
Gone are the days when people have no choice but to sit through video games with poor graphics. Today, video games boast of top-tiered graphics that are so surprisingly realistic. FPS games, in particular, require nothing but the most excellent graphics to give players an immersive experience.
In an FPS game, the quality of the graphics can mean the death and survival of your character. It’s not fun dying from an attack you weren’t able to detect because the game’s graphics are bad. Also, good graphics create a more captivating experience. Isn’t it the best feeling in the world when you get to conquer your opponent AND enjoy the majestic scenery?
Appealing Multiplayer Games
It’s not enough that the FPS game offers a multiplayer option – it has to be exciting, too. After all, what’s the point of participating in a boring multiplayer game? An excellent multiplayer match must be able to satisfy the competitive urges of a gamer. But, not too much that it fosters animosity. The game should be designed such that no one player gets too much of a competitive edge.
Physics
Apart from realistic graphics, a good FPS game must also come with realistic Physics. For instance, the way a grenade bounces off the floor when you toss it will help you strategize your gameplay. Physics also plays a critical part when aiming and firing your gun. While it could be quite a challenge, it makes your game all the more authentic. Plus, it’s also fun seeing your opponent’s body being thrown a few feet away after an explosion.
Realism
Yes, we can’t stress this element enough. While games often take place in unrealistic worlds, they should still be able to mimic realistic events. It helps the game more believable to players, which makes it immersive and addicting. For instance, the US is not at war with Russia today, but Modern Warfare was able to design the game such that the conflict is genuinely believable.
Immersive Campaigns
Yes, most FPS gamers enjoy the multiplayer aspect more than the campaign itself, but it should be entertaining nonetheless. A beautifully-told story helps make the game more exciting and can hook new players into the FPS genre.
An FPS game’s campaign dictates what the multiplayer mode is going to be like, so it gives the player an idea of how to strategize. For instance, if you prefer using a machine gun during the campaign, you’re more likely to use that weapon in multiplayer mode, as well.
The game’s campaign is a reliable measure of your multiplayer readiness level. So if you’re still having a difficult time playing in campaign mode, chances are you’ll also struggle in multiplayer.
Easy Controls
While most FPS games follow the standard WSAD format, some do try a different approach. When picking an FPS game, look for one that adheres to the standard controls. Nothing could be more frustrating than a potentially good game, but whose controls are impossible to master.
Relatable Characters
Since you’ll be attached to your character throughout the game, it helps if they are relatable. An excellent way to make this possible is if the character can talk. It gives them a more likable personality – which especially desirable if you’re playing a bad guy.
Fascinating Enemies
Admittedly, this element lacks in most FPS games. Most games only feature two types of villains: a guy with a gu and a guy with an even bigger gun. If you come across a game with a more exciting enemy, it might be worth checking out.
Level of Difficulty
An FPS’ level of difficulty is also critical to enjoying the game. A game that is way too easy won’t be as rewarding as one that has just the right level of difficulty. Two factors determine a game’s difficulty level: skill floor and skill ceiling. The skill floor refers to how easy a game is the skill level needed to play a particular character effectively. The skill ceiling, on the other hand, refers to the skill necessary to master a role.
Types of FPS Games
An FPS game typically has two modes – campaign and multiplayer. In essence, the campaign mode is for single players. In campaign mode, you play through a series of levels that get harder and harder as your progress. In multiplayer mode, you participate with other gamers online in different modes that dictate the rules and objectives of the game. Whether it’s Counter-Strike, GoldenEye, Halo, Quake, or Call of Duty, all of these games offer different modes you can engage in multiplayer.
Below are the game modes the best FPS games offer.
Survival
The Survival mode is pretty straightforward. You’ve got two teams each, each having one life. To win the game, you need to kill the other group. This is an exciting game for players, but it could be a little monotonous to watch as a viewer.
Search and Destroy
The Search and Destroy mode can be best enjoyed in games like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike. The concept is also a lot like Survival mode, but here, you are given a specific goal: attacking a bomb site. Each team gets their turn to attack with the other side on the defense. Just like in Survival, each team gets one life per round.
There are several ways to win in Search and Destroy. The most obvious is to wipe out all your opponents. Another way is to either plant and detonate the bomb or defuse it. Because of the suspenseful missions, playing and watching S&D games could be incredibly exciting. S&D has become so successful that many players deem it the best game mode of all. Most Call of Duty and Counter-Strike players often only play the games in S&D mode.
Capture the Flag
This exciting game mode requires teams to grab their opponent’s flag to win the game. The fast-paced and nail-biting game is an ideal concept for eSports. It is one of the most exciting game modes for both players and spectators. Capture the Flag is best played in Halo and Quake.
Deathmatch
Deathmatch is a lot similar to survival mode, but in this case, you’re given infinite lives. But, because your only objective is to kill your opponents, deathmatches sometimes lead to stalemates. Such is a common occurrence in Call of Duty. But, for fast-paced FPS games such as Halo or Quake, deathmatches are much more exciting.
King of the Hill
This mode is best enjoyed in FPS games like Black Ops 2, Halo, and Call of Duty. It is an entertaining concept where characters are pitted against each other to the death.
What Makes FPS Games Addicting
Shooters are not the only video games that use the first-person perspective. FPS’s are not the only games that offer great graphics and violent gameplay, either. So, what is it about them that makes them so unique? Why are FPS Games specifically so addicting?
Well, according to psychologists, the combination of all these factors lead to a player being in a state called flow. Flow refers to that satisfying feeling you get when doing something enjoyable. It is like teleporting to a whole different world, and when you’re there, nothing else matters. Apart from occurring in immersive FPS games, people also feel the flow when they’re gambling, hiking, or even participating in an intense Chess match.
To achieve this state, one must be faced with tasks that match their skill level. The objective is challenging enough to make the person wholly absorbed in solving it. It is so intriguing that it inspires you to keep doing it again and again.
FPS games involve a right amount of fast-paced decision-making. The need to make a call in a matter of seconds makes these games incredibly exciting and challenging. And since these games have such realistic graphics and sound effects, it becomes so easy to get lost in it.
Apart from the first-person perspective, the shooting aspect of these games also contributes to achieving the flow. The fact that these missions are nowhere near real-life goals makes them even more fascinating than other games. This does not necessarily mean that games who enjoy FPS games are intrinsically violent. Everybody has pent-up anger and other strong emotions that they need to express – and FPS is an excellent platform to do so in a healthy manner. And while we do not need to hunt for food or shoot aliens, such interactions are wired into our brains. These adrenaline-pumping activities give us the excitement that our brains crave for.
The Best FPS Games
As we’ve earlier mentioned, there is a myriad of FPS games out there for you to try. But why waste your time and money on mediocre games that are way too boring? We’ve searched high and low, tested hundreds of games, and identified the ones that will give you the highest level of satisfaction. Trust us when we say that these games are the epitome of FPS games, and will leave you wanting more.
Our Final Thoughts
FPS games are not just a fantastic way to release your killer instincts – they also hone skills like hand-eye coordination and spatial reasoning. It’s not just a simple shooting game where you fire at every person or object to win. To be a productive player, you need smarts and skills to defeat your enemies.
So while other people consider shooters as nothing but wild games that promote violence, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give it a try. Give our list of the best FPS games a try, and you’re guaranteed to get hooked on the genre.
