The shooter genre has become one of the most popular games in the gaming world, with countless great franchises that are often icons recognized in all forms of entertainment. Be it Call of Duty, Battlefield, Halo, Doom, Quake, Counter-Strike, the list goes on and on. I have chosen five games that highlight the best of the shooter scene, with each chosen with their current accessibility and overall genius in mind.
Not to be missed:
5. Super hot
In a world dominated by arena shooters and fast-paced multiplayer offerings, Superhot is the flashy and truly eye-catching alternative. This game is all about completing a level without getting hit. It is a bullet hell where you have to physically avoid slow incoming rounds, while acquiring weapons to fight back and eliminate threats in a seamless and truly streamlined manner that effortlessly makes the player feel like a modern action movie star. This is one of the best examples of FPS gameplay, and it is also the epitome of what virtual reality can and should be when played in that format as well.
4. Eternal doom
To be honest, you could easily stick Doom (2016) or Doom Eternal on this list and they would fit right in. The folks at id Software have been masters of shooters for decades, and Doom Eternal is just the latest chapter in that story. It is hardcore and action-packed, hugely entertaining, challenging, violent and exciting. It is everything you want from an FPS experience and proves once again that id – whether they are working on Doom, Quake, Rage or even Wolfenstein earlier – are one of the best in the business.
3. Halo: the Master Chief collection
It says a lot about the state of Halo as a franchise that The Master Chief Collection makes this list more than Infinite, but that’s really for a couple of reasons. First, this is a behemoth of a video game that will entertain for hours and hours, and second, it’s because the content is the best Halo has ever delivered. Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, these are all iconic games that cemented Bungie as one of the greats, all before it left the sci-fi series and focused its efforts on Destiny. There is no better way to enjoy Halo.
2. Golden Eye 007
The recent re-release is the reason GoldenEye 007 makes this list. One of the most iconic shooters of all time, not only for its genius and excellent mechanics, but also for the profound impact it had on the shooter space in the console department over the next few years. Friendships were forged and shattered in this game, all at a time when online gaming was only a dream. Perfect Dark may have beaten it when it comes to refined technical detail, but GoldenEye 007 remains a shining example of shooters at their best.
Honorable mention: Borderlands 2
Perhaps this is my undying love for Gearbox’s sequel that has caused me to post it here as an honorable mention, but regardless of whether that’s the case or not, you can’t deny that Borderlands 2 is one of the best shooters ever, and perhaps the best looter-shooter of all time. It’s hilarious, effortlessly fun, complex and deep, backed with a huge amount of content and perfect for solo players and groups of friends alike. It is still the highlight of the Borderlands series.
Although there have been great Call of Duty titles, being an annual franchise, I have chosen not to select games in the series in favor of selecting more timeless alternatives.
Similarly, while Destiny 2 is a great example of a great shooter, the live aspect and the many years of content that has been and passed means that I have decided to avoid that game here as well in favor of projects that you can still experience in their entirety.
1. Counterattack 2
You couldn’t have a shooter list without mentioning what is arguably the king of the genre. The best example of a competitive shooter title, Valve ‘s Counter-Strike 2 continues to impress as the gold standard of the shooter genre. If anything, this praise is focused more on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but that game was recently phased out in favor of CS2, so the pure sequel gets the spot instead. Either way, for a free game you won’t find many better options today.