The best FPS games on PC

Shooters are one of the key genres in video games, having existed for many years. It's hard to imagine a gaming fan who hasn't played CS, DOOM, Quake, or Call of Duty at some point. It's not only fun to run and shoot, but it can also be visually stunning and just as engaging as playing an RPG.

Image: Ensigame

In our top list, we've gathered the 20 best FPS games, among which everyone will surely find something they enjoy.

Counter-Strike 2

Image: counterstrike.fandom.com

Let's start with a classic. The Counter-Strike series, which originated from a modification for Half-Life during the early days of gaming, has been a benchmark shooter for many years. Valve's creation attracted millions of players of all ages, spawned a whole culture, and became closely associated with esports.

The gameplay + setting are simple, straightforward. There are terrorists, and there are counter-terrorists. One side must plant a bomb, while the other must stop them. It seems simple enough. But the polished mechanics and the principle of "Easy to learn – hard to master" make CS one of the most popular games to this day.

Epic battles, thrilling victories, and losses that make you want to break your keyboard — aren't those reasons enough to install this marvelous project on PC?

Wolfenstein: The New Order

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The series of games about an alternate history where the Nazis won World War II dates back to the 20th century. But B.J. Blazkowicz's adventures continue to this day.

The player is in for a dramatic story of resistance. People from around the world unite to fight a common enemy. Each of them has dreams, ambitions, hobbies, but most importantly, they all share a desire to live in peace. Amidst the dynamic shootouts with the Germans, you'll get to know each of your teammates more intimately.

In terms of gameplay, Wolfenstein is better suited for those who enjoy active combat rather than methodical warfare. Armed with two automatic weapons, B.J. Blazkowicz charges into hordes of Nazis, destroying everything in his path.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

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No one could have imagined that what once started as a response to Medal of Honor would become one of the leading franchises among all FPS projects. CoD was and remains a cornerstone series for millions of users. Despite claims that the series has become formulaic, each new title still achieves excellent sales.

But it was with 2007's Modern Warfare 4 that the Call of Duty we know today began. Captain Price, Soap MacTavish, and other heroes of "Task Force 141" are introduced to players here for the first time. We take part in various battles: in the desert, at sea, and even in a radioactive exclusion zone! The story + characters stay with you forever.

In addition to the campaign, MW4 introduced multiplayer, setting the trend for all subsequent parts, competitors. Killstreaks, weapon attachments, camos, and numerous modes blew players' minds, and with each new part, these features only improved, expanded.

DOOM Eternal

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Another legend, whose origins trace back to the very beginning of the gaming industry. DOOM has long been the epitome of the shooter genre. Dynamic gameplay, a clear concept, and the adrenaline rush provided by the title have made the series a favorite among fans of virtual shooting.

DOOM Eternal, in turn, became the pinnacle and main highlight of the series. Colorful, vibrant, brutal. When you start the game, you don't just go to destroy enemies to unwind after work: you immerse yourself in a true atmosphere of chaos + dynamism, where movement equals life. Hordes of demons and a variety of tools to annihilate them — what more does a true Doom Slayer need?

Battlefield 4

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Alongside CoD, the Battlefield series has long been associated with players as an example of an excellent shooter that you want to return to again. While Activision's creation was more beloved for its story, DICE's games became closely associated with their multiplayer component.

Despite numerous experiments with settings, it's the classic Battlefield projects, like the third + fourth parts, that have become benchmarks. Modern warfare, tanks, planes, a wide arsenal, and full destructibility provide unparalleled fun. The iconic trick of dropping out of a plane and sniping the pilot of another aircraft is just one of many unforgettable moments.

Metro Exodus

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The Metro series of games is an excellent example that shooters aren't just about shooting with the sole purpose of killing as many enemies as possible.

The storyline of a post-apocalyptic country and its inhabitants leaves no one indifferent. Together with the heroes, the player experiences numerous adventures and immerses themselves in the grim atmosphere of a dark future, where people still believe in something better.

Metro Exodus continues the story of Artyom + other members of the "Sparta" order as they search for a new place to live. However, to find peace, they must overcome not only radiation and mutants but also face tough decisions: whether to remain human or lose their humanity to achieve their goal at any cost. It is up to the player to decide which path they will take.

Ready or Not

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From large-scale battles and "What if?" scenarios, we move to harsh reality. Grab your friends and head out on "a direct mission". Ready or Not offers you the chance to step into the shoes of a SWAT officer, tasked with rescuing hostages, making arrests.

Here, you + your friends, using various modern gadgets such as cameras, ballistic shields, and night vision goggles, must clear buildings of terrorists who are disturbing the peace of ordinary citizens.

A distinctive feature of this project is its pace. You must advance slowly through narrow corridors, checking corners, doors, as danger could lurk behind every turn, or a tripwire could be set. Rushing headlong is not an option here.

Ready or Not is an excellent tactical shooter for well-coordinated teams. Assign roles, cover each other's backs — here, teamwork feels more crucial than anywhere else.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

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From dramatic, story-driven shooters, we move to a rather unique subgenre. While other titles have players shooting, choosing weapons, and engaging in large-scale battles, Rainbow Six Siege offers a completely different experience. The title is often called the MOBA of the shooter world.

In short, team-based skirmishes, the player will either defend or assault objectives, rescue hostages, or plant bombs. There are many operators to choose from, each from different countries + special units. Each operator has unique gadgets — some can cut through reinforced walls, others set trap mines, or even deploy holograms.

Once a dark horse in the industry, Rainbow Six has become one of the key esports disciplines. Players highly appreciate the variety and new experiences the game offers. While many criticize "Rainbow" for its peculiar development policies, this team shooter should not be underestimated.

Far Cry 5

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The Far Cry series has long been associated with fun, towers, memorable antagonists. Starting with the third part, Ubisoft found its direction and has strictly adhered to its concept. Although some criticize the series for its repetitiveness, Far Cry remains an excellent example of how to make a game enjoyable for everyone.

The fifth part made it into our top list for a reason. After "three" + "four", it not only expanded the universe and introduced many cool features but also told a genuinely interesting story, where not everything is as straightforward as it seems.

Gameplay-wise, the project offers an open world, numerous allies (not just human), strong antagonists, and endless fun, of course. Sending a bear named Cheeseburger to attack enemies and then shooting a shovel from an RPG — priceless.

Titanfall 2

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If someone asks you which developers truly love their work, you can confidently say Vince Zampella and his team. The creators of the first Modern Warfare games demonstrated what a real shooter is after moving under EA’s wing.

Titanfall 2 is a mix of dynamic action that transcends the conventional understanding of a project, along with a decent story campaign and many features that other projects lack. Vertical gameplay, various gadgets, combat mechs, insane speed — this is what greets players in this title. This shooter will breathe life + energy into you, even if you're tired of typical "shooting games".

Despite its challenging fate, the online community remains active and boasts a dedicated fanbase. If you think shooters can't surprise you anymore, just give Titanfall 2 a try.

Arma 3

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The main feature of all shooters is shooting. However, whether it's Call of Duty, DOOM, or Battlefield, in most of these titles, the player feels like the protagonist — powerful and capable of defeating anything in their path. But the developers at Bohemia decided that realism would dominate in their game. If you've ever wondered, "What would it be like if I were in a war right now?" Arma can give you the answer.

Arma 3 has long been the epitome of military simulators. Some professional services even use it as a training tool, as this project requires the player to run several kilometers by the commander's order just to see a tank, and then spend several more minutes using real communication channels to find out whose side it’s on.

In addition, the title features realistic injuries: simply running behind a nearby tree after taking a bullet won't suffice. To shoot mortars + RPGs accurately, the user will need considerable experience and even a calculator. This project truly immerses players in the atmosphere of real warfare.

Apex Legends

Image: Steam

Apex emerged at a time when the popularity of the "Battle Royale" genre was waning. Yet, it made its debut unexpectedly, boldly. Who would have thought that a free project from Respawn would not only gather an audience but also rise to the top of its class?

Apex Legends successfully combined the best elements from the "Battle Royale" world, introduced many new features. A user-friendly and intuitive interface, vibrant, diverse heroes with unique abilities (reminiscent of a MOBA), dynamic gameplay, and smooth shooting mechanics made the title an excellent title for millions of players.

Moreover, the developers have continued to actively expand the project, adding new maps, characters, weapons. All of this has also led to Apex becoming an esports discipline, attracting even more attention to the project.

F.E.A.R.

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According to the logic of American rednecks, which says, "If you have a gun, any problem becomes a task", one might think that shooters can't scare you, but F.E.A.R. can easily dispel that notion. The first part of this shooter from Monolith plunges players into a dark horror atmosphere.

Fear, jump scares, and a suffocating atmosphere from the first minutes of gameplay make it clear that even with a rifle in hand, you are not a superhero. Dark corridors + supernatural entities will prove that a bullet is not the solution to every problem. Encountering the first living enemies can genuinely put the player in a tough spot.

In its time, F.E.A.R. not only tasked players with shooting mindless enemies but also featured AI that was years ahead of its time. The overall tone + mystical setting only added to the atmosphere, making players want to delve deeper into what was happening on their screens.

Borderlands 3

Image: Epic Games

Earlier in this list, we mentioned unusual shooters. Some combined elements of MOBA, while others were known for their hyper-realism. However, it was the Borderlands series that gave birth to the looter-shooter genre, which became beloved by many players.

When traveling to the distant planet of Pandora, players find themselves in the midst of pure madness! Wild fauna, insane raiders, vibrant villains + heroes, and of course, a sea of weapons! Borderlands is full of all these things. From the very first minutes, players are made to understand that what is expected of them is chaos, destruction, fun.

The visual style also became a revelation. Comic book-style graphics attracted players and quickly became beloved by many. The core principle of "kill and loot" became the calling card of Gearbox games.

Escape from Tarkov

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Perhaps one of the most unforgiving shooters on our list, Escape from Tarkov makes it clear from the start what true hardcore means. You'll dive into a game where there’s no minimap, enemies aren’t highlighted, and you don’t even know how many bullets are left in your magazine.

Escape from Tarkov offers players a truly unique experience of hardcore survival in a hostile environment. You’ll need to gather gear for your raids, which is no easy task. Every piece of armor has its own stats. Each bullet differs from the next in characteristics. The amount of weapons and attachments can be discussed endlessly.

During the actual raid, you’ll need to search for valuable items, as ammo and medical supplies must be purchased with something. But other players are pursuing the same goal. Not everyone will make it out of Tarkov. The title isn’t designed for your enjoyment: it strives to make you suffer. But the exhilaration of simply escaping is incomparable to anything else.

Call of Duty: Warzone

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Call of Duty: Warzone, following the trend, attempted to jump onto the "Battle Royale" hype train — did so quite successfully! The updated gameplay from the latest CoD parts, the variety of weapons, attachments, and a vast map allowed Warzone to secure a top spot among fans of the genre.

Activision Blizzard actively supports their creation by regularly adding new content. One of the key features (clearly inspired by Fortnite) is the collaborations with other media and games. For instance, the project introduced superpowers for operators from the TV series "The Boys".

If you're a big fan of Call of Duty, Warzone is a great way to pass the time between the releases of the next main part.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

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An excellent interpretation of Left 4 Dead for fans of a distant future where there is only war. Although the title initially lacked a lot of content, two years after its release, Darktide transformed into a fantastic four-player shooter.

The core of the project is quite simple, familiar. There are four classes, hordes of enemies, leveling up, and various difficulty levels for missions. Those familiar with Left 4 Dead will definitely recognize the "framework" of that game here.

But the key feature is the setting. It's rare for Warhammer to produce truly worthy projects, but the creators of Darktide managed to capture the atmosphere of a grim future where humanity, led by the Emperor of Mankind, fights for survival against the Forces of Chaos and other threats.

Squad

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Tactical shooters, though not numerous, are certainly worth attention. Earlier, we discussed Arma 3 with its hardcore realism and the sense of being in a real war. Released two years later, Squad offers a similar experience but is more accessible, making it a good alternative for newcomers.

In Squad, players join a squad and carry out the orders of a field commander. The modern warfare setting provides a wide array of weapons, various classes and armored vehicles. Like Arma, there are many hardcore elements, but once you get into it, they quickly become secondary.

One of Squad’s key features is communication + social interaction. Without sharing information, following orders, and staying aware of your surroundings, you won't experience the satisfaction that comes from coordinated team play. In this title, you’ll truly feel valuable when your commander orders you to take out that BMP at 220 degrees west of the enemy hub.

Bodycam

Image: Steam

A new trend in shooters — projects with hyper-realistic graphics and a first-person view from the operative's body camera. We first saw something like this in the trailer for Unrecord, where the developer even had to prove that what was on the screen was indeed a game, not real-life footage. However, Bodycam beat its competitor to release. This project is definitely worth the attention of CQB (Close Quarters Battle) fans.

In Bodycam, the player takes on the role of a special forces operative, engaging in fierce shootouts with other players. The title may not boast a large arsenal of weapons or maps, but its main feature lies elsewhere.

If your PC can handle the project on high settings, you’re in for a treat, as you’ll experience full immersion. The sounds, character dynamics, environment create the effect that you're controlling the hero of a special forces movie.

Valorant

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Many developers have tried to replicate the success of Valve’s Counter-Strike + Blizzard’s Overwatch. Riot Games came the closest. Valorant turned out to be an impressively solid product, quickly carving out its niche among other team-based shooters.

The title uses the classic CS mechanic, where one team must plant a bomb, and the other must prevent it. Players have access to characters with their own tactical abilities that influence the course of the battle. Thanks to the combination of these two mechanics, Valorant became extremely popular shortly after its release.

Play in ranked matches, earn points, unlock new agents, and master the nuances. This shooter can hold the attention of even those who may have grown tired of similar projects.

Riot Games' narrative team also did a great job. The characters are vibrant, lively, charismatic. Each one is unique, so players can find a character that suits their playstyle and personality.

It would be impossible to fit all the noteworthy shooters into this list. Of course, we cannot overlook the contributions of titles like Half-Life, the original DOOM, or Medal of Honor. It is thanks to such games that the genre became popular, expanded so widely.

Shooters are not just about running + gunning: they also feature stories, heroes, narratives that can rival the most well-crafted RPGs. But let’s not forget that shooters are also an excellent way to unwind and blow off steam, which is often exactly what you want when you sit down to play video games.

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