Best First-person and third-person Shooters to play today.

No matter what kind of shooter you enjoy, this list has something for you.

This goes for the platform as well. Regardless if you want to play on a PS4 or a PC, most modern games work on all platforms.

So with that in mind, we have taken a look at our absolute favorite shooters in modern times.

NOTE: This is not a list of the best shooters of all time. It is simply recommendations for 17 awesome FPS games to play in 2020.

The games do not have to have been released this year. They just have to be from recent years and still feel fresh.

1. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Best Tactical Shooter

Screenshot from Rainbow Six Siege video game

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege feels much like a more fleshed out Counter-Strike, and that is not to bash on CS:GO, they just have two very different target audiences. Counter-Strike is a much better competitive shooter, and its simplicity is it’s biggest strength.

However, like Counter-Strike, Six Siege lets you play as either an elite tactical unit or terrorists in a ton of different scenarios. Some of which might seem familiar to Counter-Strike players, such as the Hostage and the Bomb game mode, but Six Siege also offers modes such as Terrorist Hunt, Secure Area, and more. The Variation in-game modes are one of the game’s big advantages.

Besides offering plenty of game modes, it also provides a LOT of different ways to complete your objectives, and this is where it starts to set itself apart. You can blow your way through a wall to get to your target; you can propel down from the roof, and you can ram your way through the front door, to name a few. This adds a different kind of tactical element than most other shooters on the market and makes you feel like an elite tactical unit.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is the best of the series to date and is the best game on the market if you want to live out your fantasies as an elite tactical siege unit. While playing solo is fun. The online multiplayer mode is where this game really shines.

Related: Tired of getting snuck up on? Here are the best headsets for gaming right now.

2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Best Competitive Shooter

In-game screenshot of counter strike GO

  • Platform: PC
  • Genre: First-person shooter
  • Modes: Online Multiplayer
  • Steam Rating: 9/10
  • Link: Official Site / Steam Page

CS:GO should need no introduction or explanation, it is one of the biggest eSport games on the competitive gaming scene and by far the biggest fps game in eSports. If you were a fan of one of the older CS games, then you need to try out CS:GO. It is in many ways the same game we all fell in love with over ten years ago, but much more polished, optimized, and clean.

There are quite a few changes from Counter-Strike: Source, but the premise is the same. However, you may have a few difficulties with your aiming if you are switching directly from Source to Global Offensive.

So if you had any love for the older Counter-Strike games, or maybe never tried them(not likely), you really should try out CS:GO.

Related: Top 10 Mice for competitive fps gaming.

3. Overwatch

Best Hero Based FPS Game

Image of in-game play in Overwatch

Overwatch was the big winner of the gaming industry in 2016, with almost every gaming magazine, channel, and YouTuber naming it their ”Game of the Year 2016”. While it did have some initial issues at release, most of the Overwatch success is very deserved.

It is fast-paced, fun, addictive, and offers endless replayability due to the ton of different characters and play styles. In case you have been living under a rock for the past years, this is what Overwatch is:

Two teams of 6 players fight over map-specific objectives such as Assault, Escort, Control, or Hybrid. This sounds pretty standard, but this is where the similarities to other shooters end. You can choose between a vast array of heroes instead of classes/load-outs, and much like in MOBAs, these heroes have a set of abilities and an ultimate ability. Furthermore, there are different hero types, such as tanks, offense, defense, and supports. Overwatch is A LOT of fun and is a game we will likely play for years to come.

4. Valorant

The new kid on the block

Valorant image

  • Platform: PC(Console TBA)
  • Genre: Team-based first-person shooter
  • Modes: Online Multiplayer
  • Steam Rating: N/A
  • Link: Official Site

Riot Games’ brand new competitive shooter, Valorant, seems to be the next big thing. While hype usually disappears as quickly as it appears, I do think Valorant has enough quality to live past the initial hype.

It is very reminiscent of Overwatch with its character-based kits and abilities but has more refined shooting mechanics and, in some sense, feels like a hybrid between Overwatch and CS:GO.

It’s a game that clearly focuses on competitive play and is made for tournaments and eSports, and with how well Riot handles League of Legends, I have confidence that Valorant will see a lot of mainstream success. It is highly addictive, fast-paced, and rewards skill more than a lot of its competitors.

5. Fortnite: Battle Royale

Best Battle Royale with a building component

Fortnite wallpaper

  • Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
  • Genre: First-person battle royale shooter
  • Modes: Multiplayer
  • Steam Rating: N/A
  • Link: Official Site 

This wacky, highly stylized, and highly addictive Battle Royale shooter has taken over the gaming world since its release in 2017. While Fortnite might turn some people off with its cartoonish and almost childish art style, it is not just a game for children. It is highly competitive, and few games on the market offer the same level of skill cap and high-paced gameplay.

On the surface, it might look like most other Battle Royales. You are dropped down with X number of opponents and last man standing wins. However, Fortnite sets itself apart with its resource and building component, which also requires an enormous amount of skills to master.

What really makes Fortnite stand out from its competitors apart from its wonky art style is Epic Games’ constant updates and content drops with each new season. No other free-to-play game on the market is as ever-changing and receive as many updates as Fortnite, and once you get into the game, it is really hard to let go.

6. Apex Legends

Best Battle Royale Shooter

Image of Bloodhound from Apex Legends

  • Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
  • Genre: First-person battle royale shooter
  • Modes: Multiplayer
  • Steam Rating: N/A
  • Link: Official Site 

Apex Legends has become the fastest game ever to gain 25 million players, reaching that milestone in just one week, and it’s not a coincidence, it’s a fantastic game.

Apex Legends is completely free-to-play but has a level of polish and attention to detail that is rare today even among fully-priced triple-A games. The gameplay is as smooth as Overwatch, the gunplay is as good as in Call of Duty, and the movement is as fluid as in Mirror’s Edge. The entire gameplay experience in Apex Legends is excellent. Combine that with the great innovations that Apex Legends has made to the battle royale formula. Then you have not only the best battle royale on the market but one of the best shooters of recent years.

I had honestly reached a point where I was utterly fatigued on the battle royale genre as the market got increasingly oversaturated. However, Apex Legends is not your regular cash grab battle royale game; it is a fantastic game that any fan of first-person shooters should give a try.

Read Full Review of Apex Legends.

7. Paladins

Best free-to-play ”Overwatch Clone.”

Official wallpaper for Paladins pc game

  • Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
  • Genre: Team-based first-person shooter
  • Modes: Online Multiplayer
  • Steam Rating: 9/10
  • Link: Official Site / Steam Page

It is hard to tell which of the two games copied each other, Overwatch or Paladins, as they were both in development at the same time. One thing is for sure, though; if you want a free-to-play version of Overwatch with the same level of polish and gameplay, then Paladins is right up your alley.

It is honestly insane how much alike these two games are, but Paladins is not a low-effort clone in any sense of the word. It’s a fast-paced, competitive, hero-based shooter that receives frequent updates, and in many ways, it’s just as good as the pay-to-play Overwatch.

8. Dying Light

Best survival horror shooter

Screen capture from Dying light playstation 4 game

  • Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
  • Genre: Open-world first-person survival horror action-adventure
  • Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
  • Steam Rating: 9/10
  • Link: Official Site / Steam Page / Buy From amazon

Dying Light is an open-world first-person survival horror action-adventure, and the blend of all these different genres work so well. Not only is Dying Light one of the best first-person shooters in recent years but also one of the best survival horror games of all time, and incredible open-world adventure experience. In other words, Dying Liexcelsells at every single genre it blends into.

It’s scary, thrilling, and has top-tier fluid gameplay, and I would recommend this game to anyone who would dare play through it. It is one of the best games of the decade, and its brutal melee combat, gameplay altering day-night cycle, and fantastic campaign are just some of the reasons why.

9. Borderlands: The Handsome Collection

Best role-playing shooter

Screenshot from Borderlands 2 on Xbox One

  • Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
  • Genre: Open-world first-person shooter role-playing game
  • Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
  • Steam Rating: 10/10
  • Link: Official Site / Steam Page / Buy From amazon

The Borderlands Trilogy is among the best gaming trios of all time and stands as one of our favorite role-playing games as well as one of the best shooters on the market. The story, characters, and world of the Borderlands are magnificent, and it doesn’t sit at a 10/10 user score on Steam by coincidence.

Aside from being a great role-playing game, it is also a fantastic shooter and even got famous for having the highest amount of different guns out of any shooter. The gunplay and customization of the weapons are excellent, and any fan of open-world shooters needs to try Borderlands.

Borderlands 2 remains one of the best games of all time and manages to nail every genre it touches.

10. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Best multiplayer online loot shooter

Image taken from the Division 2

  • Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One
  • Genre: Open-world first-person shooter role-playing game
  • Modes: Online Multiplayer
  • Link: Official Site/ Buy From amazon

The Division had a lot of great ideas and concepts but lacked proper execution. The Division 2 has gone of out its way to fix all of the underlying problems and create a meaningful MMORPG-like experience and has definitely succeeded.

The game takes place seven months after a devastating poison outbreak that has left America in a post-apocalyptic state with few human survivors. It takes place in Washington, and the world of Division 2 is one of the most beautiful recreations of real-life locations in gaming history.

The Division 2 is unique and might not be for your average shooter fan, but if you enjoy shooters and like role-playing games and looters, then this is right up your alley. It is a combination of Destiny 2 and Fallout but in a much more realistic setting. So if you want a shooter that focuses on character progression above all that you can play with your friends, then I would recommend The Division 2.

11. FarCry 5

Best Open World FPS

Screenshot from Farcry 5

Since the critical and commercial success of Farcry 3, this franchise has become a fan favorite, and Farcry 5 was one of the most anticipated games of 2018. While the Farcry franchise had seen a decline in quality with the fourth installment as well as Farcry Primal, the newest installment brings the franchise back to its former glory.

The game takes place in Hope County, which is a fictional state in the southern parts of America and brings a fresh new feel to the series. Any fan of the previous Farcry games and fans of open-world games, in general, will almost certainly love Farcry 5. It has astonishing graphics, slick gameplay, and a rather engaging story.

Read Full Review of Farcry 5.

12. Team Fortress 2

Best free-to-play first-person shooter

Wallpaper of Team Fortress 2

  • Platform: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • Genre: Team-based first-person shooter
  • Modes: Singleplayer, Multiplayer
  • Steam Rating: 9/10
  • Link: Official Site / Steam Page 

What can I say about this classic? Well, more than a decade after the initial release, it is still one of the most popular games on Steam and shows no sign of slowing down. It is an incredibly fun team-based shooter, and Team Fortress laid the groundwork for games such as Overwatch. Much like in Overwatch, you have a couple of great characters to choose from, each with their own specific skill set. Despite being a lot more simple than Overwatch, it is still one of the best first-person shooters today, and the unique art style ensures that the graphics never really go out of style.

Team Fortress has gone entirely free-to-play, and unlike most of its competitors, it has a very user-friendly progression system and can be played without spending a dime in the shop.

Good free-to-play games are rare to come by nowadays, and Team Fortress is one of the best there is and certainly our favorite in the first-person shooter genre.

13. Killing Floor 2

Best Horde mode shooter

In-game screenshot from Killing Floor 2

Games with a focus on great co-op/LAN gameplay are so rare nowadays, which is why we were so happy to try out this excellent horde shooter. Most modern games have a focus on an online play or single-player campaign, but nothing beats sitting next to your IRL buddy at a LAN and overcoming those challenges together. While Killing Floor 2 does have a stellar online mode, it is the multiplayer player-versus-environment experience that blew us away.

The game is a healthy mix of Call of Duty Zombie Mode and Left for Dead 2, and a piece of its own originality. You can either choose to fight the hordes of zombies with your buddies and see how far you get or play Left for Dead style with zombies vs. humans. Both are tons of fun, and what we enjoyed about the horde mode is that you can complete it, unlike the famous Call of Duty Zombie Mode.

There is also a ton of classes, upgrades, weapons, and cosmetics you can spend your in-game money on, giving it even more replayability. The ten classes allow you to play for hours on end without it becoming stale. You can play as the Berserker, Commando, Support, Field Medic, Demolitionist, Firebug, Gunslinger, Sharpshooter, Survivalist, and SWAT.

Read Full Review of Killing Floor 2.

14. Battlefield 1

Best Large-Scale Experience

Grand Battlefield 1 standard edition wallpaper

Battlefield 1 was, without a doubt, one of the most hyped games in the past decade and also ended up being the most sold game of the year. It is not so hard to see why the hype was enormous for this large-scale World war 1 FPS game. Never have a shooter delivered such a theatrical war-like gaming experience, and it truly feels like you are amid the darkest and grittiest war in history. It is genuinely refreshing to see someone step away from the sci-fi/advanced warfare style fps genre and go back to a classic, historic setting.

The single-player campaign is decent, but you should NOT buy it for the single-player experience. The only way to get your money worth with Battlefield 1 is online, which is terrific. If you enjoyed Battlefield 3, 4, or Bad Company 2, this game is definitely for you. It offers the same kind of large-scale warfare but does it a lot better.

There is one bad thing that has to be said, though. The initial game does not have enough maps and weapons, and we are sad to see that all the additional content DLC’s have to be bought with a premium pass or separately. While not surprising nowadays, it is always disappointing to see this business model.

15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare(2019)

Best Call of Duty in recent years

Call of Duty WallpaperCall of Duty is one of the most beloved and one of the most hated video game series of all time with an equal amount of excellent and horrible games under its belt. However, sometimes Activision does get it right, and the 2019 Modern Warfare is one of these times.

It has an excellent campaign with some of the most realistic and harrowing missions of the series, yet that depicts modern warfare very well. While the campaign was my favorite part of Modern Warfare, I thoroughly enjoyed the online play and battle royale modes as well(Warzone).

Warzone is now also free-to-play and is probably the best battle royale on the market right now if you are looking for something a bit more realistic than Apex Legends or Fortnite.

16. Titanfall 2

Best Sci-fi shooter

Wallpaper from Titanfall 2

While the original Titanfall may have disappointed a lot of people, it was built around a fantastic concept with much potential. The idea of controlling not only a soldier but also the titan machine gave room for some very innovative and exciting combat.

Titanfall 2 is everything that the first game should have been, and it brings an incredibly polished and fluid gaming experience. Even if you disliked Titanfall, we do recommend trying out the second installment, as it has improved on the concept and gameplay in every way.

Unlike every other game on this list, this game should be bought for both the single-player and online experience. The campaign is incredibly fun, with interesting characters and a great story about an aspiring rifleman climbing the ranks to become an elite titan pilot. Furthermore, the online experience is just as great and makes this one of the ”best value for money” games of the modern fps genre.

17. DOOM & DOOM Eternal

In-game screen image from Doom game

When a new DOOM game was announced, it was a mix of incredible hype as well as fear of them ruining such a storied franchise. Luckily, the hype proved well deserved, and the doubt about the new DOOM release was quickly forgotten. While still being true to the classic Doom from 1993, they managed to create a fresh, yet familiar gaming experience with this new release. And the brand new sequel, DOOM Eternal, put any doubts about the new DOOM series to rest. Both are excellent, fast-paced, FPS games with no lack of gore and challenges.

The new DOOM games are, without a doubt, the best reimagined modern-day game and strike the perfect balance between what worked in the original DOOM and what works for modern games.

If you are a fan of the classic FPS genre games such as Duke Nukem, Quake, and DOOM, then this is likely your new favorite game.

Read Full Review of Doom.

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23 COMMENTS

  1. Nothing good then. Killing Floor is a 10+ year old mod made for UT a game that was good. Doom is ok I guess but I can’t remember the last time I wanted to put it on.

    Its a dark time for online gaming. broken p2p netcodes and cheap nasty graphical effects.

    • yes, couldnt agree more. Not sure any of these games are even 2018.

      Wouldnt be such a bad thing if it wasn’t for the broken netcodes and this clearly stupid lag comp system that needs deleting and forgotten about. It’s 2018, if you don’t have a good connection then go home.

  5. Late to the game…but anyway do a little more research, paladins came first, seriously it was in development way before blizzard…

  6. Yes, definitely. Insurgency sandstorm should take the place of Black Ops 4. Originally i was thing of it replacing Battlefield 1, but i ended up changing my mind because battlefield 1 is deffinitely better in my opinion. It has larger maps, more players, ah a campaign.

  7. That is wrong. Overwatch was in development for 7 years before its announcement as a game called titan. The creators of paladins have said that they take influence from overwatch.

  9. Paladins was playable first, regardless of which game was “in development”. We have no way of knowing the details on what happened privately. The fact is Paladins “came out first”. Nobody even knew what Overwatch was when we were playing Paladins. Even if OW had come out first, it doesn’t make Paladins a clone. Nor is Overwatch a clone of Paladins…

  12. All garbage annoying games except for the division and doom.
    Csgo would be a perfect game without the never ending cheaters (will never happen) and bo4 would bo “cool” if it wasnt 100$ and took 164 gb of space . Not even worth to bother with these games.
    i dont blame the list these are indeed the best games we have nowadays and our best ones now are like the worst in game history

    • Hey Jaxen,
      If you play the paid version of CS:GO, cheating is far less of an issue. An issue, but quite rare(at least in ranked games).

  13. Black ops 4 is pure garbage. Not sure how this got any good review..no camp…multiplayer is just a free for all with no teamwork. Time for them to kill black ops

  15. Battlefield 1 literally only has 7 servers and only 2 above 30 players and the fullest lobby has always been full and has a constant que of 15 plus waiting. Battlefield 4 has way more players and lobbies.

  17. Calling paladins an overwatch clone just because they’re both hero shooters is like saying people and plants are the same thing because they’re both made of cells.

    Paladins and Overwatch both have their own unique identities and mechanics and Paladins is much more diverse and customizable. I think “shameless clone” really minimizes it’s individuality.

    That said, I didn’t exactly enjoy the game on release.

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