Summary
The first-person shooter genre is perhaps one of the most popular in the gaming industry, with roots inclassic 90s shooterslikeDOOMandQuake. With the popular release ofCounter-Strike: Sourcein 2004, multiplayer first-person shooters became one of the most popular and competitive forms of video games.
There has been an abundance of multiplayer first-person shooters over the last two decades, fromcompetitive experiences likeCounter-Strike: Global Offensive, to long-standing co-operative experiences likeLeft 4 Dead 2. These games represent some of the most timeless, influential, and most-supported multiplayer FPS games of all time.
This classic entry intheCall Of Dutyfranchiseis arguably responsible for the direction that those games took.Modern Warfaremay look like a generic shooter now, and it may have set a precedent for the games that would come after it, but at the time,Modern Warfarewas a fresh experience.
Modern Warfare’s multiplayer mode managed to be both challenging and yet more accessible than games such asCounter-Strike, featuring a more forgiving time-to-kill. Furthermore, unlike many popular shooters at the time,Modern Warfaredidn’t feature a strictly class-based system. Instead, pre-made classes determine players' starting weapons, grenades, and perks, butModern Warfare’s progression system quickly lets players make their unique classes. As well as this,Modern Warfarealso introducedCall Of Duty’skill-streak system.
The looter-shooter genre has always lent itself well to multiplayer co-op, and it could be argued thatBorderlandsis part of the reason why. While not everyone gels with the somewhat grating humor ofBorderlands,Borderlands 2showed enough restraint to prevent itself from overshadowing its excellent gameplay loop.
With an ensemble cast of distinct playable characters, an abundance of weaponry and loot, and fast-paced gameplay,Borderlands 2is perfect for playing with friends. Furthermore, its extensive amount of content is likely to keep most players engaged for a good chunk of time.
This stylized cooperative first-person shooter puts players in the role of rowdy dwarven miners, delving into procedural caves in search of loot.Deep Rock Galacticfeatures unique classes, a solid progression system, and gameplay that rewards teamwork.
Deep Rock Galacticcan be played alone, but it’s ultimately at its best when played with friends. The variety of mission objectives, impressive caverns to explore, and weighty combat makeDeep RockGalactica multiplayer FPS with massive replay value.
Titanfall 2may have been slept on for years, and many players may have missed out on it, but it’s no secret now that it’s one ofthe greatest movement shooters.Titanfall 2’s combination of fluid player movement, well-designed maps, and chaotic mech battles makes it a truly unique multiplayer FPS.
Titanfall 2is extremely fast-paced, packed with variety, and has a relatively high ceiling for mastery. It won’t be for everyone, but those who enjoyTitanfall 2will find heaps of replay value in mastering its various mechanics.
Cooperative multiplayer horde shooters have become one of the more saturated and popular sub-genres of FPS games, arguably due to the sheer popularity of games likeLeft 4 Dead 2. Even without its strong community and a heap of custom content,Left 4 Dead 2is a strong cooperative experience that tasks players with mowing through hordes of zombies in a variety of well-designed maps.
Left 4 Dead 2’sgameplay and progression is fairly simplistic, and for that reason, it won’t be for everyone, but when played with good friends,Left 4 Dead 2becomes a chaotic, fun-first experience. Furthermore, it’s bereft of over-complicated progression systems, microtransactions, and battle passes.
TheHalogames were always a good source of multiplayer fun, though never in a competitive sense.Halo 2’s multiplayer in particular is beloved by many, butHalo 3arguably wins out with its extensive Forge mode and custom games.
WhileHalo 3is showing its age, and the community is nowhere near as strong as it once was, at its height,Halo 3was one of the most fun multiplayer experiences at the time. The creativity thatHalo 3’sForge mode encouraged, along with its fun-first multiplayer modes, made it a consistently enjoyable experience that wasn’t weighed down by a competitive nature.
Against all odds,Team Fortress 2has stood the test of time, in part thanks to its strong, tight-knit community, and its strong mechanics and accessibility.Team Fortress 2is a class-based multiplayer FPS that offers a variety of experiences with custom games and regular multiplayer modes, and one of the oldest multiplayer FPS games to retain such a large player base.
Team Fortress 2, despite its age, is still relatively fun to play. This is in large part due to its variety of well-designed classes, each of which feels distinct and offers unique challenges for players to master.
While some players may favorUnreal TournamentoverQuake 3 Arena, it could be said that both games fit the same niche at around the same time. There are arguments for and against both titles, butQuake 3’s carefully curated maps, variety of useful (and often situational) weapons, and constant opportunities for skill expression make it one of the most nuanced multiplayer FPS games of all time.
Quake 3is heavilyfocused on fast-paced actionand movement shooter gameplay, in which there’s little room for error. There’sa ridiculously high skill ceilinginQuake 3, thanks to its plethora of movement tech and reliance on map knowledge. While the only remaining players are mostly hardcore fans that newcomers will have no chance against,Quake 3still stands as a well-crafted classic.
This highly competitive asymmetric multiplayer shooter splits players into two teams of five and often tasks them with defusing/planting a bomb on one of several classic maps. These well-designed maps are the core ofCounter-Strike, but its carefully designed gunplay and economics are a close second.
Counter-Strike’s history is long and storied, and many an entry in the series could be subbed in here, butCounter-Strike 2is arguably the most polished title. Furthermore, its modern game feel and large player base make it more accessible for newcomers than otherCounter-Strikegames.
Steam User Rating: 85% (No Longer Available)
Although there’s plenty of love to be had forBattlefield 2, many fans of theBattlefieldfranchise will often go to bat forBad Company 2. This revolutionaryBattlefieldtitle built upon the innovations of the originalBad Company, creating even more destructible environments.
This environmental destruction is what madeBad Company 2so impressive, along with its strong map design. These maps were often sprawling and packed with destructible buildings, and many of them lent themselves well toBad Company 2’sexcellent Rush game mode.Bad Company 2’s servers have unfortunately been shut down, but it remains a landmark in multiplayer FPS history.
