GamesFPS10 FPS games that left the rest of the genre scrambling to keep upWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesFPS10 FPS games that left the rest of the genre scrambling to keep upWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Valve)
What we can nail down are its punctuation points, the moments when one FPS game has fundamentally altered the rules for what the genre can and can’t be. Grab a coffee, flick off the safety catch, and join us over the page for an explosive celebration.
10. Doom
(Image credit: id Software)
Subscribe to Play Magazine(Image credit: Future, Focus Entertainment)This feature originally appeared in Play Magazine. For more great features, interviews, and more delivered to your digital device or doorstep,subscribe to Play Magazine.
Subscribe to Play Magazine
(Image credit: Future, Focus Entertainment)This feature originally appeared in Play Magazine. For more great features, interviews, and more delivered to your digital device or doorstep,subscribe to Play Magazine.
(Image credit: Future, Focus Entertainment)
This feature originally appeared in Play Magazine. For more great features, interviews, and more delivered to your digital device or doorstep,subscribe to Play Magazine.
Publisher: Bethesda SoftworksDeveloper: ID SoftwareReleased: 1993
9. Medal of Honor
(Image credit: EA)
Publisher: EADeveloper: Dreamworks InteractiveReleased: 1999
It’s hard to imagine a time when the DualShock controller was an innovation, and not every PlayStation owner had access to two thumbsticks. It’s even harder to go back and play an FPS which straddled that period, and suffered as a result of those limitations. Holding down a shoulder button to steer your rifle? It’s hardly the stuff Saving Private Ryan was made of. Yet other parts of Medal of Honor, like its undercover sequences and mournful score, shaped the tone of war shooters for decades to come. And it left the PlayStation audience hungry for more PC-style first-person action.
8. Borderlands
(Image credit: 2K)
Publisher: 2KDeveloper:GearboxSoftwareReleased: 2009
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Bungiehas Gearbox to thank for laying down the blueprint for the loot-shooter long before Destiny took its haphazard route to the top of the pile. Strange as it is to imagine now, nobody had ever successfully applied the RPG levelling and random number generation of Diablo to a different genre before. The four co-op player roles in Borderlands mapped roughly to traditional D&D party positions (tank, berserker, ranger, mage) but now benefitted from the immediacy and unpredictability of first-person action. The format might be a little tired today, having been copied in The Division, Warframe, and Outriders, to name but a few. But that moreish loop cannot be denied
7. Titanfall 2
(Image credit: Respawn)
Publisher: EADeveloper: RespawnReleased: 2016
6. Half-Life 2
(Image credit: Valve)
Publisher:ValveDeveloper: ValveReleased: 2007
5. Doom (2016)
(Image credit: Bethesda)
Publisher: Bethesda SoftworksDeveloper: Id SoftwareReleased: 2016
Rather than hanging back and ducking behind cover, as they had been doing since Halo and Call of Duty introduced recharging health, players were suddenly encouraged to fire forwards when under pressure, exploding an opponent in exchange for a shower of health pickups. What’s more, the glory kill formed just part of a deadly dance that fans of Doom’s 2016 reboot and recent sequel have come to adore. Id built single-player arenas that resembled the flowing multiplayer maps of Quake 3, and taught you a cardinal rule – that to stand still was to embrace death. The Doom Slayer circled his opponents like a shark, double jumping and dashing out from under incoming rockets in order to take the upper hand. Along with Titanfall, Doom inspired a new focus on movement in the FPS genre that has continued to this day, and is evident in everything from Apex Legends to indie hits like Neon White and Ghostrunner.
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
(Image credit: Activision)
Publisher:ActivisionDeveloper: Infinity WardReleased: 2007
The early COD games went in for spectacle, but Modern Warfare was something else: the invention of full-on first-person cinema. The sell was a little like Cyberpunk’s braindancing: the forbidden pleasure of occupying perspectives in the most extreme circumstances imaginable. Where else could you be executed in front of a TV audience, or crash-land at the epicentre of a nuclear blast, then walk away for a cup of tea afterwards? Modern Warfare’s story defined the tightly-controlled pace of the FPS going forwards; if you’ve played any Call Of Duty campaign in the past decade, then you know exactly how big Infinity Ward’s footprint is.
3. Far Cry 2
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Publisher:UbisoftDeveloper: Ubisoft MontrealReleased: 2008
2. Overwatch
(Image credit: Blizzard)
Publisher:Blizzard EntertainmentDeveloper: Blizzard EntertainmentReleased: 2016
Team Fortress 2 did the cartoony team shooter thing first, but Blizzard’s masterstroke was to pull over the MOBA’s focus on individuals and ultimates. Every character in Overwatch is a planet unto themself, with a unique set of skills to master, a fleshed-out backstory, and a complementary role to play on the field alongside their counterparts. It’s a world away from the interchangeable skins and avatars that populated the multiplayer shooters of yore – and a setup that opened the door for much better and broader representation in a genre that had always centred on gruff white blokes
1. PUBG: Battlegrounds
(Image credit: PUBG Corporation)
Publisher: KraftonDeveloper: PUBG StudiosReleased: 2018
Warzone couldn’t have pulled us collectively through lockdown if PUBG hadn’t already set the template for the FPS as battle royale. It’s janky, but it’s all here: the parachute jump with 99 other players; the encroaching circle; the too-quiet ghost towns that promise both the possibility of life-saving gear and life-ending enemy encounters. The genius was to bottle the survival horror of DayZ in a format that always produced a climax, ending on a dramatic high that capitalised on all that tension rather than letting it dissipate into nothing. If there’s a more compelling shape for multiplayer shooting, we’ve yet to see it.
This feature originally appeared in Play Magazine. For more great features, interviews, and more,subscribe to Play Magazine.
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Master Chief’s absence from Halo Wars wasn’t Bungie’s fault, it was a move to make players “care about everybody else” in the RTSA year on, The Finals is still the most exciting new FPS out there - here’s why
Master Chief’s absence from Halo Wars wasn’t Bungie’s fault, it was a move to make players “care about everybody else” in the RTS
Master Chief’s absence from Halo Wars wasn’t Bungie’s fault, it was a move to make players “care about everybody else” in the RTS
A year on, The Finals is still the most exciting new FPS out there - here’s why
A year on, The Finals is still the most exciting new FPS out there - here’s why
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I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty
I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty
I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”