Best Xbox first-person shooters
From sci-fi worlds filled with futuristic weapons and alien monsters to games based on real conflicts that recount some of the darkest moments in our history, here’s our list of the best Xbox first-person shooters.
The first-person shooter (FPS) genre is one of the most popular in gaming. The list of first-person shooters available on Xbox is constantly growing, and with so many FPS games available, there’s something out there for most tastes, from sci-fi worlds filled with futuristic weapons and alien monsters to games based on real conflicts that recount some of the darkest moments from our history.
If you’re looking to decide which first-person shooter you should play next, look no further, as we’ve narrowed down the choice by using a combination of site review scores, community ratings, and some editorial input to put together our list of the best Xbox first-person shooters.
Prodeus
The Doom-inspired Prodeus absolutely should not be missed. It’s quite a unique first-person shooter as it’s a modern game, with all the performance and visuals that come with that, that features old school gameplay similar to that of Quake and Doom. The game is a bit light on the narrative side of things, but that doesn’t matter too much once you’re blasting your way through rooms of gruesome-looking enemies with your arsenal of weapons, leaving nothing but a bloody mess in your wake. Prodeus is also currently included with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, so get on it if you’re a subscriber.
Prodeus is a first-person shooter of old, re-imagined using modern rendering techniques and technology. Experience the quality you’d expect from a modern AAA game, designed with retro aesthetics and gameplay that invoke the tech-imposed limits of older hardware.
Battlefield 1
Okay, we’ll say it upfront: this isn’t the best Battlefield. This entry takes place in The Great War, and while its attention to the period setting is its strength — it’s also its weakness. It’s a touch shallow. The gunplay occasionally lacks variety, and some of the maps are excruciatingly designed, especially compared to Battlefield 4 and Bad Company 2. Add in game-changing Behemoths — like an airship or an armoured train — that rain fire down on the winning side to try and level the playing field, and Battlefield 1 struggles to maintain its momentum for long sessions of play. However, we’d be stupid to think this isn’t the best entry point and most accessible for a new player to the series. The WWI aesthetics are absolutely perfect. Shouts and screams bring an element of horror to attacking a fortified trench. The unrefined crunch of bullets on trees in the Ardenne Forests are enough to make your fingers tremor on the trigger. The locations are stunningly presented. There are deserts, Italian mountainsides, and city streets which all evoke the period so staunchly you feel like you are living the war. The fact that this game looks better than its sequel, Battlefield V, speaks volumes to the effort that DICE put in. Though the gunplay leaves a bit to be desired, it sounds good and feels good getting your shot on target like no other game series. Add in the last fantastic rendition of the class system, good destruction mechanics, and fun vehicle play — there is no better place to enter the battlefield.
Experience the dawn of all-out war in Battlefield™ 1. Discover a world at war through an adventure-filled campaign, or join in epic multiplayer battles with up to 64 players. Fight as infantry or take control of amazing vehicles on land, air and sea, and adapt your gameplay to the most dynamic battles in Battlefield history.
Wolfenstein: The New Order
This single-player FPS from MachineGames sees beefy hero B.J. Blazkowicz arise from a coma after attacking a Nazi castle in WWII and failing. When he wakes, the world is a bit rubbish — the Nazis won. This new order is rich with a steampunk aesthetic which shapes the linear level design with fantastic variety. While the game is often presented as very simple, don’t mistake that for not being well-presented and full of wild ideas. One moment you are warring in a concentration camp, taking out the worst Nazi grandmother in history, the next you are on a moon base. The New Order is often brash with its villains, but — perhaps surprisingly — this means it isn’t afraid to show you the worst of the Nazi regime in ways that will stay with you for a long time yet. Most importantly, that gives you prime context for committing ultraviolence against the worst people imaginable with dual-wielded weapons firing reams of bullets at men who end up as little more than bloody pulps by the time you are done with them. It feels good, it sounds good, and the array of weapons is wicked — the sum total is perfect. With a Mick Gordon OST blaring in your ears, you couldn’t ask for a better time to spend 20 hours on the Wolfenstein: The New Order achievements. This is one of our favourite games in recent years, and it is on Game Pass, so don’t miss it!
Europe, 1960. The tide of World War II has been turned using a new kind of mysterious, advanced technology. Using unrelenting force and intimidation, a ruthless world power has brought even the most powerful of nations to their knees. The regime now dominates the globe with an iron fist. You are B.J. Blazkowicz, the American war hero. You are the only man capable of rewriting history.
Borderlands 2
Another remaster from 2K Games is next on the list of the best first-person shooters, brought to the Xbox One in March of 2015 as part of the Borderlands: The Handsome Collection. Behind the instantly recognisable cell-shaded art style, Borderlands 2 is filled with a huge variety of weapons to try, loot to hunt, memorable characters and humour. While the latest entry in the series, Borderlands 3, does feature several improvements over its predecessor, most notably with its gunplay, its humour does feel a little tired for a 2019 release, plus The Calypso Twins are far less interesting than Handsome Jack. For these reasons, Borderlands 2 just edges it over its sequel and makes it onto our list.
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
Shoot and loot as you explore the mayhem-filled world of Pandora in BORDERLANDS 2 and the lunar madness of BORDERLANDS: THE PRE-SEQUEL in BORDERLANDS: THE HANDSOME COLLECTION. Experience the award-winning FPS-RPG series, including its bazillions of guns, trademark cooperative gameplay, and all bonus add-on content, with high performance like never before on a new generation of consoles.
Doom
While Doom and Doom Eternal are both fantastic first-person shooters, we’ve opted to highlight Doom on our list. The 2016 reboot just feels more like a traditional Doom game, with its excellent combat and gameplay. Once you pick up a rhythm, you can easily find yourself lost in a world of death, brutal executions, and gore — and it all feels so fluid! Sure the story may not be as good as Doom Eternal’s, and it might not look as pretty, but Doom’s gameplay is just superb. In Doom Eternal, Id Software made some tweaks to the combat and added some platforming sections that sort of mess with the rhythm of the game, and can stop you from achieving the zen-like killing-machine state that you can so easily slip into with Doom.
Now includes all three premium DLC packs (Unto the Evil, Hell Followed, and Bloodfall), maps, modes, and weapons, as well as all feature updates including Arcade Mode, Photo Mode, and the latest Update 6.66, which brings further multiplayer improvements as well as revamps multiplayer progression. Developed by id Software, the studio that pioneered the first-person shooter genre and created multiplayer Deathmatch, DOOM returns as a brutally fun and challenging modern-day shooter experience.
Destiny 2
If you can get past its seemingly impenetrable lore and story, Destiny 2 is one of the best first-person shooters available, which is kind of what you’d expect from the creators of Halo. The online shooter features some extremely tight and satisfying combat, absolute bucket loads of story content, and more weapons and exotic gear to collect than you could ever dream of. Whether you’re playing solo or squadding up with your pals to take on the latest, challenging Raid there is always something exciting going on in Destiny 2. And of course, the game has just received a new expansion, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, so no is the perfect time to jump back in for both new and returning players.
The Dawning
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: The Dawning. Toss snowballs at unsuspecting enemies, stay frosty with a new Dawning-themed Pulse Rifle, and bake your sweetest culinary creations. Don’t forget, the best way to spread The Dawning cheer is by baking treats and looting gear.
Season of the Seraph
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to rebuild the Warmind Rasputin. Pull off daring heists to steal pieces of Rasputin’s consciousness in a new matchmade activity. Grab your spy kit and infiltrate enemy battlegrounds for a cache of rewards including a new Exotic Submachine Gun and reprised weapons forged by Rasputin himself.
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.
AN IMMERSIVE STORY
You are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.
GUARDIAN CLASSES
Choose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
• Disciplined and proud, Titans are capable of both aggressive assaults and stalwart defenses. Set your hammer ablaze, crack the sky with lightning, and go toe-to-toe with any opponent. Your team will stand tall behind the strength of your shield.
• Warlocks weaponize the mysteries of the universe to sustain themselves and destroy their foes. Rain devastation on the battlefield and clear hordes of enemies in the blink of an eye. Those who stand with you will know the true power of the Light.
• Agile and daring, Hunters are quick on their feet and quicker on the draw. Fan the hammer of your golden gun, flow through enemies like the wind, or strike from the darkness. Find the enemy, take aim, and end the fight before it starts.
COOPERATIVE AND COMPETITIVE MULTIPLAYER
Play with or against your friends and other Guardians in various PvE and PvP game modes.
• Exciting co-op adventures teeming await with rare and powerful rewards. Dive into the story with missions, quests, and patrols. Put together a small fireteam and secure the chest at the end of a quick Strike. Or test your team’s skill with countless hours of raid progression – the ultimate challenge for any fireteam. You decide where your legend begins.
• Face off against other players in fast-paced free-for-all skirmishes, team arenas, and PvE/PvP hybrid competitions. Mark special competitions like Iron Banner on your calendar and collect limited-time rewards before they’re gone.
EXOTIC WEAPONS AND ARMOR
Thousands of weapons, millions of options. Discover new gear combinations and define your own personal style. The hunt for the perfect arsenal begins.
105 GB hard drive storage space required as of November 10, 2020. Subject to change. Requires broadband internet. After November 10, 2020 see www.destinythegame.com/size-requirements for current requirements prior to purchase.
Destiny 2 may contain flashing patterns and images that may produce adverse effects for a small percentage of people sensitive to them.
Bungie, Inc. makes no guarantee regarding the availability of online play or features and may modify or discontinue online services with reasonable notice at any time. Using the software constitutes acceptance of the Destiny Software License Agreement available at www.bungie.net/sla.
© 2022 Bungie, Inc. All rights reserved. Destiny, the Destiny Logo, Bungie and the Bungie Logo are trademarks of Bungie, Inc. Published and distributed by Bungie, Inc.
Superhot
The Superhot team managed to take what seems like a fairly simple mechanic and turn it into a game that is full of possibilities. Having all movement synced to that of the player provided a fresh twist on the shooter genre, and real-time replays give the player another chance to feel awesome about what they just pulled off. Despite the relatively short length of the main levels, the Challenge and Endless modes should provide most players with plenty to sink their teeth into. For several reasons, the game is one of the most innovative shooters in years and should provide players with many hours of entertainment.
Blurring the lines between cautious strategy and unbridled mayhem, SUPERHOT is the FPS in which time moves only when you move. No regenerating health bars. No conveniently placed ammo drops. It’s just you, outnumbered and outgunned, grabbing the weapons of fallen enemies to shoot, slice, and maneuver through a hurricane of slow-motion bullets.
With its unique, stylized graphics SUPERHOT finally adds something new and disruptive to the FPS genre. SUPERHOT’s polished, minimalist visual language helps you concentrate on the most important – on the fluidity of gameplay and cinematic beauty of the fight.
Metro Exodus
To bring a traditionally linear game into an open-world mould without breaking what made it special is a monumental task. Metro is a series known for its ability to capture a dreary underground with a sense of horror and desperation. These elements remain intact, but the new structure brings so much more to play that ]Metro Exodus becomes a better game than its predecessors in every way. The level design is impeccable, seamlessly blending linear levels and open world design while giving you a choice in which way you’d like to go. By breaking out of the subway tunnels, the game also offers a far greater range of environments to explore. The world itself is wonderful to experience with tons of little details to enjoy and just the right amount of horror to keep you on edge. The only downside is the gunplay, with weapons that are hard to aim and that feel like peashooters, but luckily the game adds a stronger stealth element that makes for a fine alternative. Exodus is an overall excellent experience that succeeds at nearly everything it attempts to achieve.
Flee the shattered ruins of the Moscow Metro and embark on an epic, continent-spanning journey across the post-apocalyptic Russian wilderness. Explore vast, non-linear levels, lose yourself in an immersive, sandbox survival experience, and follow a thrilling story-line that spans an entire year in the greatest Metro adventure yet.
Bioshock
One of the Xbox 360 generation’s biggest success stories, ]BioShock was remastered for the Xbox One in September 2016 as part of the Bioshock: The Collection bundle. Featuring a campaign that will stay with you long after you’re finished and the atmospheric setting of Rapture that feels like a living and breathing city, Bioshock is a must for first-person shooter fans.
Explore the undersea city of Rapture, a haven for society’s greatest minds that has devolved into a dystopian nightmare wrought by one man’s hubris.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Featuring the best of what the IP has to offer, ]Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the ultimate collection for Halo fans and would-be Halo fans alike. The collection includes six Halo titles: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4. Not only will these six campaigns keep you busy for hours on end, each game includes its own multiplayer, maps (I think there is well over 120 at this point), modes, and game types, so there is a ton of Halo content here to wrap your head around. If you missed the series until now, or want thousands of Gamerscore in one box, start here. Master Chief was, is, and always will be the official mascot of the Xbox brand, so if you’re serious about seeing all the green team has to offer, there’s no reason to look past this seminal sci-fi series any longer.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
The Master Chief’s epic journey covers four Halo games, collected here in a single integrated experience that leverages the power of the Xbox One. Whether you’re a long-time fan or are just meeting the Master Chief for the first time, The Master Chief Collection is the definitive Halo gaming experience.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
When Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare originally released in 2007, it blew people away with its cinematic campaign, tight shooting mechanics, and a competitive multiplayer experience that took the world by storm. Remastered for the Xbox One generation as part of a pricey Infinite Warfare bundle in 2016, ]Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered finally released a standalone title in 2017. Filled with memorable missions and characters, the action-packed campaign is well worth revisiting again — who doesn’t want to replay All Ghillied Up or work their way through Mile High Club on Veteran difficulty again? Of course, I’m only joking about the latter, but Modern Warfare has so many great moments that everyone should play through its campaign at least once.
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® Remastered
One of the most critically-acclaimed games in history, Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare® is back, remastered in true high-definition, featuring improved textures, physically based rendering, high-dynamic range lighting and much more for a new generation.
Rainbow Six Siege
The change in direction for Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six series won’t please everyone, and will likely turn many fans away, but for those of you who like competitive multiplayer shooters, there’s a lot of enjoyment to be found in ]Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, especially if you can persuade a group of friends to come along for the ride with you as you hone your skills and learn the best strategies for success. If you like team-based tactical shooters, Siege is full of intense and rewarding action that will keep you coming back for more, and with frequent updates since its release, Siege offers better value for money now than it did at launch.
Titanfall 2
]Titanfall 2 is everything which you could possibly wish to find in a sequel, answering all of the negatives of its predecessor. The inclusion of a single-player campaign was very welcomed by many, and although it’s pretty short in length, it is an exhilarating ride that showcases everything that made the first game feel so refreshing, and the refined multiplayer will keep you consumed for months to come. Some argue that the original Titanfall’s multiplayer is better, thanks to interesting and more varied map design, and there is a case to be made there, but with the bonus of the campaign, Titanfall 2 is the game that makes our list.
Titanfall® 2: Ultimate Edition
The Ultimate way to jump into one of the most surprising shooters of 2016! This bundle not only unlocks unique camos, warpaints. and Prime Titans; it also includes the Jump Start Pack, which grants unlocked access to all Titan and Pilot classes, as well as funds and 2x XP tokens to help you hit the ground running in multiplayer.
Apex Legends
This list wouldn’t be complete without a representative from the battle royale genre, and ]Apex Legends fits the bill perfectly. The free-to-play multiplayer shooter features an eclectic mix of characters, each with their own abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. After picking one of the 20 charismatic legends, you are dropped into one of Apex Legends’ ever-evolving and rotating maps, in a squad with two other players and battle it out against 19 other teams to be the last team standing. Over time, the game’s safe zone reduces in size, forcing players to come together and fight in tense encounters. The gunplay is excellent, the maps interesting, and the fast-paced moment-to-moment gameplay frantic and exciting. Respawn has done an excellent job with Apex Legends, and it’s continuously evolving, with new characters, maps, and modes constantly being added, and all for the price of free!
Apex Legends is the award-winning, free-to-play Hero shooter from Respawn Entertainment. Master an ever-growing roster of legendary characters with powerful abilities and experience strategic squad play and innovative gameplay in the next evolution of Hero Shooter and Battle Royale.
Do you agree with our list? What first-person shooters do you think should have made the cut? Let us know down in the comments.
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