Shooting games are all about accuracy, aggression, alertness and of course, the adrenaline rush. First Person Shooters (FPS) are set across time periods throughout history and span warzones across the world, and more importantly, they make for unforgettable video gaming experiences.
As one of the most beloved gaming genres, it is certainly not an easy task to choose from the plethora of shooting games at one’s disposal. These have inspired other forms of art, including books and movies, and without further ado, here are the best shooting games to add to your to-play list.
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- Battlefield 3
An unforgettable, world-class multiplayer experience set Battlefield 3 apart from its predecessors and also to some extent, from its successors. Despite the solo campaign being criticized for its sub-par mechanics, the multiplayer experience truly made it stand out among its counterparts. Its soundtracks and cutting-edge graphics developed by EA and DICE delivered a combat experience that tussled with Call of Duty for the highest accolades. The game also offered a healthy dose of gun customization and different classes to experiment from. As The Guardian put it: “Do we praise the game for its incredible multiplayer or mark it down for its woeful campaign?”
Platforms: Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
- Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Although not every die-hard Counter Strike fan would have started playing with Global Offensive, with Source and Condition Zero paving way for the next generation of games, this is a game that has literally changed the face of first-person shooter games. Not a newbie’s best juncture to start off with, Global Offensive takes multiplayer fun to the next level with its leaderboards and extremely engaging level design. There are few games that take in old game mechanics and turn it into a special modern platform, which is exactly what the developers have done, thanks to regular CS:GO updates.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Rainbow Six Siege
Rainbow Six Siege emerged as one of the most hyped-up games of 2015. However, since its release, it has gone from strength to strength and especially with its disposition as one of the best esports game of the modern era, it is undoubtedly one of the best shooting games to play. Unpredictability is the name of the game that makes it extremely engaging, as one cannot predict what the next round will offer. It’s all about teamwork and individual decision making that sets the players apart in this enthralling and cut-throat shooting title. Ubisoft Montreal has made it their motto to serve the players of the game with new seasons and constant content that doesn’t go for a miss.
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Left 4 Dead Series
Although Left 4 Dead will feel outdated with the other entries in an age full of next generation graphics and mesmerizing storylines, there is something about playing old school horror flicks that makes one’s hair stand on end. The shooter survival horror video game series is set during a pandemic outbreak of a viral strain that turns people in zombies. Valve did an exceptional job allowing the brain-less monsters to crawl up over walls, leap across gaps and arrive in waves to offer players a jittery gaming experience. It proved to be an instant hit among shooting games’ fans, with reputed gaming website platform Eurogamer considering the game ‘overflowing with personality’. After all, what’s more fun that blasting away useless creatures with a shotgun to their torsos.
Platforms: Windows, macOS X, Linux, Xbox 360
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Series
Arguably among the best-ever first-person shooter titles in history, Call of Duty’s Modern Warfare series proved to be a blueprint for excellent single-player game experiences like never before. The initial World War era games proved to be a hit, but Modern Warfare added something in the mix that developers rarely did before – an instantaneous progression system, exquisite level design, the ‘loadouts’ concept and a mix of never-seen-before ammunition that got gamers jumping around. It proved to be so amazing that Activision remastered the sub-series for the next generation of consoles to cater to the demands of long time fans of the game.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Most of the aforementioned games have proven to be great hits in the esports genre, bringing in together spectators and gamers from around the world to engage as one in the adrenaline rush of the genre. If shooting games or esports aren’t your thing, then head over to VegasSlotsOnline to engage in online slots and casinos to fulfill your need to play. Essentially, they do provide the adrenaline rush that comes with playing shooting games. The only difference here being is that you shoot your shot with slots! These online casinos offer up an arsenal of games to delve oneself into – thousands of them to be precise. Players, whether old or new, can benefit from a wide variety of rewards and bonuses such as free bets, cash backs, accumulator schemes and loyalty points.
Shooting games are without a doubt one of gamers’ most favorite genres to play and there are certainly way more titles than the ones mentioned above for one to engage in. Few other honorable mentions go to Halo, Doom, Half Life 2, Valorant, Titanfall 2, Overwatch, Deus Ex, Metro: Last Light and the Wolfenstein series.