First-Person Shooter (FPS) games are a legendary and classic genre that has been in the gaming industry for almost 50 years, and every year FPS games get better and better, without fail. There's a reason why gamers love FPS games, it's not only because they are wildly entertaining. But because FPS games have been critical in progressing technology, and pushing consoles to their absolute limit. Who's to say that gaming would be where it is today if it weren't for FPS games?
FPS has some of the most popular games on the market, with both great in-depth story modes and the most iconic boss battles the gaming community has ever seen. One of the reasons FPS games are so popular is because it pairs so well with the multiplayer feature, where players can connect and socialize with friends. Over the years, FPS games have blessed us with some classic titles, but only a few can be considered best of the best.
10 Overwatch Has A Metacritic Score Of 91
Overwatch is a team-based FPS game that was created by Blizzard Entertainment in 2016. It quickly became a hit among gamers, with a variety of characters that were all diverse. Each character has unique roles and abilities that play an important factor in gameplay. For example, each team consists of 6 players, and it's recommended to have a combination of damage dealers, supporting players, and healers, that can help your team win.
One of the downfalls is that it doesn't have a story mode. Overwatch is strictly a team-based multiplayer game, where players have to team up and battle other teams. Although the multiplayer feature is the best part of the game, without a story mode, players can't experience their favorite character's full story.
9 Star Wars Jedi Knights: Dark Forces II Has A Metacritic Score Of 91
It's odd seeing a Star Wars brand not directly associated with Luke, Leia, or Darth Vader in some fashion, but they are out there. And Star Wars Jedi Knights: Dark Forces II is one of them, the main character is Kyle Katarn, a Han Solo type of guy, who somehow gets involved with the force, and becomes a Jedi.
Kyle is different from other Jedi because he uses both sides of the force to defeat his foes. While Kyle's story is very deep and captivating, the gameplay is phenomenal and a classic among FPS Games.
8 Medal Of Honor Has A Metacritic Score Of 92
Medal of Honor is one of the best World War II games out there not just because of its awesome gameplay, but because of how historically accurate it is. The player gets to experience some of the most important battles in WW2, like the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach. And for a game that came out on the original PlayStation, it did a great job at capturing the horrors of war, in a realistic fashion.
A fun fact about the game, if the above image resembles Saving Private Ryan, that's no coincidence. Medal of Honor was inspired by the film. Some of its most iconic scenes can actually be played in the game.
7 Killzone 2 Has A Metacritic Score Of 92
You can't have the best FPS list without Killzone 2, it's considered to be a cult classic among gamers. The gameplay is so raw, gritty, and realistic that the player can feel the game through the controller.
In all honesty, even though Killzone 2 is critically acclaimed as one of the best FPS, it still does not get the appreciation it deserves. Although Killzone 2, prides itself on realism, sometimes it can be complicated which is why some gamers have an issue with it. But this game is sacred among those who appreciate art, it's considered a masterpiece.
6 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Has A Metacritic Score Of 94
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 took FPS games to a whole new level. Not only does it have a great story mode, but Activision wasn't afraid to push what was socially acceptable in games. For example, the infamous airport scene, nuclear bombs, and realistic wartime tactics had gamers in awe.
But what really made this game great was the way it enhanced multiplayer gaming. They not only gave gamers different variations of multiplayer, but also quality, and those types of improvements set a trend for other games to follow suit.
5 Half-Life Has A Metacritic Score Of 96
Half-Life is an FPS game set in a grim apocalyptic future and considered by critics to be the greatest game in 1999, and for good reason. The storyline, the graphic gameplay, and the realism this game presented back in the day created a fan base that still plays this game to this day.
For a game that is 22 years old, Half-Life holds great gameplay value. It exhibits elements that modern games have today, like adding RPG features to an FPS. Half-Life was the game that paved the way for that collaboration of genres to be successful.
4 Half-Life 2 Has A Metacritic Score Of 96
Half-Life 2 had very big shoes to fill, especially after the huge success its predecessor had, and the game did not disappoint. Few games can say they have matched the success of the original, let alone surpassed it, and became the favorite in the series.
But that is exactly what Half-Life 2 did, the developers took the successful fundamentals of Half-Life and completely enhanced it in the sequel. The gaming community was pleased, and critics were happy to vote Half-life 2 the best game in 2004. Half-Life 2, is still a beloved game in the series to this day, and one still worth playing.
3 GoldenEye 007 Has A Metacritic Score Of 96
GoldenEye is the grandfather of the greatest FPS games out there, hands down. It has pioneered some of the games that we love and cherish today. When it came out in 1997, it amazed every gamer at how clean the graphics were, and how much freedom players had to explore a game that was inspired by a movie.
Goldeneye was one of the first movie games that gamers actually wanted to play, the game was constructed so well that gamers forgot it was based on a movie. And part of why Goldeneye was so successful, was because it never once felt like playing a movie, it played like a game, and that's why gamers loved it.
2 Halo: Combat Evolved Has A Metacritic Score Of 97
Halo: Combat Evolved is a beloved franchise that is popular among the gaming community, but, it's strictly an Xbox exclusive. However, even though Halo limited itself to being played on one console, it made massive waves in the gaming community. Halo heightened the FPS experience for Xbox gamers and gave the FPS a new meaning and a reason to buy an Xbox.
Halo wasn't just a great FPS, it was also innovative. The game allowed players to do things in a multiplayer mode that they had never been able to do before. Halo gave players many options on how the game could be played. There were seemingly no limitations to the gameplay, and gamers were addicted.
1 Perfect Dark Has A Metacritic Score Of 97
Perfect Dark created by Rare was released in the early 2000s on Nintendo 64 and would be one of the last games Rare, would ever release for Nintendo. And with the release of Perfect Dark, Rare went out with a bang.
Perfect Dark is a privatized agent named Johana Dark, and she goes on various missions trying to uncover the shady business of dataDyne. The style of the game is much like Goldeneye. But when Perfect Dark came out at the time, the graphics, the gameplay, and the music were much superior to its predecessor. Unfortunately shortly after the release of Perfect Dark Rare and Nintendo's relationship would dissolve, frustrating Nintendo gamers even to this day.