Best FPS Series With Overarching Stories That Last Multiple Games

Best FPS Series With Overarching Stories That Last Multiple Games

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen his fair share of first-person shooters, let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like diving into a game with a rich and engaging storyline. And it seems our beloved gaming industry has been stepping up their game (pun intended) in this department over the years.


It’s not common to link gripping narratives with popular FPS series. Instead, we usually associate them with fast-moving action, explosive scenes, and intense violence. However, it’s important to note that while this is often accurate, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Remarkable first-person shooter games do exist, and they have compelling stories.

Some top-tier FPS series not only offer exhilarating gameplay but also boast ongoing narratives that span across several installments. While players initially flock to these games for their action, many return for the engaging storylines we’ve collected here. Each title on this list is a genuine FPS with a continuous narrative, rather than just a game featuring a first-person perspective and a single sequel follow-up. They were selected based on both the excellence of their first-person shooter mechanics and the quality of their overarching stories.

8 Metro Series

Based On Dmitry Glukhovsky’s Post-Apocalyptic Novels

The journey of the Metro series started back in 2010 with Metro 2033, and concluded in 2019 with Metro Exodus. This fantastic trilogy of survival horror first-person shooter games was inspired by the novels of Dmitry Glukhivsky, focusing on the adventures of a character named Artyom within the irradiated tunnels beneath Moscow. The initial installment centered around Artyom’s battle for existence against enigmatic beings known as “Dark Ones”, and the second game explored the repercussions of almost exterminating this mysterious species.

At the conclusion of “Metro: Last Light“, Artyom finds himself with a spouse and a group of faithful companions. In the third installment, “Metro Exodus” (a top-notch post-apocalyptic horror game), Artyom’s team uncovers that the outside world isn’t as radioactive as they assumed and decides to venture into the wasteland to establish a new settlement. Although the series didn’t offer branching storylines like “Mass Effect“, each installment required players to make tough choices. In “Metro Exodus“, these choices held significant weight, as they directly influenced the overall outcome of the franchise, which was largely determined by the decisions made within “Exodus“. The games were all about finding hope in a world that appeared devoid of it, and Artyom’s actions throughout the series could lead to either a hopeful or dismal ending.

7 Halo Series

A Generic Humans Vs. Aliens Tale Evolved into Something More

The Halo series ranks alongside heavyweights such as Call of Duty and Battlefield when discussing major First-Person Shooter (FPS) franchises. Some of the top FPS games for both single-player and multiplayer, the Halo series boasts an overarching story spanning 8 main installments and numerous spin-offs. The story primarily revolves around the iconic Master Chief as he persistently battles against the alien Covenant and parasitic Flood. Starting with Halo: Combat Evolved, the franchise’s narrative initially followed a fairly conventional pattern – a tale of good-hearted humans facing off against evil extraterrestrial invaders. Introduce a supersoldier protagonist and colossal superweapons known as Halos, and you have an otherwise ordinary storyline.

Over the past two decades, that tale has transformed significantly into something far more captivating. Sequels explored the intricacies of the Covenant and its internal strife, painting humans in a less favorable light. The saga’s background was enriched with threats such as the Flood, Forerunners, and Banished. A notable moment occurred in Halo 4 when Cortana, Master Chief’s devoted AI ally, started to deteriorate. This led to her turning rogue in Halo 5, becoming a significant adversary instead. Since its inception in 2001, Halo has proven that a first-person shooter (FPS) franchise can deliver a captivating ongoing narrative while still offering the pulse-pounding combat that FPS fans crave.

6 Half-Life Series

An Awesome Overarching Story That Valve Needs To Finish

Back in 1998, the debut of Half-Life significantly reshaped the First-Person Shooter (FPS) genre all by itself. Its graphics and gameplay were pioneering, not to mention it was among the initial FPS games to focus on narrative storytelling. The game followed Gordon Freeman’s journey, starting with the resonance cascade that let loose alien forces at Black Mesa facility, culminating in Freeman vanquishing the Nihilanth and liberating the Vortigaunt alien race. However, the enigmatic G-Man later froze Freeman for a number of years.

Among the standout games from the 90s, the sequel, Half-Life 2, was released in 2004. As captivating as its predecessor, this game found Freeman waking up only to learn that Earth had been overtaken by the alien Combine. The game, along with Half-Life Episodes One and Two, detailed his struggle against the Combine, joined by allies Elie Vance and daughter Alyx. Known for its superior writing and themes of oppression and resistance, the narrative was epic. Regrettably, it’s been left incomplete since 2007. Although Half-Life Alyx, a VR exclusive game, came out in 2020, it serves as a prequel (in a way) set between Half-Life 1 and 2. The ending of Episode 2 was somewhat ambiguous, and Valve has yet to provide a resolution for the patient fans who are still waiting for closure.

5 Resistance Series

An Alternate History Shooter Centered Around An Alien Invasion

In the past, Sony and Insomniac collaborated to introduce a premier shooter series for Sony fans known as Resistance. Comprising three primary installments and two handheld spin-offs, these games generally received high praise due to their blend of classic Insomniac and Sony exclusive elements. Regrettably, the games didn’t sell particularly well, leading to the franchise being discontinued about a decade ago. It was truly unfortunate as the series, which revolved around an alternate timeline in which Earth was invaded by aliens in 1951, was truly engaging.

In the first two installments of the series, the action unfolded during an initial alien invasion featuring Sergeant Nathan Hale. Early in the story, he was exposed to a Chimera virus, but instead of mutating, he gained extraordinary abilities. As the games progressed, Hale’s character became increasingly corrupted by the virus, losing his humanity, which culminated in the dramatic finale of Resistance 2.

4 Wolfenstein Reboot Series

B.J. Bllazkowicz Never Stop Fighting The Nazis

Over time, the storyline of the numerous Wolfenstein games has often been confusing. However, this all changed with the introduction of Wolfenstein: The New Order in 2014, which stands among the finest entries in the series. Since then, the games have made a greater effort to weave an interconnected narrative that remains faithful to the essence of the earlier games. In Wolfenstein: The New Order, B.J. Blazkowicz is reintroduced, but things are quickly shaken up by placing him in a coma and waking him up 14 years later.

In the rebooted series of games, when character B.J. awakens from a coma, he finds himself in a world where the Allies lost World War II and Nazi rule prevails over America. He seeks out and eliminates General Deathshead, who had put him into a coma, but meets his own demise in the process. The sequel, titled “The New Colossus,” finds B.J. awakening in a wheelchair and joining the resistance movement to liberate America from Nazi control. Along the way, his team uncovers advanced technology, which results in B.J. receiving a new supersoldier body and an advanced battle suit.

3 Borderlands Series

A Series More Story-Focused With Each Entry

In simpler terms, it’s accurate to say that the initial storyline of “Borderlands” was quite shallow. The game presented a group of four characters known as Vault Hunters, who were largely undeveloped in terms of personality and backstory. Their mission was to open a secret alien vault, offering little context or depth beyond providing targets for combat. However, despite this simple setup, an engaging overall narrative has emerged from it over time.

My gaming journey dived headfirst into the world of Borderlands 2, where the narrative took center stage. It brought forth a fresh batch of Vault Hunters and the infamous antagonist, Handsome Jack, the charismatic head honcho of Hyperion Corporation. This game delved deeper into the lore of the ancient Eridians and unveiled the real purpose of the Vaults. Since then, the saga has been all about a burgeoning resistance’s struggle to locate the vaults, shield them from corrupt corporations like Hyperion, and psychopathic troublemakers such as the Calypso Twins. The series has showcased some remarkable character development – Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel served as Jack’s origin story, while Assault on Dragon Keep offered a heartfelt exploration of how one troubled girl copes with loss. The cliffhanger ending in Borderlands 3 sets the stage for the continuation of the tale in Borderlands 4.

2 Call Of Duty

Modern Warfare, Black Ops, And Zombies All Have Overarching Stories

It might be shocking to some, but many individuals actually enjoy playing the single-player modes of “Call of Duty” games. In fact, at one point, people were deeply engrossed in each series’ ongoing narrative. This all started with the original “Modern Warfare Trilogy,” which introduced characters such as Captain Price, Soap MacTavish, and Task Force 141; not only were they impressive military shooters, but each game had a storyline compelling enough to leave players speechless at times. The “Modern Warfare Reboot” trilogy has attempted to replicate this narrative success, but unfortunately, it hasn’t been as successful in doing so.

Call of Duty’s Black Ops series has surpassed contemporary Warfare games in popularity. Games such as World at War, BO1, BO2, Cold War, and the latest Black Ops 6 are interconnected and offer compelling campaigns. These games delve into CIA operations and conspiracies, weaving epic spy tales based on actual historical events. To fully grasp the narrative of Black Ops 6, playing earlier installments is highly recommended. Even the Zombies mode, initially introduced as a bonus feature in World at War, has evolved to possess an intricate and captivating overarching plot. Although multiplayer might be the main draw for many Call of Duty enthusiasts, some of us continue to appreciate the series’ storytelling.

1 Killzone Series

Follows The interplanetary Conflict Between The ISA And the Helghast Empire

Killzone serves as another outstanding demonstration of a first-person shooter (FPS) series that commenced with a relatively simple narrative but progressively built an engaging overarching plot. The initial installment depicted the persistent conflict between the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (ISA) and the malevolent Helghast Empire, which was initially sparked by a Helghast invasion of an ISA colony. This escalated into a vast interplanetary war, with the Helghast functioning as a rather conspicuous stand-in for Nazi ideology.

It’s great to note that as the series progressed, the main narrative grew increasingly complex. Contrary to initial impressions, the Helghst Empire was not just a villain, and the Intergalactic Security Forces (ISA) were not as innocent as the first game suggested. Later installments explored the ISA’s invasion of Helghan, the assassination of their leader, Scolar Visari, and the power struggles that followed. The destruction of Helghan led to a tense coexistence between the two factions on Vekta, resulting in the Cold War storyline seen in Killzone: Shadow Fall, one of the franchise’s standout entries. Regrettably, the series is no longer active, which is unfortunate because it was the compelling narrative of Killzone that helped establish Sony as a publisher known for story-driven exclusives.

Read More

2024-11-13 06:05