FPS games all have one thing in common: guns. It doesn’t matter if it’s a sci-fi adventure or a more grounded PvP experience; the weapons players use are always front and center and a big deciding factor in how fun the gameplay actually is. Oftentimes, a game can have a mostly satisfying gameplay loop, but without a good set of armaments to wield, things can get tiring pretty quickly.
5 FPS Video Game Series Better Than Borderlands
Borderlands is a king among FPS games and looter shooters, but could the following series steal its crown?
However, some FPS games manage to nail the guns in just about every way possible, letting players pick up everything from plasma rifles to beefy revolvers, with every single one feeling just as rewarding as the last. This also means that not only do different playstyles all work just as well, but that there is so much choice on offer that, no matter what, there will always be another gun for players to enjoy.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Deadzone: Rogue
Fast Fights Right From The Get-Go
- Roguelike loop with meaningful upgrades.
- Weapons offer unique buffs and synergies.
Deadzone: Rogue is a very different kind of FPS game. Players enter a series of runs across an overrun spaceship, all in the hopes of uncovering the truth. From the moment a run starts, players are thrown straight into the action, with enough movement and power to easily cut through early rooms, but things only get harder from there.
As they pick up and upgrade their arsenal, it is very clear that weapon classes and types can all function just as well, with some having clear strengths over others in various scenarios. Snipers can be a great way of slowly picking off enemies from afar, while even melee-focused loadouts can find success, ensuring that no matter what weapon hits the ground, it can always be useful.
Titanfall 2
Movement At The Heart Of Every Gunfight
- Precise shooting even at high speeds.
- Huge emphasis on momentum.
Few shooters balance movement and weapon feel as well as Titanfall 2. The game’s fast parkour mechanics create a combat rhythm where weapons must feel responsive while players move at high speeds. Fortunately, nearly every gun in the game delivers a satisfying feel that extends from the gameplay to the audio feedback from every bullet fired.
Even the simplest rifles feel great thanks to tight hit detection and sharp animations, and the variety of weapons also complements the game’s movement system, letting players adapt their playstyle depending on the map and situation. On top of all that, players can access a range of different Titans, all of which come with strengths and weaknesses, adding even more range and depth to an already deep pool of arms.
Borderlands 4
Literally Billions Of Weapons To Find
- Distinct weapon types and perks.
- Constant swapping to higher-powered arms.
Borderlands 4 is an unapologetic looter shooter that raised the bar by letting players find and discover over a billion different gun combinations, all within a single playthrough. Because of how progression works, players will often find themselves picking up and swapping to stronger guns in the middle of a fight, and regardless of what they end up with, they will always feel satisfied and ready for another battle.
8 Nearly Perfect FPS Games Nobody Remembers
These games aren’t Halo, but they still deserve to be remembered for the near-perfect FPS gameplay they gave us.
The biggest thing about guns in Borderlands 4 is the manufacturers, who each offer a different bonus regardless of the weapon class. Some let players charge up their shots and unload them all at once, while others, like the fan-favorite Jakobs guns, make bullets ricochet to nearby enemies, transforming how virtually any weapon functions solely due to random drop chances.
Team Fortress 2
Satisfying Beyond Belief
- Weighty primary and side-grade weapons.
- Range of utility and gimmick guns.
Team Fortress 2 is well-known for many things, but one of the most underrated parts of the game is the guns. Across all nine classes, it is hard to find a single useless weapon, both in the default and unlockable lists. When it comes to the power level of each set, players will soon realize that the standard guns are often the go-tos, while many of the additional ones offer utility or playstyle changes rather than direct upgrades.
Snipers may be tired of getting backstabbed, so they can equip a shield, but the trade-off means losing their SMG. Soldiers might want lower rocket jump damage, swapping out the shotgun for more mobility. In each of these cases, it doesn’t feel like the weapon is a direct replacement, just an optional playstyle that players can choose to adopt or not, with all of them being equally enjoyable, as well as equally strong.
Gunfire Reborn
Creating Synergies Over Time
- Elemental combos are built throughout a run.
- Unique mechanics within weapon classes.
Gunfire Reborn combines roguelike progression with surprisingly polished gunplay that ensures players can feel satisfied with their guns over the course of an entire run. Every weapon type feels distinct, from rapid-fire SMGs to explosive launchers, and despite some clear winners in the DPS department, any gun can work well for the player.
The game shines through its synergy system, where character abilities and elemental interactions combine to create builds where a simple gun can become incredibly powerful by the end of a run. Because of that flexibility, players are encouraged to experiment constantly rather than stick to a single weapon archetype. That constant swapping of styles means that even after dozens of runs, there is still so much more to see and experience.
ULTRAKILL
Chaotic Yet Engaging
- Weapons each offer a new mechanical challenge.
- Combos and tech expand replayability.
ULTRAKILL takes inspiration from classic arena shooters while pushing just about every weapon mechanic to extreme levels. Each gun isn’t just a tool but a part of a complex combat system that rewards creativity and precision, both systemically and in terms of the satisfaction that players receive.
Players can chain weapon interactions together in spectacular ways, and there are plenty of cool combos they can pull off to annihilate anything in sight. Coins can be shot out of the air to redirect bullets, railcannons can pierce multiple enemies, and shotguns can be used in advanced movement techniques. Because every weapon has so much depth beyond just shooting, mastering them feels incredibly rewarding.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Turning Back The Clock
- Explosive power and impact in every shot.
- Retro design with modern responsiveness.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun embraces the classic boomer-shooter formula while delivering extremely satisfying weapon feedback that makes it feel both modern and retro at the same time. The iconic boltgun alone feels incredibly powerful, firing explosive rounds that tear through enemies with brutal force, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only weapon worth using.
Best FPS Game From Every Year In The 2000s
The 2000s are considered by many to be the peak era of the FPS, with these classic games representing the best of each year in the decade.
The rest of the arsenal follows the same philosophy that every weapon should feel devastating and weighty to use. From heavy plasma rifles to explosive launchers, each gun is designed to deliver maximum impact. Combined with the fast movement and large enemy hordes, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun shines at its brightest all the way until the end of the game.
Killing Floor 2
Weight Behind Every Bullet
- Detailed weapon animations.
- Zed Time allows certain guns to shine even more.
Killing Floor 2 excels at making basic firearms feel heavy and realistic. Weapons have strong recoil, detailed animations, and powerful sound effects that reinforce their impact. Each class specializes in certain weapon types, meaning that players are more than welcome to master a specific loadout or focus on an individual gun should they choose to.
The game’s slow-motion Zed Time mechanic also allows many the more niche weapons to shine, turning seemingly weak guns into zombie-slaying powerhouses. During these moments, every shot becomes dramatically more intense, allowing players to appreciate the detail and power behind each bullet and to feel like they are really in the middle of an apocalyptic firefight.
DOOM Eternal
Rotating Through An Entire Gun Store
- Each gun has its purpose.
- Weapon swapping is at the core of the gameplay.
DOOM Eternal continues the franchise’s trend of satisfying gunplay, but somehow manages to take things even further, delivering one of the most brutal yet satisfying FPS experiences of all time. Players can’t just sit on one gun for the whole playthrough. Iinstead, they need to constantly swap between shotguns and rifles to keep the ammo flowing and to stop any demons that get too close.
Design does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of how the guns feel. It doesn’t matter if players are running around with a sniper or getting up close with a pistol; the shots always feel incredible. As far as games in the DOOM series go, for sure delivers the best gunplay, and in the wider boomer shooter genre, it is hard to find a title that even comes close to the level of satisfaction found in DOOM Eternal.
Destiny 2
Leading The Sci-Fi Charge
- Exceptional audio feedback.
- Exotic weapons add unique mechanics.
Destiny 2 takes many concepts from looter shooters and MMOs and combines them into a cohesive whole that places guns at the forefront from the start. Each weapon type, from hand cannons to pulse rifles, has a distinct role in both PvE and PvP matches, but the real fun begins when exotic guns enter the picture.
Rather than being pistol #435 or sniper but purple, each exotic gun has a name and a set of specific effects that completely alter how they function in battle. Some bring minor buffs like ammo refunds, while others add rockets to the player’s shots, changing how the weapon classes are seen on a fundamental level and giving players a real incentive to grind out the best loot.
16 Best Open-World FPS Games, Ranked
The FPS and open-world genres are two of gaming’s most popular. Put them together, and you’ve got a serious recipe for success.
![Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft Challenge Mode [RUNE] – MaxBit](https://i3.wp.com/gamepcfull.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tomb-Raider-I-III-Remastered-Starring-Lara-Croft-gamepcfull.jpg?w=100&resize=100,100&ssl=1 "Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft Challenge Mode [RUNE] – MaxBit")
