The FPS genre is one of the most saturated in the market, with many titles fading into the background behind industry leaders.
These days, it pays to stand out. If you want to play some top-quality shooters who dare to be different, here are some incredible games with unique mechanics to keep you hooked.
10Destiny 2
Eyes Up, Guardian
Destiny 2is an ambitious looter shooter with some of the most satisfying gunplay in the genre.
Bungie’s juggernaut makes the list thanks to itsimaginative Guardian abilities and incredible Raids. There are three Guardian classes inDestiny 2, each with six subclasses with distinct play styles and skills.
Weaving space magic with tight shooter mechanics makesDestiny 2fun to play, even if the shooting is rudimentary on its own.
Destiny 2Raids are unforgettable, provided you have people to do them with. These activities provide the ultimate challenge and are masterclasses in creative-level design. Hardcore players love them for the difficulty andthe exclusive weaponsthey contain.
In The Pursuit Of Realism
Bodycamis ahyperrealistic shooterthat allows you to play from a body-mounted camera angle.
The camera choice makesBodycamfeel completely different from other shooters, but that’s not all. The art style and fisheye lens make Bodycam look real.
At first glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking you are watching a video recording instead of in-game footage.
In practice,Bodycamis a little clunky to play. Regardless, the perspective is unique, making the game immediately recognizable among its peers.
Matrix Style
Superhothas a distinctive graphics style where enemies are marked in vibrant red. The part that really makes the game stand out is how time works.
The world only moves when you do, so you canstop time by standing still. You can effectively dodge bullets with this mechanic and even watch your performance in real-time at the end of each stage. It’s hard not to feel like a badass while playing, and there are plenty of ways to execute stylish kills.
Superhoteven hasa decent VR version, which takes the immersion to the next level.
7Bulletstorm
For Style Points
Bulletstorm
Bulletstormis a unique first-person shooter with a fresh approach to combat.
The game cares less about how many enemies you defeat and more about how cool you look while doing it.Bulletstormisall about style, and you have futuristic toys to set up fantastic kills.
For example, you can blow up a barrel to throw an enemy into the sky, lasso them out of the air, and punt them off the map while peppering them with gunfire.
It’sover the top and ridiculous, and the chaos can even be enjoyed with friends.
Valve Does It Again
Portalis an ambitious puzzle game where you wield a portal gun and take on test chambers of increasing difficulty. you’re able to create two portals at a time and use them to traverse each chamber in impressively creative ways.
Valve also has a firm grasp of physics with Portal and simply explains, “Speedy thing goes in, speedy thing comes out.” You can use momentum to fling yourself across chasms, and there arenear-infinite possibilitiesin the game’s later stages.
The sequel explores portal shenanigans even further, butthe original game is a masterpieceand should be played first.
GLaDOS is a superb antagonistin thePortalseries, and the games wouldn’t be the same without her.
10 Best PlayStation Games Available On Steam
The bigger the audience, the better.
Dealing With A Plasmid Addiction
I could singBioshock’spraises from the rooftops, and its unique Plasmids are one of the many things it does well.
Plasmids are likeinjectable powersin theBioshockuniverse. you’re able to blow enemies away with abilities akin to a force push. If you’re feeling nasty, you can incinerate your foes with a snap of your fingers.
Abilities inBioshockare imaginative, and each game in the trilogy expands upon the mechanics.
I recommendplaying the original firstfor its excellent introduction to Plasmids, but there’s not a single bad game in the trilogy.
4Splitgate
Halo Meets Portal
Splitgateis a futuristic arena shooter with a twist. Gunplay doesn’t feel dissimilar toHalo, partly thanks tothe weapons, but the real kicker is the ability to make portals.
I’ve already sungPortal’s praises on this list, but it turns out those mechanics feel incredible in a PvP shooter.
You can use portals to stealthily appear behind your opponents or catapult yourself around the map.
Pro-levelSplitgateplay is exceptionally impressive, and the mechanic is so fluid that it allows forincredible skill expression.
Sadly,Splitgatehemorrhaged players shortly afterHalo Infinitecame out, buta sequel is planned for 2025.
3Sniper Elite 5
The Perfect Shot In Visceral Detail
Sniper Elite 5
Everyone loves sniping in first-person shooters, andSniper Elitehas arguably the coolest mechanics for it.
When you fire your sniper rifle, you canslow down timeand follow the projectile as it hurtles toward your target. In fact, you can even watch the bullet penetrate your opponent and see it rip through every bone and organ in its path.
Sniper Elitekill cams areimpressively gory, and few other games reward precision shots with such a fanfare. TheSniper Elitegames have a decent quality bar across the board, but 4&5 are arguably the best. The final game is even available on PS Plus and isarguably one of the best shootersin the library.
2Hunt: Showdown
There’s Nothing Quite Like It
Hunt: Showdown 1896
Hunt: Showdownis an exceptionalPvPvE Extraction Shooterset in the Bayou. There are monsters and intimidating bosses to conquer alongside bloodthirsty players.
Shooting mechanics are solid, butHunt: Showdownmakes the list because no other title offers a gameplay loop quite like it. Teamsrace to conquer a horrific boss monsterand escape the map in one piece. As there are more players than bosses, a ton of strategy is involved in every match.
Do you run to the boss to quickly kill it first? Or do you try to figure out where the boss-killing team is heading and cut them off? There’s no correct answer, and that’sthe thrill of the hunt.
The game isn’t on the list for any single mechanic and more a sum of its parts.
1Titanfall 1&2
Unparalleled Movement
TheTitanfallgames are fondly remembered by anyone who played them back in their heyday. These titles make the list for two reasons, so let’s start with the game’s namesake.
You play as a Pilot inTitanfalland can periodically call down andcommand a giant hulking mechcalled a Titan. It’s a balancing nightmare that Respawn Entertainment approached head-on and made gameplay fun inside the mech or on foot.
The other reasonTitanfallis on the list is the Pilot movement. You caneffortlessly skate across wallsand have incredible acrobatic abilities. Movement mechanics inApex Legendsexist because ofTitanfall, and that’s a legacy few franchises can boast.
