PC games are an incredibly diverse form of entertainment. For example, strategy games—both turn-based and real-time—challenge your tactical prowess. Puzzle games scratch a similar itch, but typically with twitchy, block-dropping, or item-shifting challenges. The shooter, on the other hand, is a wildly popular genre that tests your ability to keep blasting until you see your enemies reduced to pulp.
Shooters typically come in two forms: first-person or third-person. First-person shooters are more immersive gaming experiences, as the game you play unfolds from your perspective. The 2016 Doom reboot and its sequel, Doom Eternal, are standouts in that sub-genre. Third-person shooters look cooler, because you can see your on-screen avatar's whole body as it navigates the battlefield. PlatinumGames' Vanquish is a perfect example of this, as you can witness Sam Gideon jetting across the warzone in ability-enhancing power armor.
Ready to start blasting? Here are some of our favorite first- and third-person shooters.
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Aliens: Fireteam Elite
There’s nothing quite like gunning down freakish monsters with buddies in online co-op action. Aliens: Fireteam Elite puts you in the boots of a hardened Colonial Marine who's tasked with rescuing survivors and investigating a xenomorph outbreak on a Weyland-Yutani colony. You undertake various missions while searching for loot and valuables to improve your marine’s build. The game supports three-player online co-op play, but you can also play solo if you prefer. By blending 1980s action, memorable movie visuals, and engrossing combat, Aliens: Fireteam Elite creates an addictive game loop that's hard to put down.
Battlefield 4
When it comes to evaluating any title in the Battlefield franchise, it's important to remember that the only reason anyone plays campaign mode is to unlock new weapons in multiplayer. Despite great voice acting by Michael K. Williams (Omar from The Wire), campaign mode is little more than a four- to six-hour tutorial teaching you how to play the game. Multiplayer combat, on the other hand, captures the awe of destruction. You can run across the battlefield, ducking in and out of cover, board a helicopter, hop on the mini-gun, cut enemies to shreds, then hop off the gun and repair the helicopter while in flight. It's all in a day's work on the battlefield.
Battlefield V
Battlefield V doesn't drastically alter the first-person shooter field, but what's in this package is quite good. The EA DICE-developed game features a gorgeous World War II scenario and lightning-fast gameplay that'll keep you running and shooting for hours on end. Battlefield V includes respectable single-player content (War Stories) and fresh takes on multiplayer gameplay (Grand Operations). Firestorm, the game's squad-based battle royale mode, supports up to 64 players, putting the series' signature environmental destruction on display in glorious fashion.
BioShock Infinite
Shattered dreams form the foundation of BioShock Infinite, the third installment in Irrational Games' impressive saga exploring the devastating effects of isolation (and isolationism) on the human psyche. But even if you loved the original BioShock (2007) and its sequel, BioShock 2 (2010), this chapter won't leave you with the impression your dreams have been betrayed. Wedding familiar gameplay elements from the preceding titles with exciting new mechanics, an engrossing story, and stunning visual design, BioShock Infinite is the culmination of the series' aesthetic and its promise to turn a mirror on humanity by probing as deeply into the self as possible.
Borderlands 2
With Borderlands 2, developer Gearbox Entertainment and publisher 2K Games return to the comedy-filled warzone. You play as a Vault Hunter, a treasure hunter looking for an alien vault on a barely colonized planet. Throughout the guffaw-filled adventure, you collect hundreds of different guns, each with its own unique stats and attributes. The heavy metal lets you mow down a seemingly unlimited number of robots, mutants, and Mad Max-style raiders.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
The Call of Duty franchise has been all over the place in recent years, with a shift in focus from WWII campaigns to space adventures and battle royale action. Although Call of Duty has strayed from its roots, the Infinity Ward-developed reboot of the seminal 2007 title grounds the first-person shooter series. Modern Warfare has the tactical single-player and robust multiplayer modes one expects from a Call of Duty title, but successfully strips away all superfluous elements. That's not to say that Modern Warfare lacks cool features. New to the game is a rewards-based morality system that ranks your ability to properly discern innocent people from legitimate threats in the single-player campaign.
Doom (2016)
No, this isn't the classic, genre-defining 1993 original. This is Doom, the numberless 2016 series entry that exceeded many gamers' expectations. You once again play as the armed-to-the-teeth Doom Slayer who battles Hell's minions on Mars. As a result, goat-legged skeleton men, flying, flaming skulls, and other monstrous hordes assault you from every side. Featuring gory, frantic, demon-blasting gameplay and a blood-pumping heavy metal soundtrack, the id Software-crafted Doom blends old-school design with modern know-how to form a satisfying, unholy concoction.
Doom Eternal
Doom 2016 reimagined the landmark shooter by adding more weapons, more demons, incredible stage design, and an awesome heavy metal score. Doom Eternal, that game's sequel, turns things up to eleven.
In Doom Eternal, demons have invaded and conquered Earth, so your player-character, the simply named Doom Slayer, must drive back the monstrosities. Although Doom Eternal introduces more story elements than Doom 2016, particularly the Doom Slayer's origins, that isn't the main draw here. Doom Eternal has one true focus: killing demons in increasingly gory and brutal ways.
Featuring satisfying stage-navigation options, numerous secrets to unearth, and a new 2-vs.-1 multiplayer Battlemode, Doom Eternal is a worthy follow-up to one of the best contemporary shooters around.
Doom: The Dark Ages
The grandfather of first-person shooters continues to shine with Doom: The Dark Ages. Taking place in the past, it adds more medieval flair to the gory, demon-slaying action. Alongside your trusty shotguns, you'll slaughter monsters with a sturdy shield and heavy mace. The combat is grounded yet open to creative tactics. Take a break from shooting and hop on a flying dragon or into a towering mech. The story may take itself a little too seriously, but Doom: The Dark Ages gets your blood pumping the way only Id Software can.
Far Cry 4
Far Cry 4 is a fun sandbox of shooting with an interesting land to explore and tons of missions to find and collectibles to grab. It slavishly follows Far Cry 3's structure, but when the action is this entertaining, hard to complain. Far Cry 4 doesn't do much new, but it's an enjoyable and good-looking excuse to spend some hours stomping through jungles and sniping people from towers.
Gears of War 4
Gears of War 4 brings satisfying cover-based alien-blasting action to PC. The Coalition-developed title offers a new team to fight with, new toys to play with, and all-new enemies to shred, either alone or with a friend. And, like Forza Horizon 3, Gears of War 4 is a part of Microsoft's Play Anywhere initiative, so you can play a digital copy on either a Windows 10 PC or Xbox One console with a single purchase—a nice perk. The gameplay grows a bit repetitive as the story progresses, but if you want to sneakily kill lots and lots of enemies, Gears of War 4 is a worthy pickup.
Gears 5
Xbox Game Studios' Gears 5 is the first main game in the beloved third-person shooter series to ditch the "of War" suffix, but don't get it twisted: This is a Gears of War through and through. A direct sequel to Gears of War 4, Gears 5 continues the Coalition of Ordered Government's (COG) battle against the alien Swarm. Gears 5's captivating storytelling, solid shoot-and-cover mechanics, and excellent graphics far outweigh its merely average multiplayer modes. Still, Gears 5 is a strong recommendation for both series veterans and newcomers.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, the first DirectX 12 PC title, just about sets the standard for what a remastered game should offer. The third-person shooter was already a great game when it debuted a decade ago on Xbox 360, but this updated title adds 4K resolution, unlocked frame rates, and content that was once paid DLC. That said, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition isn't perfect; it doesn't work well with AMD GPUs, bugs from the original game are still an issue, and it lacks some of the updated mechanics found in later Gears games. But if you own an Nvidia-powered gaming rig, you'll be good to go.
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Halo: Combat Evolved is the game that sparked a beloved Microsoft franchise and put the original Xbox on the map. It reimagined the first-person shooter (FPS) genre for consoles and popularized many of the controls and functions that such games would use for decades afterward. As part of the new Master Chief Collection, the updated Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary boasts 4K graphics, ultrawide monitor support, and other features you'd expect from a contemporary PC game.
Halo 2: Anniversary
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a nostalgic compilation featuring Microsoft's classic first-person shooter titles, but the reworked games launched with various bugs. Halo 2: Anniversary came out the gate in a better state than the games before it, but has multiplayer and graphical glitches. Still, this updated Halo 2 is a great shooter, as it features fast-paced shooting action, wonderfully overhauled 4K graphics, and the ability to dual-wield weapons.
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Halo 3
Halo 3 is a must-own shooter. It's easily the most polished Master Chief Collection game released to date, offering excellent shoot-from-the-hip action, cool new weapons and mechanics, and a dramatic conclusion to Halo 2's conflict. Plus, Halo 3 looks better than ever thanks to 4K assets. If you find yourself itching to replay it, or if you never had the chance to do so before, consider the game a fantastic buy.
Halo: Reach
The newly remastered Halo: Reach—a part of the Halo: Master Chief Collection compilation that bundles and updates every mainline Halo release, sans Halo 5—represents the first time the shooter has appeared on PC. The game now offers 4K graphics, ultrawide monitor support, and other expected PC-related enhancements that were not included in the Xbox 360 original.
Halo: Spartan Strike
Is there anything that sounds more cynical than a top-down shooter Halo spin-off for phones and tablets? Ever since single-handedly saving the original Xbox, Halo has remained Microsoft's gaming cash cow, so sticking its name on something is a great way to drum up extra interest. However, instead of being a mere cash-in, Halo: Spartan Assault is a legitimately fun and well-produced game, triumphantly translating Master Chief's missions to PCs and mobile devices. Halo: Spartan Strike maintains much of that game's strengths, while cutting out most, but not all, of its weakness.
Halo 5: Forge
It's easy to recommend Halo 5: Forge to anyone who's looking for a solid multiplayer shooter. Forge comes with a wealth of multiplayer modes, including the titular map-editing mode, giving you a ton of content to chew through. It does have a few shortcomings that are worth noting, however. Multiplayer matchmaking is restricted to private lobbies, so sessions are limited to playing with your Xbox Live friends. In addition, Halo 5: Forge suffers from a tight field of view that makes playing the game unexpectedly stressful. Still, if you are willing to overlook these and a few smaller issues, Halo 5: Forge is well worth downloading. After all, you can't beat free.
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite doesn't radically shake up the familiar Halo formula, but developer 343 Industries' gameplay changes make the newest series installment worth a play. This time out, Master Chief navigates open-world environments, uses a grapple hook to snag enemies, and starts a relationship with a new AI companion. The well-designed first-person shooter also features a strong (and free!) multiplayer component, gorgeous cutscenes, and unlocked frame rates for silky-smooth gameplay.
Helldivers 2
Protect Super Earth and democracy from dastardly insect and robot threats in glorious four-player cooperative shooting. Imagine Earth Defense Force's over-the-top multiplayer action blended with Starship Troopers' hypermilitarized satire. Chaotic multiplayer action, a rewarding gameplay loop, and a fun setting make this an easy recommendation.
Overwatch 2
Shooters don't always need to be dark, gritty, or ultra-realistic affairs. Cartoonish fun has its place, too, and Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch 2 is a great example of that. Featuring colorful levels, multiple game modes and team-based synergy, and lore-drenched characters with vastly different play styles, Overwatch 2 is a thoroughly enjoyable first-person shooter that's filled with cheer and mechanical variety.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2
The original Garden Warfare married PopCap Games' zany Plants vs. Zombies universe with strategic, class-based third-person shooting, resulting in an addicting, polished multiplayer shooter. Garden Warfare 2 expands the roster of playable characters and variants, adds all-new customization options, introduces new game modes, and fleshes out the single-player experience, creating a much more rounded game than the original. That said, balance issues make some classes feel more potent than others, and the server connectivity is spotty at times, resulting in jittery matches. Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is a solid title nonetheless, and one that fans of the original and newcomers alike can enjoy.
Postal: Brain Damaged
The Postal franchise may conjure memories of the worst edgy shooters that plagued the 1990s, but Postal: Brain Damaged maintains what made those shooters so fun to play. Inventive weapons, head-banging music, and fun boss fights take you back to a time when “realism” was a dirty word.
Prey
Let's get this out of the way: Prey could easily pass as an unofficial System Shock game. On the surface, Prey looks very much like the brainchild of industry veterans Ken Levine or Warren Spector. While the opinions of the latest System Shock spiritual installments (BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite) are all over the place, Bethesda's take does the Shock family and first-person shooter genre justice with its fast-paced, body-morphing gameplay set in Art Deco-flavored environments.
Returnal
Developer Housemarque's Returnal debuted six months after the PlayStation 5 hit the market, and proved incredibly polarizing due to its difficulty and roguelike gameplay. The action-packed third-person shooter later made the jump to PC with the console DLC in tow, plus new monitor (ultrawide and super ultrawide) support and GPU (Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR) features. Despite the changes, Returnal's excellent gameplay, graphics, and audio remain.
Star Wars: Battlefront
Star Wars: Battlefront is a multiplayer shooter that reboots the classic LucasArts video game series. Unlike previous games in the series, Star Wars: Battlefront lacks an overarching narrative and historic battles to reenact; it's basically a modern shooter given a liberal coat of Star Wars paint. The veneer is a fine one, and Battlefront has some good action to offer, including a playable Emperor Sheev Palpatine.
Star Wars Battlefront II
Star Wars Battlefront II does many things right. It has top-notch environments, thrilling multiplayer modes, and engaging mechanics that will have you piloting ships and swinging lightsabers deep into the night. That said, an uproar over this first-person shooter's included microtransactions tanked its reputation at launch, causing publisher Electronic Arts to quickly reverse course and temporarily remove all microtransactions from the game on the eve of its release. Microtransactions will strike back in some form, however, in the near future.
Superhot
Many shooter developers are happy to release games that maintain the status quo. Superhot Team, the creative squad behind Superhot, is not. No hyperbole: Superhot is the most innovative shooter to come along in some time. It injects puzzle elements and a bizarre meta-narrative into quick, bite-sized servings of computerized violence. On the surface, Superhot may come off as a short, simple title that features mediocre graphics, but the game's addictive, time-pausing mechanic will keep you coming back to get more stylish kills.
Vanquish
Exquisitely designed with movement in mind, Vanquish's kinetic, jet-powered action adds visual flair (now remastered in 4K) and a wonderful sense of movement as you wreck mechs, vehicles, enemy troops, and super-powered bosses in a near-future setting. If Battlefield and Call of Duty have turned you off from shooters, Vanquish's unique power-armor take on the genre may be the title to make you strap on your in-game guns.
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Jeffrey L. Wilson contributed to this article.