FPS Games With The Best Guns, Ranked

Look, as a gamer, I’ve noticed that every game type has a few things that have to be done well, or the whole thing just doesn’t work. Like, if I’m playing a kart racer and the karts feel clunky and hard to steer, it’s pretty much game over. And in a first-person shooter, I’m spending all my time shooting, so the guns need to feel good – satisfying and like they actually have impact, you know?

A great first-person shooter lets you play the way you want, but really, the guns themselves need to feel good and offer a lot of variety to keep things fun. Here are some of the best FPS games that deliver on that promise.

7. TimeSplitters 2

A Historical Selection Of Weapons

As a huge fan, I always thought TimeSplitters 2 was the best in the series. The story puts you in the boots of Sergeant Cortez, a space marine jumping through time to collect these things called Time Crystals, which were scattered by these bad guys, the TimeSplitters. But here’s the cool part: you don’t play as Cortez directly. Instead, you’re a character in that time period, so you get to use the weapons that were actually around then! It’s awesome – one minute you’re zapping robots in 2315 with this ElectroTool, and the next you’re blasting away with a Tommy Gun in 1930s Chicago. Most of the weapons are pretty standard FPS fare, but a lot of them have these cool alternate fire modes that really add to the fun.

Arcade Custom mode lets you build unique weapon collections, mixing and matching any weapons you like, no matter when they were originally released. Some weapons are naturally more effective and easier to use than others, and some just feel better. A fun example is the Brick – it’s tricky to aim, but can instantly eliminate an opponent if you hit them directly.

6. Bulletstorm

Absolute Creative Carnage

The TimeSplitters series is known for its over-the-top, fun take on first-person shooters, and 2011’s Bulletstorm follows suit. The game stars Grayson Hunt, a former special forces commander who leaves his post after being betrayed by General Sarrano. Hunt’s recklessness leads to a crash landing on the dangerous planet Stygia, where he and his team must fight to escape. As a skilled soldier, Hunt is proficient with standard weapons like shotguns, but also has access to some truly unusual gear.

The game equips players with a unique tool called the Instinct Leash – a high-tech lasso – which isn’t just for attacking. Combat focuses on chaining together moves like kicks, slides, and the Leash itself to create powerful Skillshots – special finishing moves that skilled players can use to maximize their scores. Alongside the Leash, players have access to creative weapons like the Bouncer, a type of fiery projectile launcher. The variety of Skillshots, such as landing a long-distance Bouncer shot, encourages players to switch weapons and adapt their strategy to each situation, adding depth to the fast-paced gameplay. Bulletstorm doesn’t shy away from over-the-top violence, making every shot feel impactful and brutal. It’s a truly unique experience for those looking for pure, unadulterated action.

5. Halo: Reach

Reaching A New Standard

New installments in a game series often don’t change much, as altering established elements can be risky. While Halo: Reach brought back many familiar weapons, it also made some key changes. One popular feature, dual-wielding, was removed, and the game shifted to emphasize long-range combat. The Designated Marksman Rifle became a particularly powerful weapon, and this trend continued in Halo 4, where other similar weapons weren’t as effective.

The sniper rifle and plasma pistol were especially strong in this game, with the plasma pistol being great for quickly taking down enemy shields. Some classic weapons, like the assault rifle, didn’t seem to perform as well. However, the new Armor Ability system, particularly the Jet Pack, helped players gain a strategic advantage by reaching high, hard-to-reach areas, making the sniper and DMR even more effective.

4. Turok 2: Seeds Of Evil

From the Conventional To The Brilliantly Absurd

Many first-person shooter games begin with just a basic pistol, and for good reason. Giving players powerful weapons immediately would make the game too easy. The fun comes from gradually becoming more powerful, and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil does this brilliantly. You start in the Port of Adia with only a pistol and your bow, then unlock increasingly impressive and outlandish weapons as you face tougher enemies. These weapons have become some of the most memorable in the genre.

Turok unlocks a variety of powerful weapons. The Razor Wind is like a boomerang – a bladed disc you throw that thankfully returns to you. The Scorpion Launcher surprisingly fires missiles, and the Torpedo Launcher is as devastating as it sounds. One standout is the Riding Gun, which lets you briefly ride a dinosaur and use it as a mobile artillery platform. Later in the game, you gain access to the Nuke, a super-powerful rocket that completely destroys enemies. But perhaps the most famous weapon is the Cerebral Bore – a homing projectile that drills into enemies’ heads before exploding. It’s a level of graphic detail even Doom doesn’t reach, and it’s become a signature example of the Turok series’ over-the-top violence and imaginative weapon design.

3. Borderlands 2

Legendary Weapons Indeed

The Borderlands games have a pretty standard range of weapon types – pistols, shotguns, rifles, sniper rifles, submachine guns, and rocket launchers. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel even added laser weapons to the mix. But what really makes the weapons special isn’t the categories themselves, it’s what’s inside those categories. The series is well-known for its elemental effects – things like Shock, which destroys shields, and Corrosive damage, which easily takes down armored enemies. Many fans consider the weapons in Borderlands 2 to be the best in the series, thanks to the incredible Legendary weapons that drastically change how you play and the amount of damage you can inflict.

Weapons in the game can be really unique. For example, the Infinity pistol has endless ammo and a special firing style, while the Hellfire SMG is designed to set enemies on fire, dealing extra damage and even affecting a wide area. There are also crazy grenade modifications, like the Contraband Sky Rocket – it’s not a Legendary item, but it’s famous for the massive destruction it can cause, though you might accidentally blow yourself up with it! Long-time Borderlands players often repeatedly fight bosses to find powerful Legendary weapons, but even if you just play casually, the elemental effects added to regular weapons make combat a lot of fun.

2. Killing Floor 2

Brutal Weapons For A Brutal Job

Killing Floor 2 is a focused game with a clear purpose: delivering intense, cooperative zombie-slaying action. It’s all about working with your team to survive waves of increasingly difficult enemies, called Zeds. While choosing different character classes – like the Field Medic, Commando, or Sharpshooter – adds a layer of strategy, the core gameplay is simply about unleashing chaos and mowing down as many Zeds as possible before they overwhelm you.

The weapons are the most important part of this game, and thankfully, most of them pack a serious punch. While you can use guns, there’s a lot of variety – the Berserker class excels with melee weapons like the Fire Axe, and the Demolitionist prefers explosives like C4. Beyond that, there’s a huge selection of firearms. The Dragonsbreath shotgun, the Survalist’s Freezethrower, and the powerful Rail Gun are just a few examples, alongside reliable sniper rifles and machine guns. No matter what you choose, everything feels powerful and it’s incredibly satisfying to take down the Zeds. Plus, you can upgrade your favorite weapons to make them even better.

1. Doom

Hitting As Hard As Ever After All These Years

When the creators revived Doom, they had a common challenge: how to modernize the game for a 2016 audience while still honoring the beloved original. A key part of that meant keeping the classic weapons. Fans were thrilled to see the return of iconic tools of destruction like the Super Shotgun, Chainsaw, Plasma Rifle, and the powerful BFG, all tearing through demons just like before. It was a welcome blast from the past.

One of the things the original Doom nailed was how its weapons looked and felt. Doom 2016 and subsequent games built on this strong foundation by adding features like weapon mods. These mods offered meaningful upgrades, letting players customize each weapon and adding layers of strategy and power – for example, a mod that made rockets home in on targets after a short delay. This approach – staying true to the original while also innovating – is a key reason why the newer Doom games have been so popular.

2026-02-01 02:38