Influential FPS Games Worth Playing Just For Their Importance To The Genre

Influential FPS Games Worth Playing Just For Their Importance To The Genre

As someone who’s been around the gaming block more times than I care to remember, let me tell you about these legendary FPS titles that have left an indelible mark on the industry and my own gaming journey.


Modern gaming is dominated by first-person shooter (FPS) games, such as CS:GO, Valorant, and others. These competitive titles bring together players with similar skills for intense, online multiplayer matches that can last for hours. On the other hand, some FPS games like Bioshock and Metro Exodus offer a single-player experience. The journey to this point has been paved by pioneers in the gaming industry, who have essentially built on the work of their predecessors, much like standing on the shoulders of giants.

In the past, the First-Person Shooter (FPS) genre wasn’t as advanced as it is now. However, things changed significantly during the 1990s to early 2000s, which was a period of great gaming innovation. The games released during this time laid the foundation for various genres, including FPS, that would endure for decades. Here, we’ll discuss some influential FPS titles that have shaped the genre since then.

6 GoldenEye 007

James Bond Roleplay

The game titled “GoldenEye 007” is modeled after the James Bond film GoldenEye. In this first-person shooter (FPS), players assume the role of the iconic British spy. The game was a comprehensive offering, featuring an engaging, albeit extravagant storyline, an entertaining single-player adventure, and a highly enjoyable multiplayer experience. For its era, GoldenEye 007 was a remarkable milestone that significantly shaped the future of gaming.

What makes “GoldenEye 007” endure as a classic today is its ability to offer players more than just impressive gunplay. It boasted an array of diverse weapons, exclusive spy tools, and intricate objectives beyond mere point-and-shoot gameplay. Unlike other games where James Bond’s mission was simply eliminating every moving target, “GoldenEye 007” required strategic thinking as players had to rescue hostages, eliminate specific targets, navigate intricate levels, and stealthily move toward their objectives. This game’s stealth mechanics laid the foundation for future masterpieces like “Ghost Recon” and “Splinter Cell.

5 Wolfenstein 3D

The Father Of FPS

Among the first significant first-person shooter (FPS) games that truly established the genre’s popularity is none other than “Wolfenstein 3D”. As id Software’s initial major release, this game holds a prominent place in the annals of FPS history, often being recognized as one of, if not the most impactful, FPS titles ever created. At the time of its debut (1992), the FPS genre was still in its early stages, with developers only beginning to tinker with various versions of the formula. Essentially, “Wolfenstein 3D” paved the way for future games by establishing a blueprint that many later titles would follow.

To put it simply, Wolfenstein 3D was a first-person shooter game set during World War II, where you play as a character trying to flee from Nazi-occupied territories. Your objective is to locate an elevator to escape, but your path is obstructed by adversaries that you must defeat in order to progress.

4 Quake

Quick, Fast, And Dirty Fun

In a nutshell, Wolfenstein 3D paved the way for FPS games characterized by a deliberate pace, while Quake revolutionized the genre with fast-paced, action-packed shooters that prioritize quick reflexes and agile movement over other factors. Doom marked the beginning of free-for-all deathmatch gameplay, but it was the iterations in Quake that truly made these modes enjoyable and fun to play.

1998 saw me diving headfirst into the chilling world of Quake, another masterpiece from id Software. The dark, Lovecraftian demons that stalked its corridors bore a striking resemblance to those I’d battled in Doom. However, it was the multiplayer mode that truly set this game apart during the golden age of gaming.

3 Halo: Combat Evolved

A Complete Package

The classic first-person shooter game, “Halo: Combat Evolved” or simply “Halo CE,” was launched at the dawn of the new millennium and significantly shaped modern first-person shooter gaming as we know it today. Developed by Bungie in 2001, “Halo CE” provided the option for players to engage in cooperative play or compete against each other on expansive maps. One of the standout features of “Halo CE” is its intelligent enemy AI, which adapts to different situations, retreats when outmatched, and shows a dynamic response.

Beyond its gameplay, Halo: Combat Evolved (CE) may have single-handedly ensured the longevity of Xbox, a console that wasn’t as dominant back then as it is now. This groundbreaking game also sparked the trend of the iconic LAN parties popular in the early 2000s, which are still remembered fondly. It remains highly regarded for good reason.

2 Half-Life

More Than Just Mindless Gunfights

Half-Life, an iconic first-person shooter game, demonstrated to gamers that exceptional FPS titles require more than just engaging gameplay; they need a compelling narrative to captivate players. The strategy employed by Half-Life remains influential even 26 years on, and the gaming community continues to eagerly anticipate further developments in the story of Gordon Freeman and the mysteries surrounding the Black Mesa facility.

Half-Life 2 stands out as a superior game due to its rich narrative, improved mechanics, and increased player engagement. Yet, it wouldn’t exist without its predecessor. It’s an experience that everyone should endeavor to have at least once in their lifetime.

1 Doom

Up Close And Personal Demon Demolisher

The pioneering game “Wolfenstein 3D” paved the way for the First-Person Shooter (FPS) genre, but it was “Doom” that truly brought it into the limelight. Not a single FPS title, prior or subsequent, has left as profound an impression on this genre and the gaming industry as the “Doom” series. And this remarkable journey began with the initial release of “Doom”, which hit the shelves in 1993.

Originally developed by id Software following their triumph with Wolfenstein 3D, Doom burst onto the scene as an independent release and became a global phenomenon. Nothing quite compares to blasting through hordes of demons in intense, gory combat for uniting the gaming community. While the revitalized franchise is now stronger than ever with Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal, fans of first-person shooter games should definitely give the original Doom a try at least once, even if it means playing it on a toaster!

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2024-09-23 10:03