The last decade of gaming has been a revolutionary time. The past ten years have seen more change than any other time frame in gaming. Changes in technology paved the way for bigger and better games. Games started to run better, look better, and simply play better. A common genre that went through significant change was first-person shooters.
The following games are the best first-person shooters of the last decade. Some of these games revolutionized the way we play first-person shooters now. Large franchises likeCall of DutyandBattlefielddominate the FPS genre, but there are many underdogs that should be recognized.
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10Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
Treyarch already had a great reputation beforeCall of Duty: Black Ops.World at Warsaw a great change in theCoDfranchise. It was gritty and gory, unlike anything before it. Furthermore, the game introduced Nazi Zombies which has become a staple of every Treyarch game.
Black Opswas praised for its fun and energetic multiplayer, while the campaign gave players a lot to think about. The big twist that takes place within the story really drives the campaign. Additionally, Nazi Zombies was refined with more maps and downloadable content post-launch. This installment of CoD would spark many more afterward.
9Crysis 2 (2011)
For many,Crysis 2would not be the first pick when it came to the best first-person shooters of 2011. Instead, they would probably pickModern Warfare 3orBattlefield 3. Some may have even pickedBulletstorm. However,Crysis 2is an excellent FPS that shows a lot of heart and change from the first game. It is also has a lot of character, unlike the two aforementioned franchises.
Bulletstormhad a tone of character but the story could not compete withCrysis 2.The storypaired with excellent FPS mechanics, the game certainly stands out from the rest. Being equipped with a suit that can make you invisible or super-strong has its advantages. Plus, the game used the Cryengine game engine which made it look stunning.
8Far Cry 3 (2012)
The first genre you would think of applying toFar Cry 3would not be the first-person shooter label. Most would apply the open-world label to its fantastic story and excellent gameplay. However, the core mechanics of this game are derived from FPS games.
Far Cry 3 effortlessly beat other games that year. The primary antagonist, Vaas Montenegro, is certainly one of the best parts of the game. He has a great personality that was unlike many other villains at the time. Finally, the different endings of the game made your choice matter in how you felt at the end.
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7Battlefield 4 (2014)
2013 was an excellent time forBattlefield 4because one of the best games in the franchise released.Battlefield 4was the biggest game in the series at the time. Maps were massive and the destruction was unlike anything before. Gunplay has also been improved to feel more realistic than past installments.
Multiplayer was intense and chaos-filled. The story was also praised for its surprise moments. The only downfallBattlefield 4had was its multiplayer issues at launch. The game had many server issues and graphical bugs. Luckily, patches made quick work of those issues.
6The Master Chief Collection (2014)
343 Industries finally centralized theHalofranchise withThe Master Chief Collection. The game was certainly not perfect such as multiplayer issues, but it still did a lot of exceptional things. Firstly, it graphically improved older games.Halo 2got an anniversary edition that was stunning andCombat Evolvedgot the same treatment from its pasts anniversary edition.
Secondly, the game centralized the franchise. Past games were locked on older consoles so it was nice to have most of them in one place.Halo 3: ODSTwas added later on andHalo Reachwill soon make its debut.The Master Chief Collectionwas certainly a standout game that year.
5Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (2015)
That said,Rainbow Six Siegelived on to be a monumental success. It may not be the strongest first-person shooter right out of the gate, but it needed time to grow. That growth created a very successful game that is the best example of a game as a service. Ubisoft has added numerousoperatorsand maps to make the game what it is today.
4Titanfall 2 (2016)
Titanfall 2is arguably the most underrated first-person shooter of the last decade. 2016 saw big first-person shooter release andTitanfall 2was sadly released by the two biggest:Call of Duty: Infinite WarfareandBattlefield 1.Titanfall 2features excellent multiplayer with silky-smooth wall running that theCoDfranchise could never replicate properly.
The campaign ofTitanfall 2was also the best FPS campaign in a long time. It featured Jack Cooper and his Titan, BT-7274. These two’s relationship is great because of their dialogue and the events they both go through. It is unfortunate we still have not received a sequel since, but we can always hope.
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3Destiny 2 (2017)
The firstDestinygame released in 2014. The franchise started off the shared-world shooter franchise and has done successfully ever since. Other games likeThe DivisionandAnthemhave done their best to replicate the formula, but have not been as successful.
Destiny 2certainly shines because of its core changes from the first game. It added an impactful story that went on in post-launch content. The game did not start out exceptionally well, but it has since grown into better standings with players. The split with Activision has most likely helped improve the game overall.
2Hunt: Showdown (2018)
Crytek returns with a new game set in the late 1890s.Hunt: Showdownis a watered-down battle royale with player-versus-player-versus-environment elements. Players are tasked with hunting down a paranormal bounty with a fellow hunter. Across the map are several different types of monstrosities along with other players trying to obtain the same bounty.
The setting ofHunt: Showdownis unique and the mechanics of the game make it an excellent first-person shooter. The game features permadeath so once you die, your hunter’s equipment is lost. You’ll have to score a bounty for money to get it all back again.
1Apex Legends (2019)
Respawn Entertainment is a studio that likes to add their own twist to a genre. They showed that off clear as day with theTitanfallfranchise.Apex Legendsdoes the same thing by adding heroes to the battle royale genre.Apex Legendsis the first worthy competitor ofFortnite.
Apex Legends' hero-based squad system makes it very competitive. Certain squad compositions can greatly affect the outcome of a match, so it is important to find the right balance. Respawn’s support for the game has been strong even though there have been some minor hiccups here and there.
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