Ever since Wolfenstein 3D and Doom changed gaming forever, first-person shooter games have been cornerstones of the industry. Every year, we are guaranteed to receive a few high-profile triple-A shooters (Call of Duty) and a dozen awesome indie FPS darlings (Dusk, Ultrakill, Severed Steel). However, in this day and age, AA FPS games have kind of slipped by the wayside, at least that seems to be the case. Compared to the 2000s and early 2010s, mid-budget games are basically nonexistent nowadays, with this market transitioning to indie releases that have higher production value than normal (Trepang2, Bright Memory: Infinite).
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The developers of these open-world titles dedicated a lot of time to making the guns feel as satisfying and realistic to use as possible.
Well, these games deserve some love. While they might be a bit clunky or uneven at times, these projects often showcase innovative mechanics and a willingness to take risks, more so than triple-A releases. Therefore, let’s take a trip through history and highlight the very best AA first-person shooters. Give these a go, if you can find them.
“AA” is quite a vague classification, and it can be difficult to tell when indie turns into AA or AA turns into AAA. Like, is Metro 2033 an AA or AAA game? Personally, I think it is the latter, but I wouldn’t argue if somebody says it is the former.
8
Hard Reset Redux
A Fun Doom 2016-Style Shooter That Came Out Before Doom 2016
For players who like futuristic environments and FPS games set in dystopian cyberpunk societies, Hard Reset Redux is a must-play. This title is set in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction, with the city of Bezoar being its last stronghold. Major Fletcher, a soldier from C.L.N., is the only thing standing between the machines and The Sanctuary.
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While the overall boss count falls a bit on the shorter side, each one poses a fun challenge that will have players rethink their strategy every time. In terms of duration, Hard Reset Redux isn’t the longest game out there, but for players who want 100% completion, it will provide around 14 hours of fun.
7
RoboCop: Rogue City
I’d Buy That For A Dollar
After struggling to hit the mark with two licensed games (Rambo: The Video Game and Terminator: Resistance), Teyon turned things around by crafting the pitch-perfect RoboCop shooter. Rogue City is shockingly great in so many ways. Firstly, the game looks pretty nice and does a respectable job of capturing the feel of Old Detroit. Secondly, the campaign is really long and, somehow, does not overstay its welcome. Finally, and most importantly, you feel like RoboCop.
Rather than being just another fast-paced shooter, Rogue City mimics RoboCop’s slow, deliberate movement, along with his ability to take a hit and keep on trucking along like nothing happened. While not absurdly powerful to the point that nothing presents a threat, RoboCop controls like a mobile tank, and it feels incredible.
6
Singularity
Make Time For This FPS Cult Classic
A slightly forgotten shooter that is, fortunately, still available on platforms like Steam and Xbox, Singularity is one of those games that I would recommend to any FPS fan, just for its innovative time manipulation mechanics. Telling a classic sci-fi tale about time fractures, reality shifts, and a mysterious element, the story is a lot of fun and can fulfill anybody’s dream of becoming a timespace cop.
The narrative hook directly shapes the gameplay, as players have access to a device that lets them rewind or fast-forward time. While used to solve puzzles, this device also plays a major part in combat, allowing for some pretty cool outcomes. Perhaps it is just because I miss old-school AA FPS games from the 2000s and early 2010s, but Singularity‘s linear structure is fantastic, as there is almost no wasted time as we go through one great level after another.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
5
Killing Floor 2
An Addictive Co-Op Shooter That Has Stood The Test of Time
- Terrifying bosses with powerful attacks
- Large enemy waves that add to combat difficulty
Developed by Tripwire Interactive, Killing Floor 2 will have players exploring mainland Europe, which has been overrun by monstrous clones called “ZEDs” that originated from a failed experiment by Horzine Biotech. The game has a wide variety of powerful weapons, such as the FAMAS Masterkey, and the Stoner 63A LMG, which can be great for decimating enemy waves in an instant.
Unfortunately, like Hard Reset Redux, Killing Floor 2 also has a shortage of bosses; however, with some being as terrifying and challenging as Doctor Hans Volter, quality triumphs over quantity in this case. Compared to so many other FPS games, Killing Floor 2 has proven to have real staying power, as it still averages more than 3K players on Steam a decade later.
Killing Floor 3 is also out, but it has had a rockier life than its predecessor.
4
Sniper Elite 4
Not Every FPS Game Needs To Be A Fast-Paced Run And Gun Shooter
- X-Ray kill animations are great
- Fun stealth-based gameplay
Ever since the first Sniper Elite game was released back in 2005, it was obvious that the franchise had a lot of potential. And for the most part, it has lived up to it. This franchise’s installment is set in 1943 and takes place on the Italian peninsula. Players will once again play as Karl Fairburne, who will join forces with the Italian Resistance to push back Fascists and ensure Allied victory.
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Demanding careful stealth tactics, precision aiming, and a strategic approach to dispatching enemies, Sniper Elite 4 is arguably a high point in Karl’s history. With a decent mission list including the beloved Regilino Viaduct, and a relatively long completion time for perfectionists, this AA first-person shooter game deserves all the praise it gets.
This was really a toss-up between Sniper Elite 4 and 5. Ultimately, we went with the former, but they are roughly of the same quality.
3
Shadow Warrior 2
A Relentless Old-School Shooter With Incredibly Satisfying Gunplay
- Interesting weapon designs
- Fast-paced combat that demands focus
When it comes to taking the look and play styles of several existing titles and combining them into a brand-new one, few have managed to do it as well as Shadow Warrior 2. Set 5 years after the events of the first game, this title will put players in the shoes of Lo Wang once again. The antihero now works as a hired sword for the Yakuza and lives on the outskirts of the city controlled by his nemesis, Orochi Zilla. Players must take on several enemies and defeat demonic forces as the game progresses to free the world from evil.
With weapons and environments that look a lot like those in Doom Eternal, and powers reminiscent of Bioshock Infinite’s Vigors, this AA First-person shooter title delivers formidable bosses and adrenaline-inducing combat. The King Skeletor Machine Gun and the Lumberjack’s Caress Chainsaw are a few examples of Flying Wild Hog’s seemingly endless creativity in weapon design. The voice acting in Shadow Warrior 2 is also quite good, with supporting characters like Kamiko, who delivers a believable performance that feels neither flat nor exaggerated.
2
Bulletstorm
The Best B-Movie FPS Game Ever
- The energy leash is an all-time great weapon
- Silly but fun story
Bulletstorm is amazing. People Can Fly is a fairly well-known studio in the AA sphere, with Painkiller being one of the more popular underground FPS games of the 2000s. As fun as that game is, the developer’s crowning achievement is Bulletstorm, an over-the-top shooter that is the definition of “stupid fun,” and I mean that in the most endearing way possible. Along with core gunplay that feels good, the game encourages creative kills courtesy of Skillshots, which reward experimentation (and kicking enemies toward a gruesome death). The energy leash is simply one of the most satisfying weapons in the FPS genre, and it is executed to near perfection.
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Although not extremely difficult, Bulletstorm demands aggression from players, as it is basically an arcade-style run-and-gun shooter that rewards constant movement and environmental attacks. The gameplay’s outlandishness is echoed by the story, which features space pirates ripped right out of an ’80s B-movie.
1
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Welcome To The Zone
Out of every shooter mentioned in this article, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl has probably had the most impact on gaming. Although not necessarily having the most enjoyable shooting mechanics, SoC is the best AA game with FPS gameplay, one that introduced systems and ideas that triple-A developers still struggle to replicate or surpass.
Even 20 years later, the Zone is still an impressive world to step into, with the A-Life AI system crafting a living ecosystem that supports dynamic and emergent gameplay. No two playthroughs are ever the same, which has allowed the game to remain beloved and popular for decades. The open-zone structure allows for exploration and immersion, while not being so vast as to dilute the experience. Shadow of Chernobyl’s atmosphere is second to none, and even the RPG elements are implemented relatively well. Sure, most of these elements might not seem that impressive nowadays, but they were incredibly ambitious for 2007.
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