FPS Games That Force You To Get Good

First-person shooters (FPS) are all about intense combat where you face waves of enemies. These games are typically challenging and put you right in the middle of the action. While you can play some FPS games alone, many are designed for multiplayer, and the toughest opponents you’ll encounter are usually other players online. So, if you’re new to an FPS and jump into a multiplayer game, be prepared – experienced players can quickly defeat you!

If a game gets too hard, especially a single-player shooting game, you generally have two options: you can stop playing, or you can keep practicing until you master the game’s controls and become a skilled player. Some shooting games are challenging and require significant effort to progress, just to stay alive, let alone succeed.

6. Doom: The Dark Ages

Mixing The Old And The New

At its core, Doom offers a straightforward gaming experience. Players know what to expect: take control of Doomguy and fight through waves of monsters. There’s a little bit of exploration and key collecting mixed in, but the main focus is intense combat. Those hoping Doom: The Dark Ages would play like Doom Eternal found it to be quite different.

As soon as you take control of the Slayer in the demon-infested village of Khalim, you’re instantly in the thick of battle. The biggest change in this installment of Doom is the addition of a shield. Unlike previous games where dodging was your only defense, you can now block attacks, parry, and even use a powerful Shield Charge as you progress. The game doesn’t waste any time throwing you into intense combat, and the enemies keep coming in greater numbers and variety right up to the very end. It’s important to practice, as this is a significantly different Doom experience than you’re used to, and feel free to adjust the difficulty to a comfortable level while you get the hang of it.

5. Overwatch 2

So Many Heroes, So Little Time

Fighting games, hero shooters, and games with large character lists often see players focusing on just a few characters. This is because truly mastering every character – understanding how they match up against others, developing effective strategies, and learning all their abilities – would take an enormous amount of time, even for skilled players. With Overwatch 2 having even more characters than the original game, it’s understandable that players, both new and experienced, will spend a lot of time learning how to play against different heroes, understanding their powers, and figuring out the best ways to counter them. On top of that, players also need to focus on their own role and contribute to their team’s success.

Players get really invested in games when matches are evenly matched and competitive. Getting constantly defeated and seeing poor performance stats, however, is incredibly discouraging. While learning Overwatch 2 can be challenging, if you enjoy the game type and keep practicing, you’ll gradually improve and have a lot more fun.

4. Superhot: Mind Control Delete

An Innovative FPS That Will Take Some Getting Used To

The first Superhot game was a truly original addition to the first-person shooter world. Its innovative gameplay—where time only moves when you do—quickly grabbed the attention of FPS fans. The big question then became whether the creators could build on that success with the sequel, Superhot: Mind Control Delete, or if it would just be more of the same.

Released in 2020, this game expanded on the original with more complex levels and greater character customization options, cleverly using ‘hacks’ to fit its digital world. Players can modify their abilities between stages – for example, ricochet.hack makes missed shots bounce back to enemies, while strtkatana.hack instantly equips a katana at the beginning of a level. These hacks, along with powerful Cores, allow for diverse character builds, reducing the repetitive feel of the first game. Like its predecessor, the gameplay can be surprisingly disorienting, even for experienced FPS players, so mastering the challenging levels requires practice and learning its unique mechanics.

3. Escape From Tarkov

You Can Escape Tarkov Now, But Few Ever Will

One of the great things about gaming is its variety – there’s a game for everyone, no matter what you’re in the mood for. Whether you enjoy simple, easy-to-learn games or complex, challenging ones, you’ll find plenty of options. For those who want a deeply realistic and incredibly difficult experience, Escape From Tarkov is a perfect choice.

Starting a new game can be tough, and few experiences are more challenging than being thrown into a massive world with limited supplies and other players to compete with. But this game isn’t like Fortnite. You also have to worry about healing any injuries you take. The raids are incredibly difficult to understand at first, and unlike most games in this style, there’s no helpful on-screen display showing your ammo, map, or other important information. The developers intentionally created a harsh and unforgiving world, so you’ll really need to master the game to survive.

2. Cruelty Squad

A Wonderfully Bizarre, Frantic Adventure

Many games in this style feel similar, often trying to copy popular titles like Call of Duty. What’s rare is a game that breaks the mold, clearly presents its own vision, and lets players freely explore and experiment without restrictions. That’s what makes Cruelty Squad stand out.

In Cruelty Squad, you play as an assassin working for a ruthless group, navigating a world that feels increasingly hopeless – and everyone around you seems to feel the same way, based on their grim conversations. The game’s depressing atmosphere is brought to life through disturbing visuals and bizarre level designs. To succeed, you’ll need to master every movement technique, including intentionally using glitches to your advantage. Cruelty Squad is truly unique, but it will especially appeal to players who fondly remember and skillfully utilized classic first-person shooter exploits like rocket jumping.

1. Apex Legends

To Be A Legend, You’ll Need To Commit The Time

While Apex Legends is a battle royale game, it shares a lot with Overwatch 2. The game features nearly 30 different characters, each falling into one of five roles: Recon, Skirmisher, Assault, Controller, or Support. Like any game with a large roster, players tend to find a few characters they enjoy and stick with them. However, Apex Legends really focuses on teamwork, and movement is a key part of both the maps and how the characters play. The game also offers a lot of freedom in how you move around, which is a big reason why Apex Legends stands out from other battle royale games.

Honestly, this adds a whole new level of strategy to the game, and if you don’t figure it out, you’ll be at a serious disadvantage. Like with anything, it takes time and practice, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be moving around the map like a pro. That’s really what becoming skilled at a game is all about, and this is a fantastic co-op game to learn in if you’re looking for one!

2026-02-04 02:35