The 10 Fastest-Paced FPS Games Of All Time, Ranked

While not the absolute first first-person shooter, Doom truly defined the genre for a generation. It delivered incredibly fast-paced action, a powerful soundtrack, and a wide range of impressive weapons. These elements – along with a feeling of constant urgency and speed – are still essential to FPS games today.

These games don’t rely on long cutscenes or explanations. Let’s explore some of the quickest and most action-packed first-person shooters ever created.

10. Post Void

Slowing Down Will Be Fatal

Most first-person shooter games don’t force you forward with a strict time limit. Instead, they rely on the natural momentum of gameplay. However, Post Void is different. It features a unique mechanic centered around a creepy skull the player carries. This skull isn’t just a health bar—it also acts as a timer. The amount of liquid inside the skull represents both your health and how much time you have left. Getting hit by enemies drains the liquid, but defeating them replenishes it.

The key to success in this game is quickly and accurately defeating enemies while staying in constant motion. The story doesn’t offer much explanation about the character or their journey through the vibrant levels filled with various enemies, and honestly, it’s probably better not to dwell on it. While there’s a simple upgrade system, Post Void is a short, fast-paced experience. It doesn’t lack intensity, though – it’s still incredibly frantic.

9. BPM: Bullets Per Minute

Blast Baddies To The Beat

If you’ve ever tackled the famously difficult song “Through the Fire and Flames” on expert in Guitar Hero, you know rhythm games can be incredibly fast. In 2020, Awe Interactive took that speed and combined it with the exciting action of first-person shooter games to create BPM: Bullets Per Minute.

You play as a Valkyrie, but with a modern twist – she fights with a gun instead of a traditional lance. As you play, you’ll unlock more Valkyries, each with their own special skills. The game starts in Asgard, where you must defeat monstrous enemies that have corrupted its beauty. The catch? You have to fight to the beat of the music. From the very beginning, the music is fantastic and gets even more exciting as you progress. If you don’t have a good sense of rhythm, the constant dodging and reloading to the music might become frustrating. However, for those who can keep time, it’s a visually stunning and incredibly satisfying experience, complete with a rewarding combo system for players who love chasing high scores.

8. Borderlands 4

The Most Agile Vault Hunters Yet

The Borderlands series is known for its quick, wild, first-person shooting. It features a memorable group of characters, from Marcus Kincaid to Handsome Jack, and mixes over-the-top humor with surprisingly rich storytelling. This creates a unique experience compared to other fast-paced shooters. While the games are packed with action, earlier installments had limited movement – Vault Hunters mostly stayed on the ground. Borderlands 3 added more mobility with climbing and sliding, and Borderlands 4 built on that even further, introducing a dash and grappling hook.

The game now lets you move quickly to keep up with fast enemies, dodge attacks, or quickly reposition yourself. The addition of a grappling hook adds even more options for getting around. While still full of chaotic action, the latest installment is much more fluid and faster-paced, both in combat and while exploring the world. You can even navigate using aerial moves, and there’s a lot more exciting content planned for fans in 2026.

7. Hard Reset Redux

The Return Of A Legend

It’s great when classic game design elements make a comeback. The fast-paced, action-packed ‘boomer shooter’ genre is a perfect example, and there have been some really good games recently. Hard Reset Redux is definitely among the quickest and most intense. While it doesn’t have the same retro 90s look as some others, the gameplay captures the same exciting feel in a futuristic setting.

The game bravely tackles complex themes, prompting players to consider what it means to be human, the value of consciousness, and its potential. You play as Major Fletcher, the last line of defense for humanity’s stronghold, Bezoar, battling relentless robotic enemies determined to destroy everything. Like the best arena shooters, it delivers intense, non-stop action and a constant sense of desperation. It also adds a dodge mechanic, similar to Borderlands 3, which makes the combat feel even more fluid and dynamic.

6. Painkiller

Bringing The Pain, And The Kills

The characters in Neon White are all striving to reach Heaven through their challenging games, and it turns out the hero of Painkillers is fighting for the same reward. After dying in a car crash, he’s separated from his loved one and given a mission: eliminate four of Lucifer’s most powerful generals to earn his way back to her. Once that intense story is set up, the game begins in a quiet cemetery. You have a moment to gather supplies before the music explodes and the demons attack.

The original game from 2004 is divided into five chapters, each taking place in a different period of history. For example, one section is set in Babel, where players face waves of armored knights. The story culminates in a fast-paced, chaotic final battle with Lucifer, similar in intensity to the action found in Serious Sam.

5. Dusk

What Lies Below

Darkest Dungeon told a story about adventurers facing terrifying monsters in a ruined estate. Dusk takes that idea and mixes it with the fast-paced action of Doom. However, instead of controlling a team of heroes, you play as a single person trapped in the disturbing town of Dusk, where dark secrets and gruesome enemies await.

The game unfolds across three chapters, taking you from the edges of Dusk to the unsettling heart of the Facilities. Like Bloodborne, it starts with a more traditional horror feel, then shifts towards Lovecraftian themes as you progress. This transition is particularly impressive, culminating in a battle against a well-known Lovecraftian creature in a completely separate dimension. Movement and weapon animations are fluid and fast-paced, and while the game isn’t particularly long, its creepy atmosphere consistently keeps you on edge.

4. Ultrakill

One Of The Flashiest FPS Titles Around

Some games are just as fun to watch as they are to play, offering constant action and thrills. Ultrakill is a prime example – it takes the fast-paced movement of first-person shooters and amplifies it. Right from the start, when the player grabs the revolver and the music begins, you get the feeling this game is something truly unique.

While Ultrakill doesn’t rush you with a timer, its combo system encourages fast-paced, stylish kills. The game rewards chaining attacks within a limited time, shown by a countdown bar on the screen. The futuristic interface looks great against the intentionally pixelated environments, and the story follows V1, a robot, as he battles through a Hell-like world inspired by Dante’s Inferno. This Early Access title is incredibly fast, but it’s not just about speed – the character’s movement allows for complex techniques like wall-jumping, creating a similar feeling to Ghostrunner.

3. Turbo Overkill

An Exhilarating, Futuristic Ride

First-person shooter fans have enjoyed a long line of fast-paced, over-the-top, and violent games. But to stay exciting, these games need to constantly innovate and offer something fresh. Turbo Overkill does just that with a unique approach: the main character literally falls onto an enemy and then finishes them off with chainsaw boots. It’s a wild concept, and perfectly captures the over-the-top action the game delivers.

This game feels a lot like Ultrakill, focusing on powerful weapons and fast-paced movement. You play as a character who can slide both to get around quickly and as an attack. Staying alive means constantly being aware of where enemies are, never stopping to avoid getting hit, and quickly moving from one target to the next. It’s similar to the intense, fast-paced combat you’d experience after activating a Gore Nest in Doom (2016). While the game’s futuristic city setting isn’t particularly unique, the visual effects – from the weapons’ beams to the satisfying way enemies explode – make it incredibly engaging.

2. Doom Eternal

Rip, Tear, And Dash

We’ve highlighted many fast-paced and intense first-person shooter games, but it’s important to remember the series that truly started it all: Doom. The recent trilogy is especially noteworthy. While Doom: The Dark Ages emphasizes defense and shield attacks, the previous game, Doom Eternal, focuses on quickly defeating enemies with powerful attacks and constantly moving around, much like the original Doom reboot.

Doomguy’s mission to defeat the Hell Priests and destroy the Icon of Sin is made easier with some new abilities. The most notable is the Meat Hook, which lets him swing around levels quickly, adding a lot of speed and fluidity to the fast-paced action. Players will discover many creative uses for it, helping to keep the gameplay exciting and intense.

1. Neon White

Speed Up, Slow Down, Repeat

We often hear about the dangers of overworking ourselves, and even the most capable people can’t maintain a relentless pace indefinitely. The game Neon White seems to understand this perfectly, offering a unique experience that switches between incredibly fast-paced action and moments of deliberate slowness. It’s a fascinating mix of different gameplay styles.

So, I’m playing this game where I’m a Neon – basically a resident of Hell – and I’m on this weird field trip to Heaven, which they call White. There are a bunch of other Neons here too, and the whole point is to blast through the levels as quickly as possible to prove I’m the best. Each level is like a quick jump into a portal, demanding really tight platforming and shooting. The cool thing is, weapons are temporary – you only have them for that one level. You gotta decide when to use them to take down enemies and when to ditch them to unlock a special ability, like a ground pound if you drop your SMG. If you’re good, you can finish levels in seconds, unlocking tons of stuff for a fast time. But if you want to chill for a bit, there’s this hub world called Central Heaven where you can hang out with the other Neons and build relationships with them, kind of like in Hades. It’s not quite as deep as that game, but the action is super fast when it needs to be. Seriously, try to snag those red medals if you think you’ve got the skills!

2026-02-08 14:41