Although there were somefantastic FPS games released on consoles throughout the nineties, it wasn’t until controllers with dual analog sticks became standard that the genre really took off outside of the PC gaming space. Franchises likeCall of DutyandMedal of Honorhelped to lead the charge, with the former still standing tall as one of the genre’s heaviest hitters.
Thanks to those aforementioned series and the many others like them, the FPS genre is one of the most popular in the modern age. As a result, there are plenty ofincredible first-person shootersavailable on the PlayStation 5, though the very best PS5 FPS games find ways to set themselves apart, either through their unique mechanics or their unbeatable online support.
20Atomic Heart
OpenCritic Rating: 74
For a first effort, the team over at Mundfish deserves a lot of credit for what they accomplished withAtomic Heart. Granted, the writing feels a little generic in places and there’s a bit too much padding overall, but the game brings plenty of interesting ideas to the table and does a pretty decent job of recreating the classicBioshockformula that so clearly inspired it for a new generation of gamers.
Atomic Heartis a game that dares to dream big and offers a much better experience thanks to these lofty ambitions, even if not all of them are quite fully realized. It’s a pretty weird game on a lot of levels too, but this helps it to stand out where it might otherwise get lost in the crowd ofsimilarly-themed titles. It’s far from a perfect game, but it’s definitely not a bad one either. In fact, most will likely find it to be pretty good if they decide to give it a chance.
19Far Cry 6
OpenCritic Rating: 76
When most people think aboutFar Cry, it’s usually bundled together with all of the other open-world franchises that became popular around the turn of the century. At its core though, it’s every bit as much a first-person shooter series as it is an open-world one, and this is once again the case with 2021’sFar Cry 6.
Though it definitely lacks the sparkle found in some of its predecessors, it’s still a fantastic game with a decent story and yet another fantastic video game villain; an area where the franchise has always excelled. For those who are fans ofthe many greatFar Cryvillains, it’s even possible to play as some of them thanks to the game’s three DLC episodes.
OpenCritic Rating: 75
After spending nearly a decade trapped in development hell,Dead Island 2finally hit shelves and digital storefronts in April of 2023. Like its predecessor, its core gameplay loop is built around the idea of butchering zombies in the most fun and creative ways possible, and, in this regard, the game definitely succeeds.
Those looking for a deep and meaningful narrative will almost certainly come away disappointed, but for fans of fast-paced FPS combat,Dead Island 2should be more than capable of scratching that itch. There’sa wide variety of weapons on offerto keep things from feeling stale too quickly, not to mention the potential for some pretty epic environmental kills.
17XDefiant
OpenCritic Rating: 70
Although it may not have proven to be theCODkiller that some had hoped it would be,XDefiantreally doesn’t fall too far short of the mark. Developed by the team over at Ubisoft San Francisco, the game’s core mechanics are built around the idea of teamwork through factions, all of which are taken frompopular Ubisoft franchiseslikeFar Cry,Ghost Recon, andSplinter Cell.
Though it can be a little rough around the edges in places and suffers from a lot of the same issues as some of its many FPS peers,XDefiantis still a pretty solid offering for a free-to-play title and can be a lot of fun when played with friends or a strong team of skilled strangers. With the right post-launch support, it may very well end up being one ofthe best FPS gamesof 2024.
16Hell Let Loose
Before theCall of Dutyfranchise decided to focus almost exclusively on modern and futuristic warfare, FPS games set during the Second World War were all the rage. Since then, EA’sMedal of Honorseries appears to have bitten the bullet, but there are still newgames set during World War 2released from time to time. One such game isHell Let Loose.
Initially developed by Black Matter, the game sees players taking part in iconic battles from various points throughout the conflict, supported by a platoon of other players at their backs. With as many as 100 people taking part,battles inHell Let Loosecan often be incredibly hectic, but also provide players with ample opportunities to showcase both their rifle skills and tactical nous.
15Chernobylite
Set right at the heart ofthe Chornobyl exclusion zone,Chernobyliteplaces players into the shoes of Igor Khymynuk, a Ukranian physicist investigating the decades-old disappearance of his fiance Tatyana. Unlike a lot of the other great FPS games on the PS5, it’s a single-player-only experience and falls heavily into the survival horror genre.
Though it may lack polish in places,Chernobyliteis built around a lot of interesting ideasby a development team who are clearly very passionate about what they do. This passion really shines through in places tangible, resulting in a game that is full to the brim with character. Some of the plotlines are a little weird, but for fans of supernatural mysteries and gorgeous-looking video games, it’s definitely worth a look.
14After the Fall
OpenCritic Rating: 73
Virtual reality is arguably the perfect platform for the FPS genre, helping to provide players with levels of immersion that up until fairly recently could only have been dreamed about.After the Fallis a great example of this, with thepost-apocalyptic adventureoffering up one of the best first-person experiences on the PlayStation 5.
Like most VR games, there are still a few issues here and there, most of which relate to interacting with objects at close range. However, the gunplay is more or less perfect most of the time, allowing players to kick back with a group of friends or strangers and mow down wave after wave of undead creatures in a really well-designed world.
13Metal: Hellsinger
OpenCritic Rating: 79
Metal: Hellsingerfeels a bit like a cross betweenDoomandGuitar Hero, with players encouraged to lose themselves in the hectic riffs of heavy metal music while destroying a neverending army of hell demons. In that respect, it sounds a lot more likeDoomof the two, yet rhythm ends up playing a much more important role than one might think.
Aside from its fantastic gameplay, the game also boasts anincredible soundtrackperformed by some of the metal genre’s heaviest hitters. These include Serg Tankian of System of a Down fame, Matt Heafy from Trivium, and several members of the Swedish death metal band Dark Tranquility. It’s not perfect, but it makes for a nice change from the genre’s usual offerings.
12The Finals
OpenCritic Rating: 81
The Finalsmakes no attempts to reinvent the wheel, instead opting to focus on providing players with a fun time. There’s nothing here that can’t be found in at least a dozen other first-person shooters, but the execution and the way that all of the game’s mechanics come together make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Withfull crossplay supportand a free-to-play business model, there can be no excuses for not at least checking it out. Those who do will find that there are plenty of options when it comes to customization and a surprising amount of verticality across the game’s maps, all of which feature dynamic and destructible environments.
11Deep Rock Galactic
OpenCritic Rating: 85
Deep Rock Galacticis acooperative sci-fi shooterin which players take control of a badass space dwarf as they fight off hordes of terrifying enemies and attempt to mine precious resources. For many, that premise alone will be enough to warrant the game’s more than reasonable price tag, which is around half what one would expect to pay for a game of this quality.
Every element that makes up the game is perfectly measured, from its challenging yet enjoyable combat to itsheavily stylized visuals. The biggest selling point is probably the co-op experience though, with few titles able to offer up quite as much fun as this one. It’s one of the best FPS games on the PS5, not to mention one of the most unique.
