Ben grew up on a healthy diet of Nintendo, Xbox, and PC Games. He founded High Ground Gaming in 2014.
Reviewed by Benjamin Barr
Do you have a killer instinct? Can you jump into a game and take out your opponents with ease? If you’re a sharpshooter with a competitive spirit, the best FPS games are for you.
The best FPS games, aka first-person shooters, have you assume the role of a marksman to take out your enemies and obliterate the competition. But you’ll have to be on top of your game if you want to survive. Excellent hand-eye coordination, tactical thinking, and a rapid-fire trigger finger are required for victory.
The FPS genre is booming with fantastic titles available on every PC, console, and mobile device around. To that end, this article takes you through the top 20 best FPS games, with free and paid options to fit everyone’s taste. Ready to make your mark? Let’s get started.
Top 20 Best FPS Games
We’ve curated this top 20 list of best FPS games to help you find your next major title. Let’s jump right in with one of our favorites.
1. Overwatch
One of the best FPS games PC
- Website: https://playoverwatch.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
- Release: 2016
Overwatch is a cross-platform multiplayer shooter by Blizzard Entertainment, and it’s without a doubt one of the best FPS games for PC and console. The gameplay revolves around teams of 6, with each player assuming the role of a hero. Each hero comes with its own special abilities, and you must use your prowess to wipe out the opposing side. Are you up for the challenge? Pick up a copy of Overwatch and see if you can make your mark.
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
One of the best FPS games on Steam
- Website: http://www.counter-strike.net/
- Platform: PC, Mac, Linux, PS3, Xbox 360
- Developer: Valve Corporation
- Release: 2012
If you like classic FPS games, you can’t go wrong with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Featuring team-vs-team play with terrorists and counter-terrorists, hop into one of several different game modes and obliterate the competition. Global Offensive remains incredibly popular among gamers and is lauded for its immersive gameplay and addictive mechanics.
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
One of the best FPS multiplayer games
- Website: https://www.callofduty.com/blackops4
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: Treyarch
- Release: 2018
If you’re a Call of Duty fan, chances are you’ll love Black Ops 4. It brings back all your favorite features and throws in a few twists like new health mechanics, predictive recoil, and a redesigned ballistics system. Explore the new maps or check out Blackout Mode for battle-arena style fighting.
4. Far Cry 5
One of the best FPS PS4 games
- Website: https://far-cry.ubisoft.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Release: 2018
Next in the series lineup is Far Cry 5, a masterpiece that features breathtaking graphics and action-packed gameplay. The game is set in Hope County, Montana, where a doomsday cult is up to no good. Can you unravel the storyline and bring the culprit to justice? Far Cry 5 features an exciting storyline, open-world play, and a multiplayer mode for competitive players. You can check it out on the PC, PS4, or Xbox one!
5. Titanfall 2
One of the best single player FPS games
- Website: https://www.ea.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: Respawn Entertainment
- Release: 2016
Wall running, anyone? Respawn Entertainment returns with Titanfall 2, the sequel to the smash hit original. However, Titanfall 2 takes things to whole new heights, featuring a full-blown story mode, enhanced graphics, and fine-tuned settings. Call in your titan and wipe out the enemy team, or go it alone and traverse the main storyline.
6. Battlefield V
One of the best FPS games Xbox One
- Website: https://www.ea.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: EA Dice
- Release: 2018
Perfect for long gaming sessions on the Xbox One, Battlefield returns with their latest addition to the franchise. Battlefield 5 is a FPS that takes place in a collection of War Stories, each featuring its own characters and storylines. The storytelling is superb, and it’s complemented by excellent tactical mechanics that require you to think critically and be a strategic mastermind. Are you on top of your game? Battlefield 5 awaits.
7. Destiny 2
One of the best online FPS games
- Website: https://www.destinythegame.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: Bungie
- Release: 2017
Destiny is the groundbreaking MMOFPS crossover that incorporates elements from games like Halo, Call of Duty, and even the hottest RPGs! Assume the role of guardian, Earth’s valiant defender, and protect your galaxy from alien invaders! You can travel through the solar system on missions, explore the sandbox-style world, or try your hand at PvP in the Crucible! An exciting adventure.
8. Star Wars Battlefront 2
One of the best action FPS games
- Website: https://www.ea.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: EA Dice
- Release: 2018
Battlefront 2 takes all the mechanics you know and love from the original and incorporates it into an updated world that takes place in your favorite sci-fi setting. Fan favorites like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Yoda all make appearances, and both the campaign and multiplayer modes offer action-packed gameplay. The force is strong with this one.
9. Call of Duty: WWII
One of the best historical FPS games
- Website: https://www.callofduty.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: Sledgehammer Games
- Release: 2017
Another game in the Call of Duty lineup, WWII is a ground-breaking FPS that is set in the 1940s. What’s amazing about this game is that it follows real-world events, as they happened, for an immersive adventure through time. Take on the role of Ronald Daniels and see if you can stop the Nazi invasion through Europe. With a great deal of bravery, and some help from your teammates, you can emerge victorious.
10. Doom
One of the best FPS games of all time
- Website: https://store.steampowered.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
- Developer: ID Software
- Release: 2016
This 2016 version of Doom is a total reboot of the original, a classic FPS that paved the way for the entire genre. Play as a space marine and battle your way through hell and back. The game features an immersive single player campaign with a frightening and action-packed storyline, as well as an exciting multiplayer mode.
11. Half-Life 2
One of the best FPS games for Mac
- Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/220/HalfLife_2/
- Platform: PC, Mac, Linux, PS3, Xbox 360, Android
- Developer: Valve Corporation
- Release: 2004
There are few games that have had as a big cultural impact as Half-Life 2. It’s a groundbreaking first-person shooter with a powerful physics engine, action-packed gameplay, and an immersive storyline. Take on the role of Gordon Freeman and take out your enemies to make it through alive. Unique weapons and a plethora of mods make Half-Life 2 an exciting adventure and one of the best FPS games for Mac.
12. Rainbow Six Siege
One of the best rated FPS games
- Website: https://rainbow6.ubisoft.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Release: 2015
Adored by players, Rainbow Six Siege is a tactical shooter that’s gained somewhat of a cult following in recent years. Assume the position of a soldier from the Rainbow team, and use your unique skills to make it through the mission. Play in the campaign mode or go online to fight others from around the world! It’s fast-paced play with solid shooting mechanics and exceptional graphics.
13. Team Fortress 2
One of the best free FPS games
- Website: http://www.teamfortress.com/
- Platform: PC, Mac, Linux, PS3, Xbox 360
- Developer: Valve Corporation
- Release: 2008
Free to play. Awesome graphics. Incredible mechanics. What more could you ask for? Team Fortress 2 is one of the best free FPS games on Steam, and you can choose from one of nine different classes to achieve victory against the opposition! Unique gameplay possibilities, a variety of maps, and ultra-competitive modes all make Team Fortress 2 a classic FPS.
14. Critical Ops
One of the best mobile FPS games
- Website: https://criticalopsgame.com/
- Platform: iOS, Android
- Developer: Critical Force
- Release: 2015
If you’re a fan of mobile shooters, Critical Ops is the best pick for you. It’s available on Apple and Android devices, and it features objective-based gameplay and unique game modes for action-packed online adventures. Grab one of the powerful guns, gain currency, and shoot your way to the top. Do you have what it takes to fulfill such a critical role?
15. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
One of the best Switch FPS games
- Website: https://wolfenstein.bethesda.net/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
- Developer: Machine Games
- Release: 2018
Developed by Machine Games and published by Bethesda, Wolfenstein 2 is an action-adventure FPS that features an immersive chapter-based campaign. Each action alters the remainder of the storyline, giving you full control over the outcome. But be wary! One mistake could mean disaster! Battle enemies and use your tactical prowess to press the advantage and reach victory. One of the best Switch FPS games on the market.
16. Modern Combat 5
One of the best FPS games for IOS
- Website: http://www.gameloft.com/
- Platform: PC, iOS, Android
- Developer: Gameloft
- Release: 2014
Venice is under attack! The World Liberation Army is attempting to steal a chemical weapon, and it’s up to you to stop them! Shoot, maneuver, and strategize your way to victory to save the world and end the evil army’s reign of terror! The campaign is a joy to play, and multiplayer mode offers exciting match styles and additional tactical possibilities.
17. Quake Champions
One of the best multiplayer FPS games
- Website: https://quake.bethesda.net/
- Platform: PC
- Developer: ID Software
- Release: 2018
Released in 2018, Quake Champions is an exceptional modern FPS that’s totally free-to-play! It’s a thrilling shooter optimized for play on PC, and multiplayer options offer unprecedented strategic possibilities and unique mechanics. Grab a battle pass today and knock out your opponents to win shards, cosmetics, and additional loot! A solid choice if you want to jump in the game without the strain on your wallet.
18. Prey
One of the best sci-fi FPS games
- Website: https://prey.bethesda.net/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Developer: Arkane Studios
- Release: 2017
There are few FPS games that incorporate survival and horror mechanics as well as Prey. The game world boasts sandbox-style maps to explore and adventure in, but you must be careful— enemies are around every corner. The creative storyline takes place just a few years into the feature, but with an entirely different reality. As such, the alien invasion is upon us and survival is not for the faint of heart!
19. Red Crucible: Firestorm
One of the best FPS browser games
- Website: https://www.rocketeergames.com/
- Platform: PC, Mac, Linux, Browser
- Developer: Rocketeer Games
- Release: 2012
Red Crucible is a f2p first-person-shooter with exceptional in-browser graphics, powerful weapons, and limitless customization! Dive into one of the giant arenas and use all your skills to knock out the competition. Secrets, vehicles, and strategic outposts grant a number of unique possibilities, and it’s up to you to outsmart the opposing team. Think you have what it takes? Head over the main website or grab the game for free on Steam!
20. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
One of the best FPS games for Android
- Website: https://www.pubg.com/
- Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, IOS, Android
- Developer: PUBG Corporation
- Release: 2017
If you’re a fan of the battle arena genre, you’re going to love PUBG! It’s an online FPS that pits you and 99 other players against each other in a fight to the death. Collect weapons, outsmart your enemies, and watch out for the ever-shrinking storm! PUBG features non-stop action and a huge competitive scene for eSports champions and ultra-competitive players. That said, only one will make it out alive. Do you have what it takes to emerge victorious?
Further Reading
Like what you see? Check out our other hot gaming roundups for more action-packed fun and competitive play!
- Best Grinding Games
- Best Survival Games
- Best Competitive Games
- Best MMO Games
- Best Linux Games
- Best Xbox Co-Op Games
- Best Playstation Co-Op Games
- Best PC Co-Op Games
Join the Discussion
Give feedback on the article, share additional tips & tricks, talk strategy with other members, and make your opinions known. High Ground Gaming is a place for all voices, and we'd love to hear yours!