The FPS genre is one that has been largely dominated by one franchise for over a decade.Call of Dutyhas remained top of the pile for the longest time, whether justified or not.
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But, despite this series retaining its throne over the years, there have been a number of smaller budget titles that have offered worthwhile alternatives to Activision’s cash cow.
These games have leaned into various niches, often offering far more fleshed-out campaigns than their globally adored counterpart, and while they might not get the commercial acclaim, they certainly warrant a bucket load of praise.
So, if you’re sick of the same old boots-on-the-ground crap from the COD series, you should check out these AA Shooters that offer something a little different.
10High On Life
Wait, Was Pickle Rick Actually Funny?
High on Life
There are few games that lean into comedy to the point that it is their primary selling point. Mainly because it’s a huge risk, because if your game ends up lacking hilarity, you’re toast. But thankfully, High on Life is a game that sidesteps that issue with top-tier gags and zany comedy from the offset.
Leaning into the comedic stylings of Rick and Morty, the game has you participate in a grand intergalactic epic of mass proportions, with a variety of homicidal sentient guns as company on your adventure.
The combat is a bit lacking, but it’s really just a facilitator for exploring this world, and getting from one joke to the next.
Plus, if you want to, you’re able to literally prop yourself in front of a TV and watch the entirety of the 90s classic Tammy and the T-Rex. That’s the kind of stupidity you’re working with, and we are here for it.
9The Callisto Protocol
The Callisto Protocol
The Callisto protocol suffered a lot at launch due to the hype surrounding the fact that this was a game from the creators of Dead Space. This meant fans expected a modern-day Dead Space, but better. And as you might have gathered, it fell short of these expectations.
The narrative of The Callisto Protocol is a little underwhelming, and the gameplay does feel a little ‘bargain bin Dead Space’ at times. But, to be fair, anything that can even come relatively close to the marvel that is Dead Space has to still be pretty good.
That holds true with The Callisto Protocol, as the horror elements, the atmosphere, the eerie sound design,and the grotesque violence are all on point.
Provided you don’t go in expecting an Issac Clarke masterpiece, you’ll find that The Callisto Protocol is a worthy alternative that more than warrants a playthrough.
8Atomic Heart
Crispy Critters
Atomic Heart
Crispy critters, was this a game that didn’t get the love it perhaps deserved on launch, or what?
Atomic Heart is another AA game that suffered from all those aboard the dreaded hype train. As many were expecting the next BioShock from this game’s Russian devs.
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However, what they got was something closer to Machine Games' Wolfenstein series, with tight gunplay, a semi-linear world, a bunch of surreal but memorable set pieces, and cheesy action movie charm.
Sure, the game has its flaws, such as an open-world portion that feels desolate, frustrating boss encounters from a technical perspective, and unrewarding exploration. But, as a complete package, Atomic Heart is a worthwhile oddity to check out, and one that just might surprise you.
7The Darkness
Try Not To Get Whacked
The Darkness
Gritty crime family dramais well-trodden ground in the video game industry via games like the Mafia series, LA Noire, and many more. However, you’ll struggle to find one quite as sinister and twisted as The Darkness.
In the shoes of Jackie Estacado, you must deal with family politics, assassination attempts, drug rackets, gangsters kidnapping your childhood sweetheart, and that really only scratches the surface.
But the good news is, you have the ability to tap into the ancient family curse and bring forth a homicidal demon capable of mass genocide in the blink of an eye. But, it’s up to you to decide if these murderous abilities are a blessing, or indeed, a curse.
The story is brilliant, thanks to the brilliant comic book series that serves as the source material, and the gameplay is an action-packed blast, too. So, be sure to give this one a try if you want to embrace your darker side.
6Stalker: Heart of Chornobyl
Welcome To The Zone
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
STALKER is a series that has always had a bit of a cult following, but has never quite managed to become a mainstream hit. Mainly due to the punishing survival mechanics, the realistic gunplay, and the intense, surreal, alienating setting.
However, Heart of Chornobyl, despite being rather buggy on launch, managed to capture the hearts of the gaming collective.
It took a few post-launch updates to iron out the kinks, but today, Heart of Chornobyl is a thrilling, immersive, and wholly unique FPS title where every little win feels like a monumental victory.
The Zone is a joy to explore; the game’s core mechanics add a sense of risk and reward to each decision the player makes, and the story is also fantastic.
It’s still a little wonky, as all Stalker games are. But regardless, it’s a must-play shooter that is very much an anomaly worth exploring.
5Sniper Elite Resistance
Slow Motion Nut Shots Galore
Sniper Elite: Resistance
The Sniper Elite series has always had a strong following thanks to its slow-motion, X-ray death cams, but as a series, it has come a long way from relying on a gimmick to becoming one of the most polished and tactical sniper-focused action games around.
Resistance is the latest game in the series that showcases this growth best, with vast open levels that feel akin to those featured in the Hitman games, AI that forces you to think critically about every move you make, and every shot you take. Plus, the game is incredibly cinematic, offering a solo FPS experience like no other.
Graphically, it’s a little askew, and the difficulty can be a little overwhelming for those more partial to casual run-and-gun affairs, but all in all, it’s a stealthy FPS hit that deserves your time and attention.
4Neon White
Speedrun Speedrunning
Neon White
Easily the closest to the ‘Indie’ label of all our AA games on this list, but due to the ties to Annapurna Interactive, we think this one just about qualifies.
Neon White, in a nutshell, is a game where you play as a demon that must slay other demons that have found their way to heaven in a bid to earn a permanent spot in heaven themselves.
This story is told in a zany, anime-style way that’s a lot of fun. But the real selling point here is that the FPS meets platformer gameplay, where you need to rush through courses, chain abilities with precision, and reach the finish line in record time.
I say it so often about this game that it’s become somewhat cliché, but it remains the best way to describe this title. It’s a game thatallows you to speedrun speedrunning.So, if you like going fast and chasing your own ghost to shave seconds, this is the game for you.
3Deus Ex: Human Revolution
He Didn’t Ask For This
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
I’m not going to sit here and kid you. The original Deus Ex is the best game in the series, and quite frankly, it’s not even close. However, that doesn’t mean that Human Revolution isn’t brilliant in its own way.
While still playing like an immersive sim RPG like the original, Human Revolution leans into the modern FPS format of the time, providing polished gunplay, stealth, and augment-related abilities that make each encounter a blast.
Combine that with a captivating world, interesting quests to follow, and emergent gameplay choices akin to its predecessor, and it all culminates in a grand spectacle.
Adam Jensen may never have asked for this, but we certainly did, and we got what we wanted and then some. The ending has shades of Mass Effect 3, which tells its own story, but if you can look past that, this is a stellar cyberpunk epic.
2Turbo Overkill
Never. Stop. Killing!
Turbo Overkill
When it comes to boomer shooters, the game that will likely come to mind first will be DOOM, and quite rightly so, as it’s the grandfather of them all, and still producing hits today as a series.
However, thanks to the resurgence of DOOM, the AA boomer shooter scene has produced lots of fitting alternatives. Games like DUSK and Cultic came to mind, but in the end, I settled for Turbo Overkill as the Boomer Shooter representative for this list.
You’ve got a cyberpunk dystopia as your playground, a trigger-happy protagonist with more firepower than an army, and incredible traversal mechanics that make staying on the offensive a breeze.
It’s non-stop action and visceral violence that other boomer shooters could only dream of. So, if you want to see what Bladerunner would have been like with more rocket launchers and chainsaws, Turbo Overkill will happily show you.
1Wolfenstein: The New Colossus
WW2 Action With A Twist
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Wolfenstein is one of the grandfathers of the FPS genre, but for the longest time, it was a sleeping giant that was just begging for a reboot.
Then, just when everyone thought that this series would fade into obscurity in the same way Quake has done, Machine Games stepped in to offer one of the finest FPS solo campaigns on record.
It’s the nazi-killing action the series is known for, but with modern visuals, a dark and twisted storyline with moments that will make your blood boil, and electrifying gunplay that feels so cathartic.
It’s an incredible title that casts you in the role of a super soldier fighting against evil. Effectively making you the star of your own action movie. If you can’t get behind that, then are you really an FPS fan?
