Best Linear Shooter Games For Players Exhausted Of Open Worlds

Open world games have become incredibly popular recently. It’s easy to understand why – players love getting lost in large, detailed, and immersive environments, as seen in amazing games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Red Dead Redemption 2. However, these games often require a significant time commitment, which can be daunting for players who prefer shorter, more focused experiences.

Many open-world games are incredibly immersive, but if you prefer fast-paced, story-driven experiences, these first-person shooters are a great choice. This collection includes both beloved classics and newer titles. While some levels have hidden areas to explore, these games generally focus on guiding you through a set path to reach the next goal.

6. Forgive Me Father

Sleek, Stylized Action

First-person shooters often struggle to look unique, especially since many take place in similar, bland environments like grey hallways. However, a comic book art style has proven to be a great way for these games to stand out visually. It fits perfectly with the fast-paced, intense action common in the genre – a prime example is the wild and challenging Anger Foot. The new game, Forgive Me Father, successfully combines this striking visual style with that same kind of energetic gameplay.

You play as a journalist (or a priest) who travels to the deserted town of Pestisville after receiving a distress call from a cousin named Louis. He’s missing, and the town is overrun by enemies mutated by a dangerous plague. As the game progresses, it becomes increasingly strange, taking you from the town streets and harbor to otherworldly dimensional portals and a final battle with the powerful Cthulhu. After each stage, you’ll see a summary of your progress, including how many enemies you defeated, secrets you uncovered, and your overall completion rate. The game is highly replayable, thanks to a robust skill tree that lets you customize your weapons and experiment with different playstyles, encouraging you to go back and try to achieve 100% completion.

5. Gears Of War 4

The Familiar Action Formula Of The Series

The Gears of War series is known for its over-the-top action, not subtlety. From the very start, with Marcus Fenix’s escape in the first game, the series kept a relentlessly fast pace. While the COG forces experienced both triumphant wins and devastating losses, the constant, high-energy combat—complete with the iconic chainsaw—kept players engaged. Gears of War 4, released in 2016, continued this tradition of straightforward level design, but the next game in the series began to explore more open environments.

Okay, so I was totally shocked when the Locust – who we thought were gone thanks to that Imulsion weapon – actually came back as this new enemy called the Swarm! It’s awesome getting to play as JD Fenix, and even better that he teams up with his dad, Marcus – a total legend! – and the rest of the COG to hunt them down and destroy their hive. Honestly, this game doesn’t focus much on puzzles or exploration, but it really nails the fast-paced, brutal action that makes Gears so great. They added a cool new combat knife for up-close fights, and the weapons like the Buzzkill, which fires a bunch of blades, are seriously satisfying. Plus, the new vault kick makes it super easy to move from cover and get right into the fight – there’s barely a second to breathe, which I love!

4. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

Stomping Footsteps, Devastating Weapons

The Warhammer 40,000 universe has a huge and complex backstory, which can be overwhelming for newcomers. But in Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, your goal is straightforward: destroy everything that stands in your way. You play as Malum Caedo, a powerful Space Marine from the Ultramarines chapter, who finds himself alone after a disastrous landing. Facing a relentless attack from the forces of Chaos, Malus is a one-person army, as impactful as the legendary Doomguy. He’ll collect devastating weapons like the Heavy Bolter and Volkite Caliver, and using them to obliterate enemies feels incredibly good.

I’m really excited about this game! It’s broken up into three chapters with 24 stages total, and How Long To Beat says the main story will take around ten hours to finish. Of course, that’ll probably vary depending on how much exploring I do – the levels look pretty big! There is a straightforward way to get through everything if I just want to focus on that, but there’s no map, and it seems like the stages get more and more complex as I go on. It’s going to be a fun challenge!

3. Vanquish

Vanquish Your Foes In Style

Before the release of Vanquish, PlatinumGames shared on their blog that they moved away from open level designs to prioritize creating stages packed with visual detail. This resulted in a fast-paced, visually striking third-person shooter set on the SC-01 Providence, a U.S. space colony. When the colony is seized by the Order of the Russian Star, Sam Gideon, a member of an elite team, is sent to reclaim it. Players can expect intense shooting, fluid animations, and quick reflexes to succeed.

According to How Long To Beat, the main story takes about six hours to complete. The game also does a good job of guiding you to your next goal. You’ll have access to both standard weapons like assault rifles and more unusual ones, such as the LFE Gun. Gideon’s suit lets him perform fast, iconic slides, which really speeds up the gameplay.

2. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Return To This Brutal World

The world of Warhammer 40,000 is dark, detailed, and full of history, constantly defined by humanity’s struggle to survive against alien threats. That makes it an ideal backdrop for a grim, action-packed shooter. Space Marine 2 approaches this universe differently than Boltgun, opting for a third-person perspective, but it still delivers intense, brutal combat and a straightforward, encounter-driven experience.

The game takes place during the fourth Tyrannic War, a desperate conflict between the remnants of humanity and a new Tyranid invasion. You play as Demetrian Titus, a former Ultramarine who returns to fight alongside his brothers against the Tyranids. He’ll also have to contend with the forces of Chaos and a mysterious project called Aurora. Unlike some games, cover is scarce, so battles are fast-paced and rely on well-timed parries and dodges to quickly defeat enemies. While fights can be long and you’ll inevitably take damage, a special system similar to the Glory Kills in Doom 2016 lets you recover and keep the action flowing. Once you’ve mastered the combat in the main story, you can test your skills further in a horde mode where players work together to defend an Imperial base for as long as possible.

1. BioShock Infinite

The World Beyond Rapture

The BioShock games are famous for their incredible atmosphere. The first two installments took place in Rapture, an underwater city considered one of the most memorable and imaginative locations in gaming history. When the developers decided to move away from Rapture, they chose a dramatically different setting: Columbia, a grand city floating in the sky. Though visually distinct, Columbia still explores the same core ideas as Rapture – a fractured society hiding dark secrets beneath a seemingly idyllic surface.

In BioShock Infinite, the main character, Booker DeWitt, discovers his surprising connection to Columbia’s leader, Zachary Comstock. He’s aided by Elizabeth, who can open “Tears” – portals to different realities. Similar to the first BioShock, the story unfolds gradually, revealing why DeWitt is in Columbia and his ties to the city. What sets it apart from many shooters is its complex and engaging story, which might even encourage multiple playthroughs to fully understand. While the game guides you along a more focused path with limited backtracking, you still have plenty of options to customize your playstyle through weapon choices, special abilities (“Vigors”), and gear. It’s important to experiment with your equipment, as enemies have different strengths and weaknesses, meaning your favorite setup won’t always work. Keeping your weapons upgraded is also a good idea.

2026-02-11 04:05