What characteristics make a good shooter? Punchy phrases or terms like “gun feel” or “kit modification” might be used as immediate responses. Even still, it’s difficult to put into words the satisfaction that comes from earning that desired win in ranked multiplayer or making it through a single-player horde mode attack that seems to never stop. A excellent shooter often has a wide variety of alluring elements, such as a riveting atmosphere, well balanced weapons, and fun battlefields. The aforementioned elements often work well with refined gameplay, grand storytelling, and new or better mechanisms, regardless of the game’s format (for example, FPS, third-person, or top-down). The 10 games on this list are definitely worth your time and attention if you like running through complex areas and dispatching enemies with finesse and strategy.
Halo Infinite
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
For one of the greatest brands in the genre, Halo Infinite marks a return to form. The game returns to the fundamentals of gameplay and storyline that made old Halo successful, but it ups the ante with a reimagined campaign. The stunning ringworld of Zeta Halo provides a semi-open playground where players are free to seize Banished-controlled outposts, seek rewards, operate vehicles, and swing about utilizing a cool new grappling hook. With prior games’ unpopular elements removed, multiplayer is more enjoyable than it has been in years. It also gives Halo fans the competitive experience that first hooked them. Halo Infinite has been positioned by 343 Industries as the franchise’s model for the next ten years. If so, the future seems more promising than ever.
Splitgate
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Until it started to acquire momentum as a result of 10 million open beta downloads, Splitgate was mostly unknown. A real-life Cinderella tale is the revitalized Halo-Portal hybrid. In the comparatively secure environment of a Stanford University dorm room, developer 1047 Games started its slow ascent to fame. Back in 2019, when we first chatted and played with Ian Proulx, he told us he wanted to make a game that was easy to learn yet challenging to master. Even now, three years later, elite esports athletes and regular gamers alike are drawn to Splitgate’s intricate gameplay and retro appearance. In light of 1047’s earlier choice to prolong Splitgate’s open beta phase indefinitely, Season 0 was just recently revealed at Gamescom. Expect the entire launch of the game to occur when the backend is resolved.
Returnal
PlayStation 5
Returnal is a never-ending nightmare that’s a delight to play, as our very own Dan Tack so eloquently described it. Housemarque’s first third-person shooter, a sci-fi horror roguelike, is dripping with unsettling suspense. Atropos, a stormy, psychedelic planet, is home to twisted animals, old structures, and serpentine vegetation. You are Selene, an alien traveler stranded on a perilous planet. You’ll travel through harsh woods and wastelands with a variety of weapons and skills as you explore Atropos’ many locations to learn the full significance of Selene’s recurring dream and the astronaut who haunts her deepest thoughts. Death in Returnal is a rebirth. What will you do with each new life?
Titanfall 2
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Fans of Modern Warfare liked the initial Titanfall’s unusually quick gunplay, which included wall-running, sliding, and rappelling. The single-player narrative mode in Titanfall 2 expanded on the original game’s unfinished beats. You’ll play the role of rebel amateur pilot Cooper as he battles the militaristic IMC army with his stolid titan B.T. On the multiplayer front, a variety of new weapons and throwables added additional PVP playstyles that catered to different skill levels. A loyal player community exists for the beloved game Titanfall 2. Its unrivaled gaming atmosphere and massive titan-destroying sights are still felt and remembered today. The next book on this list provides an excellent example of how this works.
Apex Legends
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Apex Legends may not have been the Titanfall 3 experience that fans were hoping for, but it boldly wears the history of the franchise on its sleeve. Apex is no pushover among the several battle royales that have been vying for Twitch domination. The well-liked Shooter is now in a class of its own because to its 18 legends, ongoing event and aesthetic upgrades, smooth physics, and precise gunplay. In addition, ground-breaking gameplay elements like the ping system and the respawn beacon have affected both contemporary and classic games in the genre. With new characters and intricate map adjustments, Apex Legends is still popular in its ninth season. The large-scale action is reduced to frantic 3v3 bite-sized duels in a new game mode dubbed Arenas, reflecting the aspirations of the game’s creative director Chad Grenier to move beyond the battle royale model.
Call of Duty: Warzone
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Sure, Plunder, a cash-hoarding game mode with quick respawns, is a wonderful addition to Warzone, but the battle royale experience truly steals the show. Simply, Warzone is larger than its competitors. Despite the vast areas, you can expect long periods of combat because of the 150 players each battle (and sometimes even 200), death-defying tactics such as Gulag duels and buyable respawns, and in-game side goals like bounties. You may enter the battlefield with or without a committed squad at any time thanks to a variety of player-count playlists, including Solos, Duos, Trios, and Quads. Content rollouts, like the other live-service shooters on this list, are likely to keep you seated for hundreds of hours more.
Doom Eternal
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC
Master Chief and Doom Slayer (or Doomguy) are essentially interchangeable. save that the former enjoys dissecting demons and taking baths in their organs. We adored the no-holds-barred, close-quarters fighting in Doom Eternal, where shotgun blasts reveal rib cages and chainsaws physically sever enemies into blood-stained pieces. The action is paced in progressively frenzied ways by the overwhelming opponent numbers; to escape annoying congestion or death, you must constantly rotate across each arena. Not to be overlooked is the thrilling music. Mick Gordon’s “ancient, alien” heavy metal soundtrack links the whole high-octane experience together with haunting guitar riffs and emotive basslines that mirror Doomguy’s irregular pulse. Moreover, Doom Eternal has been enhanced for use with next-generation platforms.
Destiny 2
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC
Is Bungie perfect? Destiny 2 surpasses the accomplishments of its predecessor. The live-service blockbuster’s astonishing amount of expansions makes it eternally replayable, and its complex mythology is just the surface of its main narrative. You’ll travel across space as a Hunter, Warlock, or Titan to battle an evil power that is as ancient as the cosmos itself. You have access to hundreds of weapons, and missions with a high level of difficulty or at darkness may provide you access to powerful equipment. So let’s focus on raids for the moment, which are Destiny’s classic cooperative PVE format. Raids put your mechanical, verbal, and logical thinking abilities to the test. Behind every roadblock and apparently minor firefight, failure lurks. A new era for the loot-shooter is expected to start with the enigmatic Lightfall expansion, which is scheduled for release in 2022.
Rainbow Six Siege
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
The most recent Rainbow Six game is an ode to meticulous first-person shooter games like Counter-Strike and SOCOM. The excitement of each match is increased with claustrophobic terrain filled with murder holes, terrible time-to-kill ratios, and logical sound effects. Certainly, you may charge headlong into a defensive point in Siege like it’s your typical fast shooter, but holding angles and unrelenting patience are the keys to consistently winning. The metagame is continuously changing due to the ever-expanding pool of playable operators, each of whom is furnished with a set of favorite weapons and ability kits. Siege may not be for you, however, if you like the frantic firefights of Warzone or Apex. Despite so, it continues to be one of the most reliable competitive shooters available. The alien-infested narrative mode Extraction, which will be released in 2022, is expected to have the same mechanical polish as its predecessor.
Half-Life: Alyx
PC
It is impossible to ignore Alyx Vance and her alien-infested mission. The Half-Life 2 prologue demonstrated the promise of VR technology. Realistic activities like dodging oncoming bullets and other hazardous projectiles, reloading, and interacting with surrounding elements helped to build immersion in a level that a gamepad or mouse and keyboard can’t match. Half-Life: Alyx is one of the most exclusive titles on our list since it can only be played with VR gear. But, Valve’s renewed dedication to its most cherished brand might portend the release of further Half-Life titles. It won’t be long until the mysterious G-Man returns to our screens.
What games on this list do you enjoy? If this list is not enough, we would like to introduce you to other popular games from various genres: Fire Emblem Engage, Forspoken, Dead Space, Redactle, Hogwarts Legacy.
