When talking video games, first-person shooters are often the first genre that comes to mind. While many unfamiliar with gaming reduce the genre to gluttonous violence, these titles bring more to the table — immersion, fast-paced gameplay, rich storylines, high-stakes missions, co-op capabilities, and mindblowing graphics, among other elements.

While the 1990s beget some of the genre’s best releases, some seriously unforgettable indies and blockbuster AAAs have hit consoles and computers in the last quarter-century. Here are some of our faves in no particular order.

Battlefield 1942 (2002)

Though 1942 isn’t the first in the Battlefield franchise, it highlighted co-op gameplay more than previous releases. Once gamers aligned with the Axis or Allies, they could join friends using a local network or storm Omaha Beach with strangers using online multiplayer. Battlefield 1942 was a commercial and critical hit, contributing to widespread interest in the franchise as a whole.

Left 4 Dead 2 (2009)

Battle boomers (no, not that kind of “boomer”) and other infected baddies in this zombie FPS title from the late aughts. Collaborate with other Survivors, collect equipment, creep, climb, coordinate attacks, and call for rescue. Complete your campaign unscathed; don’t compromise your party by getting infected!

Star Wars: Battlefront II (2017)

Controversies aside, this reboot incorporates toggleable perspectives, allowing gamers to switch between first-person and third-person gameplay seamlessly. Gorgeous graphics alongside true-to-IP characters, weapons, maps, and vehicles put Star Wars fans in the heart of it all. Battlefront II aligns with the Skywalker saga, which means old-school fans of the franchise can hop in and not worry about any niche canonical developments they’ve missed.

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Superhot (2016)

Nearly a decade after its release, Superhot remains among the most visually stunning first-person shooters ever. Players control an unidentified character as they outsmart, outrun, and outgun bright-red, low-poly baddies in a minimalistic, sterile environment. Your objective? Make it out. No health packs, no loot, no frills. Get in and get out because just one hit means you’re a goner!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

Longtime COD franchise fans would agree that, despite some controversial gameplay, the 2009 release is the best of the bunch. In this true sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, players control members of special forces unit Task Force 141 as they work to take down Russian Ultranationalist party figurehead Vladimir Makarov. The game’s expanded multiplayer modes, realistic gameplay, and narrative-rich campaign have kept it a lock on countless “Best Of” lists.

Post Void (2020)

In Post Void, players blitz through visually disorienting stages, downing grotesque enemies in an effort to make it out unscathed. The pixelated, analog horror-style imagery and distressing soundtrack evoke a sense of urgency. Gamers’ priority should be getting out alive — everything else is just gravy. Keep a keen eye on that head in your hands; vigilantly monitor your health, or you’ll be back to the start before you know it.

Doom Eternal (2020)

Gory, gruesome, and hellish manmade horrors beyond your comprehension  — check, check, and check. Eternal ticks every box on the list of Doom installment requirements. The sci-fi FPS franchise has come a long way since its MS-DOS salad days, but Eternal stays true to its roots. Lead space marine Doom Slayer (affectionately referred to as “Doomguy”) through nightmarish stages as you battle, batter, and blow up baddies.

Half-Life 2 (2004)

Half-Life 2 cemented Valve (yes, that Valve) and creator Gabe Newell’s spot in the zeitgeist. In this revolutionary FPS, take control of newly-awakened physicist Gordon Freeman as he comes to. The game is old enough to drink in the States, but its envelope-pushing physics and narrative elements keep it feeling fresh. Half-Life 2 is available on Valve’s digital video game distribution service, Steam, for just $10.

Counter-Strike 2 (2023)

An upgrade to its predecessor, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, is heralded by fans and critics as a bastion of the first-person shooter genre. The game stays true to the IP, offering the same beloved 5v5 gameplay fans crave. But new additions — a global ranking system, updated visuals, weapon mechanics, and map facelifts, among other enhancements — kick it up a notch. Competitive gamers champion the title as one of the most exciting cooperative FPS.

I Am Your Beast (2024)

Comic book lovers will feel like they’re hopping into a panel in I Am Your Beast, where they take control of retired secret agent Alphonse Harding and combat the United States’ military-industrial complex. Stunning visuals, simplified story, non-committal — FPS fans can tackle this recent release at their own rate, a refreshing change of pace from the seemingly endless campaigns and side quests of many modern releases.

Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014)

Take down the Nazi regime as rough-and-tumble American patriot BJ Blazcowicz. Create and upgrade weaponry, discover perks and new weapons, and develop your playstyle. Whether you’d like to quietly sneak to a castle’s highest floor or blast through enemy walls, the choice is entirely up to you. These “choose-your-own-adventure” elements make replayability another wonderful attribute of The New Order.

Metroid Prime (2002)

Chozo, Space Pirates, Phazon — oh, my! Prime is the fifth game in Nintendo’s Metroid franchise, but it’s the first installment to incorporate three-dimensional graphics and a first-person perspective. Join sci-fi heroine Samus Aran and her famous Phazon Suit as you morph, zap, teleport, grapple, and beam your way to victory. Utilize newly-acquired abilities to take down the franchise’s draconic antagonist, Ridley, and other extraterrestrial threats.

BioShock (2007)

Bioshock introduced us to Rapture, a once bustling underwater 1940s utopia turned nightmarish hellscape. You gun and run your way through the sprawling facilities, stopping occasionally to marvel at the ocean life (at least I did) and bump into some formidable enemies. This first venture was such a hit that it spawned two more installments worth visiting next.

DUSK (2020)

This haunting Lovecraftian shooter puts players right in the rural and offputting town of Dusk, Pennsylvania. DUSK, a retro-inspired “run and gun” reminiscent of early Doom titles, leads players through incessant and militant enemies as they uncover sinister and supernatural activity beneath the Earth’s surface. First-person perspective adds a “found film” feeling akin to unsettling cinematic horrors like Cloverfield.

Robo Recall (2017)

Talk about immersive! This revolutionary first-person shooter hit Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest systems in 2017. You’re not controlling your player character — you ARE your player character. Secure that headset and take down tech henchmen. Gripping graphics, killer soundtrack, and high-octane gameplay put players in the center of it all. Hear that behind you? Turn quick and take ’em down, thanks to immersive spatial audio that gives gamers a tactical edge over their enemies.

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