First-person shooters are pretty much the reason why gaming has managed to become so massive these days. Visceral, explosive thrill-rides where you blast your way through nameless henchmen as all manner of baysplosions rain down around you while half of Iraq burns down in the process.
What began with Wolfenstein continued with Doom, Quake and Duke Nukem Forever, before evolving into high-budget fantasy simulators that dominate the charts every year. First-person shooters, ain’t going nowhere.
But which one is the best? When you take a game or a franchise and boil it down to its essence, which one stands tall over the countless others? Is it Battlefield’s gorgeous authenticity and drive for a more sobering wartime experience?
Call of Duty’s emphasis on explosive action? Titanfall’s fast-paced sense of agility and movement? Halo’s quick action and satisfying gunplay? Destiny’s even more satisfying gameplay and sense of reward? The loot ‘n shoot grind of Borderlands?
And that’s just scratching the surface. I haven’t even come up with hyperbole yet for other games in the genre, such as Rainbow Six, Counter-Strike, Far Cry, Wolfenstein and Half-Life: Opposing Forces (BEST HALF-LIFE!).
So which FPS game do you think nailed pew-pew right? Which one manages to outclass the rest? Let us know below.
Last Updated: September 25, 2015
RinceThat
September 25, 2015 at 10:32
MGSV. The shooting is first person.
HairyEwok
September 25, 2015 at 10:33
Cerl of Derty!!!!!!
RinceThat
September 25, 2015 at 10:34
Cant even see your own feet 😛
HairyEwok
September 25, 2015 at 10:35
All I need to see is peoples in my skope so I can 360 them from my tent – CoD players
RinceThat
September 25, 2015 at 10:35
camper
Grand Admiral Chief
September 25, 2015 at 10:35
I have no idea. All I know is a lot of sheep will say CoD, and I ain’t one of them
RinceThat
September 25, 2015 at 10:36
They are all the same shit. Aim, shoot, reload and discard the other 29 bullets, run for 2.5 seconds, die, respawn. Rinse repeat infinity.
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 11:09
“BUT IT’S SO REALISTIC!!”
Fall 300ft from a plane, get revived with a defibrillator. Such real. Much wow.
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 11:06
Baahhhh
Grand Admiral Chief
September 25, 2015 at 10:36
Planetside 2, just to mix it up
HairyEwok
September 25, 2015 at 10:38
oh oh and Unreal Tournament.
HairyEwok
September 25, 2015 at 10:37
Would Rocket League count as a shooter since you can shoot the ball? Ok all serious, I believe the best shooter out there at the moment not including simulator shooters is: Counter Strike: Global Offence.
Grand Admiral Chief
September 25, 2015 at 10:38
I need to get into that, I’ve been hitting CS:S hard the last month or two, just klapping achievements, but I wanna get into CS GO
Jonah Cash
September 25, 2015 at 10:38
Destiny… No games gunplay even comes close for me! It has made me not finish some games…
AfricanTime
September 25, 2015 at 10:47
no way, core gunplay yes for sure, but pointless if the level design is poor.
Jonah Cash
September 25, 2015 at 10:49
But the level design isn’t poor… The Crucible is fair and challenging and leaves a lot of room to play the way you want and to still not die every 5 seconds.
AfricanTime
September 25, 2015 at 10:59
you right it is not poor, it is non-existent, the stages in the story mission and alot of the strikes are just constant horde modes, no innovation between levels.
Grand Admiral Chief
September 25, 2015 at 10:39
Bulletstorm, because sommer!
Splooshypooh
September 25, 2015 at 10:41
Borderlands and the original Half Life are always installed and ready to go on my setup 🙂
(Umar) Must be Cipher
September 25, 2015 at 10:42
Destiny. Not even ashamed to say it. I’m not a massive Destiny fan but I can say without a doubt, Destiny has the most tightest mechanics RIGHT NOW on the market. The shooting is fun and responsive and the choices you have when it comes to abilities and loadout make it even more enjoyable. SOOOOOOOOOO Destiny is still a badly designed game, but it’s fun as hell. So eh.
Jonah Cash
September 25, 2015 at 10:48
Jip. Gunplay in Destiny is fair and absolutely brilliant. Even when you are in the Crucible and the other guy sees you first you still have a chance to turn and kill him. It is all about who actually hits the other player the most. Played the new COD’s beta and if you don’t see the other guy you are toast, you have absolutely no chance of gunning him down if he has already landed only 1 bullet. So COD to me is more about luck of the draw rather than aiming to hit someone…
(Umar) Must be Cipher
September 25, 2015 at 10:50
The dynamic of gunfights in Destiny is really really good and is a huge highlight of the game. It feels ‘strategic’ even if I use that term a bit loosely lol Destiny’s gameplay is top notch. I still don’t like how the game is designed though, but I understand the appeal
Jonah Cash
September 25, 2015 at 10:53
I love it still to this day. That pissed me off quite a bit with the House of Wolves expansion, but as soon as I figured out how to level up on my own again I was fine…
I tried the new raid with semi-strangers and I wanted to eat my own arm off! I wanted to quit so badly but that is just not who I am. So I stuck it out till they decided enough was enough. I enjoy playing on my own and as long as I am aloud to level up on my own then i am more than happy to buy the expansion packs for the next 8 years
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 25, 2015 at 10:44
Quake.
Raptor Rants
September 25, 2015 at 10:44
The best shooter in recent memory….. Metro Last Light.
Raptor Rants
September 25, 2015 at 10:45
However the best of all time? Unreal Tournament 2004
Grand Admiral Chief
September 25, 2015 at 10:54
Did you hear, they are re-releasing that as UT2007
Raptor Rants
September 25, 2015 at 11:23
really?
Grand Admiral Chief
September 25, 2015 at 11:23
Yes, two thousand, AND SEVEN
Raptor Rants
September 25, 2015 at 13:58
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Kromas untamed
September 25, 2015 at 10:48
I would be HALF right if I said there is one fps that touched my LIFE.
HvR
September 25, 2015 at 10:50
Wish I could give you 3 upvotes
Kromas untamed
September 25, 2015 at 10:52
Yeah too bad upvotes stop at 2 for some reason. 😛
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 11:11
If it’s a console title you could always just remaster your old vote.
HvR
September 25, 2015 at 11:12
For now I will tease with possibility of a backwards compatible upvote
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 11:13
XD
Brady miaau
September 25, 2015 at 14:22
Now. That was beyond funny. Seriously. Nice one.
AND, take your PC and get in the sea, right? My console is great and I want my remasters of Dragon Age Origins, Alight?
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 15:08
I seriously missed something somewhere. Did the internet break?
Jonah Cash
September 25, 2015 at 10:50
So you view LIFE as a glass HALF full?
Kromas untamed
September 25, 2015 at 10:52
Well I don’t believe that the world is DOOMed. 😛
Grand Admiral Chief
September 25, 2015 at 10:53
I’m Quakin’ in my pants
Jonah Cash
September 25, 2015 at 10:55
Would you say that it is your DESTINY to answer your CALL OF DUTY from the Government to enroll in the army to go to the BATTLEFIELD in the Congo where our troops are being sent home for drinking on the job?
Kromas untamed
September 25, 2015 at 10:56
That would make me RAGE.
Jonah Cash
September 25, 2015 at 10:58
At least Omar al-Bashir isn’t in the country so that his troops would have to surround ours in a BULLETSTORM for him to return safely home.
Kromas untamed
September 25, 2015 at 11:00
Yeah we need to kick all the illegal ALIENS out with PREDATOR drones.
HvR
September 25, 2015 at 11:15
Do no forget about the HERETICs they might mount a COUNTERSTRIKE
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 11:10
Oh wow.
I don’t even know where to begin guessing.
(Umar) Must be Cipher
September 25, 2015 at 10:52
Grand Admiral Chief
September 25, 2015 at 10:54
HAHAHAHA 7 REASONS WHY
Did Llew do the article?
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 10:57
I wanted to say:
“Shooter? Can I drink it?”
But you can. So uhm. Yea.
HairyEwok
September 25, 2015 at 10:58
Just….. ugh good thing it’s Friday.
Kromas untamed
September 25, 2015 at 10:58
Best FPS in recent times for me would be Wolf:The new order.
Old blood was a bit meh.
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 10:58
PayDay2 for me.
It’s like Hardline. Only more original, older, and fun.
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 11:02
If we’re talking any FPS, and not necessarily competitive online, then there are way more options out there. And the original FEAR stands out for me, along with the original Deus Ex.
Co-op FPS is Left for Dead (1 & 2), PayDay2 and Rainbow Six Vegas (1 & 2)
I don’t really play run&gun MP shooters though, but I’ve spent the most hours on Insurgency, so that’ll probably be my pick.
Not much on the market today that stands out.
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 11:04
Oh wait, also Splinter Cell and Sniper Elite for cop-op.
Ryanza
September 25, 2015 at 11:03
The last shooter I recall that was so much fun was Rage. The Ak and shotgun was so much fun.
Bioshock 1 and 3rd was fun too.
Nothing since Rage has stood out. I am hoping that CDPR can make a good shooting game. Cyberpunk, guns and CDPR, it should be good.
Best first person shooter? They all the same, just some are less fun to play.
Don’t Support DRM. Cyberpunk 2077 is coming.
Pariah
September 25, 2015 at 11:08
I’m actually really glad to see I’m not the only one who enjoyed Rage a lot. Best? No. But fun and enjoyable? Definitely!
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 11:09
It’s on my wishlist. I’ve heard a few people on here say it’s good. So I’m curious now.
AfricanTime
September 25, 2015 at 11:11
yeah cyberpunk is looking good.
hey wasnt the world suppose to end or something on Wednesday?
Ryanza
September 25, 2015 at 11:25
I didn’t say the world was going to end. I just said 23rd of September was coming. Now it passed. lol.
I did say that stocks would be down.
Pariah
September 25, 2015 at 11:16
Best for me? That’s hard to say. Borderlands is always great fun for its zany mechanics and frantic, fun-filled run n gun n loot style. The story is pretty boss too.
But Far Cry 3 gave me many hours of satisfying FPS action and a huge environment to go play in.
And then there’s the ever immortal Q3 which remains probably my most played FPS ever. I’m really excited for the new Doom coming out too – looks like everything I’ve ever wanted in a Doom game and more. So, it’s hard.
But then, people enjoy CoD and Battlefield and CS:GO which don’t interest me at all. So “best” is one of the most subjective things you could have asked.
Next time, try asking which is better, PC or console. Because there’s only 1 right answer. And it’s Team Green (no, not that One)! trolololol
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 11:33
Oh yea. FarCry3. Forgot about that one. Many many hours of fun.
Blood Dragon was also an epic game, though quite short.
Pariah
September 25, 2015 at 11:41
Not entirely sure I personally classify expansions as a separate game, but I’ll accept that. XD
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 25, 2015 at 15:08
True. It was just a neon expansion, but it sure was fun.
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 25, 2015 at 11:43
Arma 3 by a very very large margin
Pieter Kruger
September 25, 2015 at 11:54
BF4
Heckers
September 25, 2015 at 11:59
Quake, Half Life 2, Team Fortress 2, Metro are some of the most fun and memorable FPS games i have played.
Brady miaau
September 25, 2015 at 13:07
Why is Counter Strike still in the Steam current top sales list?
Surely, it is the best then?
RedRover
September 28, 2015 at 11:26
Cos of the gambling