These are the 50 best shooting games of all time

From the earliest arcade days to the era of the home console, the shooter genre has always been wildly popular with gamers, and it’s easy to understand why. From the thrill of winning a battle royale to the satisfaction of a perfectly executed headshot in an FPS, shooters offer a quick catharsis that few other genres can compete with. 

In our list of the 50 best shooting games of all time we’ve covered everything from classic titles to modern masterpieces, but before we begin, a quick note. We’ve not limited ourselves to just FPS games. That might be a controversial decision, but when you’re curating lists of the best games, you don’t want to limit yourself to one sub-genre. So what are you waiting for, solder? Go, go, go!

50. Medal of Honor: Frontline

• Release Date: 29 May, 2002
• Developer: EA
• Format: PS2, GameCube, Xbox, PS3

What it’s about: While previous Medal of Honor games were more like Rambo as one man took on the German forces behind enemy lines, Frontline was Saving Private Ryan. This first-person shooter took you to Omaha Beach on D-Day in a spectacular opening mission that had you trying to survive against German attack. Survive it and you’d move through the war across occupied Europe, sabotaging tanks and stealing documents as you went.

Why we like it: Medal of Honor Frontline will always be fondly remembered for that opening mission. It was like an interactive version of the D-Day landings in Spielberg’s epic and, while a game could never truly capture what it was really like to be there, this was tense, intense and unforgettable. Of course you wouldn’t expect it to have aged well, which is why it’s at 50, but no game has managed to capture the chaos and horror of war like that opening mission. Everyone should play it.

49. Vanquish

• Release Date: 19 October 2010
• Developer: PlatinumGames
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

What is it: If Gears of War invented the modern cover shooter, Vanquish strapped a rocket booster to it and blasted off. You play as DARPA agent Sam Gideon, armed with an experimental suit that lets you power-slide across battlefields, trigger slow-motion attacks, and take down enemy mechs in style. Set during a futuristic war between the US and Russia, it’s a typically Platinum mix of slick gunplay, cinematic chaos, and high-energy excess – like a John Woo gunfight in space.

Why we like it: Vanquish is fast, furious, spectacular and over all too soon. Every encounter feels like an action sequence choreographed for maximum impact, with explosions, slow motion, and slides all colliding in glorious mayhem. It’s short but brilliantly executed, and everything we had come to expect from the developers of games such as MadWorld and The Wonderful101. Platinum would go on to create the brilliant Nier Automata but there’s not been anything quite like this before or since.

48. Time Crisis

Namco

• Release Date: 1995 (Arcade) / 1997 (PS1)
• Developer: Namco
• Format: Arcade, PS1

What it’s about: The 1995 arcade shooting classic became a brilliant showcase for PlayStation’s GunCon controller two years later. You play as special agent Richard Miller, nicknamed the ‘One Man Army’, blasting your way through a fortress to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a top politician and take down the evil Sherudo Garo. It also came with something akin to a guitar pedal, only this one was used to duck for cover in a firefight rather than play a wah-wah solo – though it was just as exciting.

Why we like it: With the timer ticking down and enemies closing in, Time Crisis was pure tension and adrenaline. It’s everything you want from a shooter, apart from the achy arm from holding a plastic gun for too long. You needed quick reactions to survive as Sherudo’s henchmen burst in from every angle, and the lightgun setup gave it a level of immersion few games could match. The graphics might look dated now, but the thrill hasn’t faded. Play it in an arcade today and it’s still as much fun as it was for anyone who spent their pocket money on it in the 90s.

47. Splatoon 3

Nintendo

• Release Date: 9 September 2022
• Developer: Nintendo
• Format: Switch

What it’s about: The first Splatoon turned shooters on their head, swapping bullets for paint and realism for colour-splattered chaos. Splatoon 3 takes that same brilliant idea and perfects it. You play as an Inkling or Octoling battling to cover as much of the map as possible in your team’s colour. It’s basically paintball without the pain of a blast to the nether regions. The main mode, Turf War, is a frantic three-minute battle to see which team can coat the arena in the most ink, while Salmon Run is a horde-style co-op mode where you fight waves of fishy enemies and collect golden eggs.

Why we like it: Few games make shooting this joyful. Splatoon 3 is a riot of colour and energy, and its paint-splashing gameplay is just as tactical as it is fun. You can flank enemies by diving through ink, ambush them from above, or simply spray everything in sight and hope for the best. It’s fast, frantic and endlessly replayable, proving that not every great shooter has to be gritty or violent. The first game might have started the revolution, but Splatoon 3 is where it truly shines.

46. Metro Exodus

• Release Date: 15 February 2019
• Developer: 4A Games
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC, later PS5, Xbox Series X/S

What it’s about: After two games spent creeping through Moscow’s underground, Metro Exodus lets you step out into the wider world. You play as Artyom, part of a group of survivors searching for life beyond the ruins of the city. It’s a mix of shooting, stealth and survival as you battle mutants and scavengers across swamps, deserts and forests. Weapons can jam, ammo is scarce, and you’ll often find yourself quietly taking out enemies rather than going in guns blazing.

Why we like it: Metro Exodus keeps you on edge from start to finish. The enemies are vicious, and the constant need to scavenge for supplies keeps every encounter tense. When a mutant bursts out of the dark or a bandit spots you from across the dunes, you don’t feel powerful, you feel vulnerable. It’s a rare shooter that makes you think before you pull the trigger, and that’s what makes it so gripping.

45. F.E.A.R.

Vivendi Games

• Release Date: 18 October 2005
• Developer: Monolith Productions
• Format: PC, Xbox 360, PS3

What it’s about: F.E.A.R. puts you in the shoes of the nameless Pointman: part-time ghost hunter, full-time badass. You track down Alma, a ghost child and jumpscare machine, as you fight your way through office blocks, warehouses and labs full of enemy soldiers. The gunfights are intense and cinematic, helped by a slow-motion ability that lets you dive, slide and shoot with precision while debris flies around you.

Why we like it: Bending genres, this spooky tactical shooter made a big impact at the time of release, but its spectacular AI, nail-biting gunplay and striking visuals have kept it alive. The high-impact weapons had real heft, the enemies were smart, and the bullet time mechanic made every fight look like something from The Matrix. The mix of tactical combat and horror atmosphere works perfectly – one moment you’re clearing a room with pinpoint accuracy, the next you’re jumping out of your skin as Alma appears at the end of a corridor.

44. Escape from Tarkov

Battlestate Games

• Release Date: 2017 (Beta)
• Developer: Battlestate Games
• Format: PC

What it’s about: Escape from Tarkov drops you into a ruined Russian city where every raid is about grabbing loot and getting out alive. You go in with the gear you’re willing to risk, search buildings for weapons and supplies, and try to reach an extraction point before someone else gets to you first. If you die, everything you brought and everything you found is gone. It’s a tough cycle of risk and reward that keeps you alert from start to finish.

Why we like it: Tarkov set the template for the modern extraction shooter. Every fight is tense and unpredictable, and the weapons feel and sound realistic. The best moments come when your planning pays off – when the rifle you’ve built and tuned finally clicks, you outthink another player, and make it out with a full backpack. Those victories are hard-earned and all the sweeter for it.

43. The Division

• Release Date: 8 March 2016
• Developer: Ubisoft Massive
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC

What it’s about: Set in a near-future New York after a viral outbreak, The Division puts you in the role of a sleeper agent activated to restore order in the chaos. You move through snowy, deserted streets filled with hostile factions, scavenging gear and completing missions to rebuild the city. It’s a third-person online shooter with RPG elements – you level up, upgrade your weapons and armour, and can join other players to tackle tougher missions or enter the Dark Zone, a PvP area where betrayal is always a risk.

Why we like it: The Division makes its setting the star. Its blizzard-covered Manhattan is one of the most atmospheric cityscapes ever built in a shooter – quiet, eerie and full of detail. Gunfights rely on cover and positioning, so using your gadgets and supporting your squadmates can make all the difference. Finding new weapons and gear is genuinely satisfying, especially when a hard-fought mission finally pays off. And in the Dark Zone, deciding whether to trust or betray other players adds a brilliant layer of tension. It’s a game that rewards patience, planning and a bit of paranoia.

42. Wolfenstein: The New Order

• Release Date: 20 May 2014
• Developer: MachineGames
• Format: PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC

What it’s about: Set in an alternate 1960s where the Nazis won World War II, The New Order reboots the classic series with a mix of action and story. You play as B.J. Blazkowicz, waking from a coma to join the resistance and take down a regime that now controls the world. Missions range from gunfights in ruined cities to stealth sections through secret labs and prisons, with weapons that feel powerful and varied, from silenced pistols to laser rifles that cut through metal.

Why we like it: The New Order was proof that single-player shooters still mattered. The combat was flexible and satisfying, letting you switch between all-out action and stealth depending on how you want to play. The weapons was great fun to use, from the heavy shotgun to the laser rifle that cuts through metal. Whether you’re dual-wielding shotguns in a robot factory or sneaking through corridors with a knife, it always found new ways to stay exciting.

41. Helldivers 2

Sony

• Release Date: 8 February 2024
• Developer: Arrowhead Game Studios
• Format: PS5, PC

What it’s about: A co-op shooter about spreading managed democracy across the galaxy, one chaotic drop at a time. You and up to three teammates pick a mission, choose your loadouts, then drop onto a bug or robot-infested planet to blow up objectives, rescue civilians and extract in one piece. Friendly fire is always on. The fun comes from calling in stratagems – orbitals, turrets, supply pods, mechs – while juggling objectives and staying out of each other’s kill zones.

Why we like it: Teamwork actually matters here. You’re reading codes under fire to call in an airstrike, throwing down a shield dome for a revive, or luring a Bile Titan into a minefield while someone punches in a mech drop. Mistakes are hilarious and costly – an off-target bomb can wipe the squad, a misthrown resupply can crush a friend. The best moments are the scrappy extractions where everyone’s out of ammo, a last reinforcement lands, and you just about hold the pad until the shuttle arrives. It’s loud, messy and consistently exciting, and one of the best examples of true co-op chaos done right.

40. Max Payne 3

Rockstar Games

• Release Date: 15 May 2012
• Developer: Rockstar Studios
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

What it’s about: Nearly a decade after the last game, Max Payne 3 brings the slow-motion gunfights of the series to a new setting – the sun-bleached chaos of São Paulo. Max is older, burnt out, and working in private security for the Branco family when everything inevitably goes wrong. You dive and shoot in slow motion, taking cover behind shattered walls as bullets rip through the environment. The action is broken up by flashbacks to New York, but it’s mostly about surviving one gunfight after another in cramped clubs, crumbling favelas and luxury towers.

Why we like it:
Rockstar gave Max Payne’s trademark bullet time its best workout yet. Every dive, headshot and shotgun blast feels brutal and cinematic, helped by smart physics and brilliant animation. The game moves at a relentless pace, with stylish scene transitions that keep the story flowing between shootouts. Max himself is more human this time, bitter, sarcastic and half-drunk, but when the bullets start flying, he’s as sharp as ever. It’s a slick, violent and perfectly paced return for one of gaming’s best antiheroes.

39. Arc Raiders

Embark Studios / Dexerto

• Release Date: 30 October, 2025
• Developer: Embark Studios
• Format: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

What it’s about: ARC Raiders is a co-op extraction shooter set on a ruined planet occupied by deadly machines. You play as a Raider venturing to the surface from the underground city of Speranza to scavenge supplies and fight the ARC, terrifying robotic enemies that attack on sight. Each run gives you a short window to collect loot, complete objectives and extract safely before time runs out. Die or miss your chance to escape, and everything you’ve gathered is gone.

Why we like it: ARC Raiders turns every raid into a nerve-racking fight for survival. Whether you’re battling a rocket-firing drone or bargaining with another player not to shoot, every moment feels tense and unpredictable. The gunplay is sharp, the enemies are smart, and the risk of losing everything keeps your heart pounding. With mechanical monsters, storm-filled maps and player alliances that can turn to betrayals in seconds, it’s ceaselessly thrilling.

38. Battlefield 1

DICE

• Release Date: 21 October 2016
• Developer: DICE
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC

What it’s about: Taking the franchise to the First World War for the first time, Battlefield 1 focuses on conflicts across Europe and Africa. You fight in trenches, deserts and mountain passes, using era-appropriate weapons and vehicles in large-scale battles that capture the chaos of early modern warfare.

Why we like it: Battlefield 1 has arguably the best atmosphere in any shooter. From muddy trenches to stunning Italian mountaintops, everything feels immersive and cinematic. Despite its World War I setting, it’s full of energy and spectacle, with moments like charging the front line on horseback as a zeppelin crashes overhead.

37. Counter-Strike: Source

Valve

• Release Date: 1 November 2004
• Developer: Valve
• Format: PC

What it’s about: Counter-Strike: Source brought the classic team-based gameplay of the original Counter-Strike into Valve’s new Source engine. Two teams, Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, battled it out across iconic maps like Dust and Office in objective-based modes such as Bomb Defusal and Hostage Rescue.

Why we like it: It preserved everything great about the original while updating the look and feel for a new era. The movement and shooting were precise, the weapons instantly recognisable, and the community-driven mods and maps gave it endless replayability. This was the perfect balance between old-school tactics and modern tech.

36. Battlefield 3

DICE

• Release Date: 25 October 2011
• Developer: DICE
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

What it’s about: Set in 2014, the U.S. is at war with Russia and a fictional Iranian faction, taking you across the Middle East and Europe in both campaign and multiplayer.

Why we like it: Battlefield 3 was the complete modern Battlefield experience. It had excellent gunplay, fantastic map design and a great balance between infantry and vehicles. The multiplayer was fast, chaotic and endlessly replayable – everything the series should be.

35. Quake

GT Interactive[

• Release Date: 22 June 1996
• Developer: id Software
• Format: PC

What it’s about: After Doom changed everything, Quake took the next leap by bringing full 3D graphics to shooters. You fight through dark, gothic worlds filled with monsters and medieval weaponry, using shotguns, nailguns and rocket launchers to blast your way through.

Why we like it: Quake was fast, brutal and built for competition. It laid the groundwork for online multiplayer shooters and speedrunning, while its gothic style and soundtrack gave it a unique identity. It’s pure, unfiltered FPS action that still feels great to play.

34. Doom

id software

• Release Date: 10 December 1993
• Developer: id Software
• Format: PC, later consoles

What it’s about: The one that started it all. Doom puts you in the boots of a space marine on Mars, blasting through demon-infested corridors with a shotgun, chainsaw and a bad attitude. It was fast, violent and packed with secrets, turning what could have been a simple corridor shooter into something endlessly replayable. The shareware release meant everyone with a PC could try it, and suddenly millions were playing – or pretending to work while playing.

Why we like it: Doom made first-person shooters what they are. The speed, the weapons, the enemies and the sheer sense of action were unlike anything before it. Even now, it’s still fun to sprint through levels blowing demons apart with a pixelated shotgun. It laid the groundwork for everything from Quake to Call of Duty, and the 2016 reboot proved just how timeless that formula still is.

33. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

DICE

• Release Date: 2 March 2010
• Developer: DICE
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

What it’s about: The U.S. is still at war with Russia, and B-Company returns to stop a mysterious superweapon. It’s one of the few Battlefield games that nails both campaign and multiplayer. The story takes you across jungles, mountains and deserts, it’s full of cinematic set pieces, and features a squad that’s actually worth listening to between firefights.

Why we like it: Bad Company 2 got almost everything right. The maps were smaller and more focused than before, built around modes like Rush that encouraged proper teamwork. The destruction system was a game-changer, with walls, vehicles and cover collapsing under fire and forcing you to adapt. Working together actually mattered – spawning on squadmates, reviving them and pushing forward as a unit was key to winning. Add in the tight gunplay and the excellent Vietnam DLC, and you’ve got not just the best Battlefield, but one of the best shooters of its generation.

32. Call of Duty: Black Ops

Activision

• Release Date: 9 November 2010
• Developer: Treyarch
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii

What is it about: The first game in the Black Ops series followed on from Modern Warfare 2 with another classic. Set during the Cold War, you play as brainwashed CIA operative Alex Mason, taking part in covert missions across Vietnam, Cuba and the Soviet Union while uncovering a conspiracy through flashbacks and interrogation scenes. Alongside the campaign, it offered the full Call of Duty package with competitive multiplayer and the return of Zombies.

Why we like it: Black Ops stood out for its style, setting and variety. The campaign mixed stealth, explosions and spy fiction in a way that felt fresh for Call of Duty, and its multiplayer maps quickly became some of the series’ best. Nuketown and Firing Range are still fan favourites, while modes like Gun Game and One in the Chamber showed Treyarch’s knack for keeping things fun.

31. Team Fortress 2

Valve

• Release Date: 10 October 2007
• Developer: Valve
• Format: PC, Xbox 360, PS3

What it’s about: Team Fortress 2 is a team-based shooter that throws together nine wildly different classes, from the trigger-happy Heavy to the sneaky Spy, in battles to capture control points or escort payload carts across the map. There is a plot, but we don’t have time to break down Team Fortress 2 lore. It’s loud, silly and completely unbalanced in the best possible way, yet somehow it all works.

Why we like it: No game nails personality like Team Fortress 2. Every class feels distinct, every match unpredictable, and teamwork is always at the heart of it. It’s fast, funny and endlessly replayable, with moments that switch from disaster to triumph in seconds. Years later, it’s still one of the most entertaining shooters ever made.

30. Halo Infinite

Xbox Game Studios

• Release Date: 8 December 2021
• Developer: 343 Industries
• Format: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

What it’s about: Halo Infinite brings Master Chief back to centre stage after the uneven Halo 5: Guardians. Set on the damaged Halo ring Zeta Halo, it combines open-world exploration with the tight, arena-style combat the series is known for. The grappleshot adds a new layer of movement and creativity, letting you swing into fights, scale cliffs or pull weapons straight from enemies.

Why we like it: Infinite feels like Halo rediscovering what made it special. The gunplay is sharp and satisfying, the world is open enough to explore without losing focus, and the grappleshot makes combat feel fresh again. The multiplayer captures the spirit of the originals – fast, competitive and full of memorable moments. It’s not trying to reinvent Halo, just remind everyone how good it can be.

29. Gears 5

Xbox Game Studios

• Release Date: 10 September 2019
• Developer: The Coalition
• Format: Xbox One, PC, later Xbox Series X/S

What it’s about: Gears 5 shifts the focus to Kait Diaz as she searches for the truth about her family and the origins of the Locust. It builds on the series’ trademark cover-based combat but adds open areas to explore, side missions to tackle, and vehicles to drive. The campaign mixes classic close-quarters action with moments of freedom that give the world a new sense of scale. Multiplayer and Horde return alongside the fast, three-player Escape mode.

Why we like it: Gears 5 showed that there was still plenty of life in the series. The shooting feels as crunchy and satisfying as ever, but the new semi-open structure and Kait’s story give it a more personal edge. It looks incredible, plays smoothly and keeps the co-op focus that’s always made Gears special. It might experiment more than earlier games, but it does it without losing what makes the series great.

28. Titanfall 2

Respawn Entertainment

• Release Date: 28 October 2016
• Developer: Respawn Entertainment
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC

What’s it about: Titanfall 2 mixes fast, parkour-style gunfights with giant mech battles. You play as rifleman Jack Cooper, suddenly thrust into the role of pilot after his mentor is killed in action. With his Titan companion BT-7274, you fight through a campaign that constantly changes pace – running along walls one minute, dropping into your mech for huge battles the next. The multiplayer builds on the same balance of speed and power, letting pilots sprint, slide and grapple across maps while calling down Titans mid-match.

Why we like it: Titanfall 2 has one of the best single-player campaigns in any shooter. Every level introduces a new twist, from shifting between timelines to controlling moving factory platforms at full sprint. BT is more than just a mech, he’s a proper co-op partner, and the bond between pilot and Titan gives the story real warmth. The movement is smooth, the weapons feel great, and the multiplayer is exciting and satisfying.

27. BioShock Infinite 

2K Games

• Release Date: 26 March 2013
• Developer: Irrational Games
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, later Switch and current-gen consoles

What it’s about: Set in 1912, BioShock Infinite swaps the underwater world of Rapture for Columbia, a floating city built on American nationalism and religious fanaticism. You play as Booker DeWitt, sent to find a young woman named Elizabeth who can open portals to other realities. It mixes gunfights with strange powers called Vigors, letting you throw enemies into the air, summon lightning or send crows to attack.

Why we like it: Columbia is one of the most memorable settings in any shooter, full of colour, spectacle and danger. The relationship between Booker and Elizabeth adds emotion to the story, which only grows darker the deeper you go. The mix of gunplay and supernatural abilities keeps every encounter fresh, and the twists stay with you long after it ends. It’s ambitious, strange and completely its own thing.

26. Rainbow Six Siege

Ubisoft

• Release Date: 1 December 2015
• Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC, later PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

What it’s about: Rainbow Six Siege is a tactical shooter built around small-scale, high-stakes combat. Two teams of five face off as attackers and defenders, fighting to secure objectives inside destructible buildings. You choose from a roster of Operators, each with their own gadgets such as drones, traps and breaching charges, and every decision can change the outcome of a round.

Why we like it: Siege demands teamwork, patience and precision. Every wall, floor and ceiling can be breached, creating endless ways to attack or defend. You need to plan your approach, listen for movement and stay calm under pressure. When it all comes together, the final seconds of a round are some of the most tense and rewarding in any shooter.

25. Call of Duty: Warzone

Activision

• Release Date: 10 March 2020
• Developer: Infinity Ward / Raven Software
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC, later current-gen consoles

What it’s about: Released after the success of PUBG and Fortnite, Warzone brought Call of Duty into the battle royale scene with its own style. Loads of drop into Verdansk to scavenge weapons, armour and cash, fighting to be the last squad standing as the safe zone closes in. Money can be used to buy killstreaks, gear or redeploy fallen teammates, while the Gulag gives you a one-on-one fight for a second chance.

Why we like it: Warzone took the fast, polished action of Call of Duty and made it work in a huge, open setting. Verdansk became instantly iconic, full of buildings, rooftops and hiding spots that made every round different. It encouraged teamwork without slowing the pace, and the Gulag twist gave it a sense of unpredictability that kept matches tense right to the end.

24. TimeSplitters 2

Eidos Interactive

• Release Date: 9 October 2002
• Developer: Free Radical Design
• Format: PS2, GameCube, Xbox

What it’s about: TimeSplitters 2 sends you jumping through time to stop an alien race from rewriting history. One mission has you storming a 1930s dam, and others drop you in a haunted village or a futuristic space station. It’s a frantic shooter built on speed and variety, packed with wild weapons like flare guns, electrotools and bricks that make every fight unpredictable.

Why we like it: TimeSplitters 2 was pure fun from start to finish. It captured the spirit of GoldenEye but went bigger and weirder, with quick movement, clever objectives and a multiplayer mode that could keep you playing all night. You could play as a monkey, build your own maps and blow up your friends in more ways than you could count. Two decades on, it’s still one of the most joyous shooters ever made.

23. Doom Eternal

iD Software/Bethesda

• Release Date: 20 March 2020
• Developer: id Software
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, later PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

What it’s about: Following the 2016 reboot that brought the classic sh back in style, Doom Eternal built on everything that made it great. Once again you play as the Doom Slayer, cutting through hordes of demons with shotguns, chainsaws and a growing arsenal of absurdly powerful weapons. It’s faster and more demanding than before, built around constant movement, quick thinking and brutal precision.

Why we like it: Eternal turns every fight into a test of speed and strategy. You’re constantly switching weapons, using your chainsaw for ammo, flame belch for armour and glory kills for health, all while dodging fireballs and demons on every side. When it all clicks, it’s thrilling to play – intense, fluid and endlessly satisfying, It takes everything the series has always done well and pushes it as far as it can go.

22. Apex Legends

Respawn Entertainment

• Release Date: 4 February 2019
• Developer: Respawn Entertainment
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC, later Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

What it’s about: Apex Legends arrived without warning and immediately shook up the battle royale scene. Set in the Titanfall universe, it focused on teamwork, movement and distinct characters called Legends, each with their own abilities. Squads of three drop into the map, scavenge for weapons and gear, and fight to be the last team standing. Sliding down hills, ziplining across rooftops and pulling off last-second revives all became part of the thrill.

Why we like it: Apex Legends made battle royale feel fresh again. Its movement feels slick and fast, gunfights are always intense, and the mix of Legend abilities keeps every match unpredictable. The ping system has been a game-changer, letting players share information instantly without saying a word. It rewards teamwork but still allows for those clutch solo moments that make you want to jump straight into the next match.

21. Overwatch

Blizzard

• Release Date: 24 May 2016
• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC, later Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

What it’s about: Overwatch mixes the pace of a first-person shooter with the teamwork of a strategy game. Two teams compete to capture or defend objectives using a roster of heroes, each with their own weapons and abilities. You might play as a tank absorbing damage on the front line, a healer keeping teammates alive, or a damage hero darting between fights. Success depends on coordination and timing rather than just accuracy.

Why we like it: Overwatch took the class-based shooter and made it accessible, fast and full of personality. Every hero feels unique, from Reinhardt’s hammer charge to Tracer’s blink dash, and combining abilities with teammates is endlessly satisfying. It quickly became a global esport, with professional teams, international tournaments and fan-favourite players. Even after years of updates and spin-offs, it’s still one of the most recognisable team shooters ever made.

20. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)

PUBG Studios

• Release Date: 23 March 2017
• Developer: PUBG Corporation
• Format: PC, later consoles and mobile

What it’s about: PUBG is the game that kicked off the battle royale phenomenon. A hundred players drop onto an island, scavenge for weapons and supplies, and fight to be the last one standing as the play area shrinks. Matches often begin quietly, with players creeping through buildings and fields, before erupting into chaos as the circle closes in and only a handful of survivors remain.

Why we like it: PUBG captured the tension of survival like nothing before it. Every sound makes you jump, every gunfight feels desperate, and every win feels like an achievement. It’s slower and rougher around the edges than the games that followed, but that’s part of its appeal. It’s tense, unpredictable and completely gripping, and the game that started it all.

19. Borderlands 2

Gearbox Software / 2K

• Release Date: 18 September 2012
• Developer: Gearbox Software
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, later PS4, Xbox One, Switch

What it’s about: Set five years after the original, Borderlands 2 sends a new group of Vault Hunters across Pandora to take down the ruthless but charismatic Handsome Jack. It mixes fast-paced shooting with endless loot hunting, where every chest or fallen enemy might drop a new gun that’s stranger or stronger than the last. You can play solo or in co-op, levelling up your character and discovering more of Pandora’s chaotic world.

Why we like it: Borderlands 2 took everything that worked in the first game and made it bigger, funnier and sharper. The gun variety is ridiculous, the world is full of over-the-top missions, and Handsome Jack steals every scene with his perfect mix of arrogance and charm. It’s packed with personality, overflowing with loot, and still one of the most entertaining co-op shooters ever made.

18. Left 4 Dead

Valve

• Release Date: 17 November 2008
• Developer: Valve South / Turtle Rock Studios
• Format: PC, Xbox 360

What it’s about: Left 4 Dead throws four survivors into a zombie outbreak and challenges them to fight their way to safety through cities, forests and airports crawling with the infected. It’s built for co-op, with players covering each other, sharing health packs and reviving teammates as waves of enemies close in. Each campaign plays out like a zombie film in fast-forward, somewhere between 28 Days Later and Dawn of the Dead, complete with last-minute rescues and desperate runs for the exit.

Why we like it: Left 4 Dead is pure panic in co-op form. The hordes come thick and fast, and the special infected keep you constantly on edge – a Hunter pouncing from a rooftop, a Boomer bursting in a corner, or a Tank smashing through everything. It’s loud, messy and endlessly replayable, the perfect mix of horror and action.

17. GoldenEye 007

Altitude

• Release Date: 25 August 1997
• Developer: Rare
• Format: Nintendo 64

What it’s about: GoldenEye 007 brought first-person shooters to consoles and proved they could work brilliantly without a mouse and keyboard. Based on the 1995 Bond film, you sneak, shoot and blow your way through missions that make you feel like a secret agent – infiltrating a dam, stealing keycards, escaping from a train and saving the world with a silenced PP7. But it was the four-player split-screen mode that became a phenomenon, turning every living room into a spy-versus-spy showdown of proximity mines and golden guns.

Why we like it: GoldenEye made you feel like you were in a Bond movie. For many players, it defined the N64 era – long nights of screen-peeking, yelling “no Oddjob,” and laughing through accidental grenade disasters. Watching the film afterwards, you could picture Bond’s next move as if you were playing it. Until, of course, you got frustrated and shot Natalia instead. It’s still one of the most influential and fondly remembered shooters ever made.

16. Destiny 2

Bungie

• Release Date: 6 September 2017
• Developer: Bungie
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC, later PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

What it’s about: Destiny 2 builds on Bungie’s original shared-world shooter, blending tight first-person combat with MMO-style exploration and loot. You play as a Guardian, defending humanity across planets and moons while collecting powerful weapons and armour. Missions mix shooting, exploration and co-op strikes, and there’s a competitive mode for those who prefer to test their aim against other players.

Why we like it: Destiny 2 combines the feel of a great shooter with the long-term pull of an RPG. The gunplay is as slick and satisfying as you’d expect from the creators of Halo, and teaming up for strikes and raids is where it truly shines. Over the years, expansions have added new worlds, stories and gear, keeping players coming back. It’s huge, ever-evolving, and proof that Bungie still knows how to make shooting feel good.

15. Halo: Reach

Bungie

• Release Date: 14 September 2010
• Developer: Bungie
• Format: Xbox 360, later PC and Xbox One

What it’s about: A prequel to the original Halo trilogy, Halo: Reach tells the story of Noble Team, a squad of Spartans defending the planet Reach from a Covenant invasion. You play through the doomed final stand mission by mission, from ground combat to aerial dogfights and large-scale assaults. It expanded Halo’s already strong multiplayer with new maps, armour abilities and Firefight mode, while Forge let players create their own maps and modes.

Why we like it: Reach found the perfect middle ground between campaign and multiplayer. The story delivers some of the series’ most emotional moments as Noble Team is slowly picked apart, and the gunplay feels as satisfying as ever. Forge and Firefight gave it huge replay value, and its maps became some of the best-loved in the series.

14.  Gears of War 3



• Release Date: 20 September 2011
• Developer: Epic Games
• Format: Xbox 360

What it’s about: Gears of War 3 closes out the original trilogy with Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad leading the fight against the Locust and a new, mutated enemy called the Lambent. The campaign takes you from collapsing cities to huge sea battles and underground hives, mixing big set pieces with classic cover-based gunfights. Multiplayer returned with new maps, the Retro Lancer, and Horde 2.0, which let you build turrets, barriers and decoys to survive waves of enemies.

Why we like it: Gears 3 delivered everything fans wanted from a finale. The campaign is packed with memorable moments, from fighting a giant sea monster aboard a sinking ship to Dom’s emotional last stand at the fuel station. It plays best in co-op, where the chaos and tension really shine, and Horde 2.0 became the series’ signature mode for a reason. It might not hit the heights of Gears 2, but it’s still loud, dramatic, and built for playing with friends.

13. Valorant (2020)

Riot Games

• Release Date: 2 June 2020
• Developer: Riot Games
• Format: PC

What it’s about: Valorant combines the careful, tactical gunfights of Counter-Strike with the hero-style abilities of Overwatch. Two teams of five face off to plant or defuse a spike, with each Agent bringing unique tools that can block sightlines, reveal enemies or control the map. Success relies on accuracy, communication and quick thinking under pressure.

Why we like it: Valorant took a familiar formula and made it fresh. The weapons demand precision, but the Agent abilities add layers of strategy that make every round feel different. It rewards teamwork as much as aim, and watching a coordinated push or clutch defence come together is endlessly satisfying. Riot’s steady updates and competitive scene have kept it one of the strongest tactical shooters of recent years.

12. Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Activision

• Release Date: 13 November 2012
• Developer: Treyarch
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U

What it’s about: Building on the success of the first game, Call of Duty: Black Ops II jumps between the Cold War of the 1980s and a future conflict in 2025. You play as both Alex Mason and his son David, switching between timelines as you track down terrorist leader Raul Menendez. The campaign introduced branching paths and multiple endings, while multiplayer added scorestreaks, new weapons and a flexible create-a-class system. Zombies also returned with new maps and modes that made it bigger than ever.

Why we like it: Black Ops II took everything good about the first game and made it better. The campaign was more ambitious, letting players shape the story through their choices, and the futuristic weapons and tech gave the series a fresh feel. Multiplayer struck the perfect balance between speed and strategy, and Zombies was packed with new maps and modes that kept fans hooked for years. It remains the best Black Ops game and one of the most complete Call of Duty games ever made.

11. Resident Evil 4

Capcom

• Release Date: 11 January 2005
• Developer: Capcom
• Format: GameCube, later PS2, PC, Wii, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

What it’s about: Resident Evil 4 reinvented the series, trading fixed camera angles for an over-the-shoulder view that changed third-person shooters forever. You play as Leon S. Kennedy, sent to a remote European village to rescue the U.S. President’s daughter. What starts as a quiet search turns into a desperate fight for survival against cultists and infected villagers armed with axes, chainsaws and anything else within reach.

Why we like it: Resident Evil 4 nailed the balance between horror and action. Every encounter keeps you on edge – kicking ladders, diving through windows, and fighting to keep a mob back with your last few shotgun shells. The pacing is immaculate, the set pieces unforgettable, and its influence can still be felt in almost every third-person shooter since. Whether you played it in 2005 or in its modern remake, it remains one of the most thrilling survival shooters ever made.

10. Halo 2

Bungie

• Release Date: 9 November 2004
• Developer: Bungie
• Format: Xbox, later PC

What it’s about: Halo 2 picks up where the first game left off, with Master Chief returning to defend Earth from the Covenant. It also introduces a second playable character, the Arbiter, giving players a new perspective on the conflict. The campaign mixes tight corridor fights with large-scale battles and spectacular set pieces, while online multiplayer through Xbox Live brought competitive console gaming into a new era.

Why we like it: Halo 2 was another classic sequel that built perfectly on what came before. The campaign felt bigger and more ambitious, switching between Master Chief and Arbiter to expand the story, and the multiplayer became an instant hit. Maps like Lockout and Zanzibar are still remembered fondly, and its mix of vehicles, weapons and teamwork set the template for Halo multiplayer for years to come.

9. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Activision / Dexerto

• Release Date: 10 November 2009
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

What it’s about: Modern Warfare 2 followed one of the biggest shooters ever and delivered one of the best sequels of all time. The campaign sends Task Force 141 around the world, from stealth missions in the snow to chaotic street battles and the shocking “No Russian” airport attack that everyone talked about. Multiplayer built on what the first game started, adding new killstreaks, perks and weapons that quickly became series favourites.

Why we like it: Modern Warfare 2 was another Call of Duty classic. The campaign never let up, constantly shifting locations and tone to keep every mission memorable, while multiplayer became the series at its most addictive. Maps like Terminal, Highrise and Rust are still favourites today, and the pace, explosions and unpredictability made it an instant classic.

8. Fortnite

Epic Games

• Release Date: 21 July 2017
• Developer: Epic Games
• Format: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, Mobile, later PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

What it’s about: Fortnite began as a forgettable co-op survival game about building forts and fighting zombies – until Epic added a battle royale mode that changed everything. A hundred players drop onto a bright, cartoonish island, collect weapons and materials, and build their way to victory as the map shrinks. Its mix of fast-paced gunfights and on-the-fly construction made it stand out from every other shooter around.

Why we like it: Fortnite is fun in a way few shooters even try to be. You can throw up cover in seconds, scale towers in a firefight, or ambush an opponent with a last-minute rocket. Matches are frantic, unpredictable and packed with creativity. On top of that, it became a cultural juggernaut – the Floss, the concerts, the endless crossovers – all while continuing to evolve with new chapters, mechanics and modes. It might not dominate headlines like it once did, but Fortnite is still one of the most inventive and entertaining shooters out there.

7. BioShock

Bioshock

• Release Date: 21 August 2007
• Developer: 2K Boston / Irrational Games
• Format: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, later PS4, Xbox One, Switch

What it’s about: Set in the underwater city of Rapture, BioShock drops you into a failed utopia built on science, ambition and madness. You explore the decaying city after a plane crash, scavenging weapons and genetic powers called Plasmids to fight its deranged inhabitants. Every corridor hides a story, every encounter forces a choice, and the city itself feels alive with history and danger.

Why we like it: BioShock showed how a shooter could be about more than just gunfire. Its world was unforgettable, a mix of art deco beauty and horror, and its atmosphere pulled you in from the first moment you saw Rapture through the bathysphere window. Combat let you get creative, freezing enemies, setting traps or shocking whole rooms of Splicers. And at its heart was one of gaming’s most famous twists, one that still gets talked about today. It’s smart, stylish and endlessly replayable.

6. Gears of War 2

Epic Games

• Release Date: 7 November 2008
• Developer: Epic Games
• Format: Xbox 360

What it’s about: Gears of War 2 continues the fight between humanity and the Locust Horde, as Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad take the battle underground. It builds on everything from the first game with bigger environments, new enemies and some of the most cinematic moments on Xbox 360. The campaign mixes brutal third-person gunfights with co-op play, while the new Horde mode quickly became a fan favourite.

Why we like it: Gears of War 2 delivered action on a huge scale without losing its edge. The shooting feels impactful and satisfying, the set pieces are unforgettable, and the story adds real emotion to the chaos. Fighting inside a giant creature, defending a hospital under siege, or surviving wave after wave in Horde mode – it’s full of moments you don’t forget. It took everything the first game did well and made it bigger, bolder and even more fun to play.

5. Halo 3

Bungie

• Release Date: 25 September 2007
• Developer: Bungie
• Format: Xbox 360

What it’s about: Halo 3 brought Bungie’s original trilogy to a close, finishing Master Chief’s fight against the Covenant and the Flood. The campaign takes you across Earth and beyond, mixing large-scale battles with smaller, story-driven moments that tie up years of lore. It also introduced Forge mode, which let players create and share their own maps, alongside the most polished multiplayer the series had seen yet.

Why we like it: Halo 3 was the moment for Xbox 360 players. The campaign felt huge and varied, with vehicles, weapons and enemies all working together in perfect balance. Every encounter could play out differently, and co-op made it even better. Multiplayer, meanwhile, was Halo at its best – fast, competitive and endlessly replayable, with maps like The Pit and Valhalla becoming instant classics.

4. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Valve

• Release Date: 21 August 2012
• Developer: Valve
• Format: PC, later consoles

What it’s about: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive took the classic Counter-Strike formula and gave it a modern polish. Two teams of terrorists and counter-terrorists face off across tightly designed maps, either planting and defusing bombs or rescuing hostages. Every round starts fresh, with players earning money for kills and objectives to buy better weapons in the next one. It’s simple to understand but brutally hard to master.

Why we like it: CS:GO set the standard for modern competitive shooters. Every round is a battle of nerve and teamwork, where one mistake can swing the match. It became a global esport with tournaments watched by millions, yet it never lost the simplicity that made it timeless. The balance of strategy, communication and pure mechanical skill kept players hooked for over a decade, and even with its successor now out, many still swear this was the pinnacle.

3. Half-Life 2

Valve

• Release Date: 16 November 2004
• Developer: Valve
• Format: PC, later Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3

What it’s about: Half-Life 2 picks up years after the original, with Gordon Freeman returning to find Earth under the control of the alien Combine. What follows is a journey through City 17 and beyond, mixing first-person shooting, physics puzzles and exploration. The Gravity Gun changes everything, letting you use the world itself as a weapon, from saw blades to exploding barrels.

Why we like it: Half-Life 2 set a new standard for story-driven shooters. Every level introduced something new – from the horror of Ravenholm to the hovercraft chase along Highway 17 and the rebellion that follows. The Gravity Gun made every encounter feel different, and its world-building and pacing influenced everything from Bioshock and Dishonored to Metro and Titanfall 2. It remains one of the most inventive and ambitious shooters ever made.

2. Halo: Combat Evolved

Bungie

• Release Date: 15 November 2001
• Developer: Bungie
• Format: Xbox, later PC

What it’s about: Halo: Combat Evolved changed console shooters forever. You play as Master Chief, a supersoldier defending humanity from the alien Covenant after crash-landing on a mysterious ringworld. The campaign moves from tight corridor battles to huge outdoor encounters, supported by smart enemy AI, vehicles and co-op play. It proved that first-person shooters could work flawlessly on a controller and still deliver scale, variety and pace that matched anything on PC.

Why we like it: Halo made console shooters feel epic. Its battles were unpredictable and exciting, its weapons and vehicles perfectly balanced, and every encounter encouraged creativity. Split-screen and LAN multiplayer became instant obsessions, and that opening theme remains one of the most recognisable in gaming. More than two decades later, it stands as one of the most important and influential shooters ever made.

1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

Activision

• Release Date: 5 November 2007
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Format: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, later PS4, Xbox One

What it’s about: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare moved the series from World War II to the present day and transformed the first-person shooter forever. Its campaign follows multiple soldiers across a modern conflict that feels fast, cinematic and immediate, from the slow tension of All Ghillied Up to the devastation of a nuclear strike. Multiplayer introduced killstreaks, perks and custom loadouts, creating the foundation for online shooters for years to come.

Why we like it: Modern Warfare changed everything. The campaign delivered non-stop intensity and unforgettable missions, while the multiplayer hooked millions with its fast pacing and endless rewards for every match played. Maps like Crash, Crossfire and Overgrown became instant favourites, and its influence is still everywhere you look. It wasn’t just a new direction for Call of Duty – it was the moment modern shooters truly began.

If you enjoyed our picks for the best shooting games and want to read more of our hot takes then check out our lists of the best Xbox games and best PlayStation games.