7 Shooters You Forgot Were Awesome

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As a gamer, I’ve definitely noticed how huge shooters are these days. Call of Duty always tops the charts, but series like Battlefield, Doom, and Halo are consistently popular too. Because shooters are so popular, tons of developers are trying to get in on the action. Not everyone can reach the level of success of games like Call of Duty or Halo, but honestly, there are a bunch of amazing shooters out there that don’t get nearly enough attention. They’ve flown under the radar for a lot of people, but if you’re looking for something different beyond the big names, they’re totally worth checking out.

Here are seven of the best shooters that you forgot were awesome.

7) The Operative: No One Lives Forever

Monolith Productions is famous for the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor games, but they originally made a name for themselves with creative shooting games. In fact, No One Lives Forever isn’t the only title from Monolith you’ll find on this list.

The game No One Lives Forever (and its sequel) puts you in the shoes of Cate Archer, a highly skilled spy equipped with a wide array of gadgets and weapons. It’s known for its excellent action and clever, comedic style, often compared to the Austin Powers movies. Sadly, licensing problems have prevented it from being updated for newer systems, so it can be hard to find. However, if you can get your hands on it, it’s definitely worth playing.

6) Syndicate

Starbreeze Studios’ Syndicate is a first-person shooter reimagining of the classic strategy game by Bullfrog Productions. While not flawless, it’s definitely a unique experience. The game’s most notable feature is the DART-6 chip, allowing the main character, Miles, to hack into objects and enemies.

One of the coolest things about this game is how you can basically hack into enemies’ minds and take control – you can even just make them kill themselves, which is pretty intense! Thankfully, the AI still puts up a good fight, especially during some really memorable boss battles. It’s not going to be the best first-person shooter I’ve ever played, but I really appreciate that Syndicate isn’t afraid to experiment and try new things.

5) TimeSplitters: Future Perfect

The TimeSplitters series deserves more recognition. It was consistently inventive and funny, making it a highlight of gaming in the 2000s, and it’s disappointing that we haven’t seen any new games in years. You could easily fill an entire list with titles from this underrated series.

While some fans favor TimeSplitters 2, I particularly enjoyed the story in Future Perfect, which allowed for really imaginative level design and storytelling. And, as always, Future Perfect has some of the best multiplayer modes around. It’s still disappointing that TimeSplitters 4 was never made.

4) Black

The developers of Black were completely dedicated to making it an incredibly realistic and immersive shooter. Rather than focusing on a long story or a robust multiplayer experience, Criterion Games prioritized details like ensuring the sound of the Heckler & Koch MP5 in the game perfectly matched the iconic weapon from the movie Die Hard.

Each mission is filled with exciting gun battles, though they aren’t overly challenging. Black really makes you feel like you’re in an action movie, and it’s short enough – about six hours – to enjoy in a single weekend.

3) Singularity

Before becoming known for Call of Duty games, Raven Software created Singularity, a first-person shooter with a unique twist. Besides solid gunplay, the game features the Time Manipulation Device. This device lets players do incredible things – they can rewind or fast-forward objects in time, completely freeze them, or even unleash an energy blast to temporarily disable enemies.

This shooter is truly inventive, featuring a wild story where you jump between the present day and 1955 while investigating a former Soviet island. It’s a game that deserves more recognition, though it’s not perfect. The sheer number of choices and options it offers make it worth playing.

2) The Darkness 2

Starbreeze created the first Darkness game, while Digital Extremes took over for the sequel. Both are good games and deserve a spot on this list, but I especially enjoyed The Darkness 2 because of its unique mix of gangster story, simple RPG elements, and quirky humor.

Using Jackie’s demonic and regular weapons is enjoyable, and the game looks fantastic. While The Darkness 2 is a bit short and has an unresolved ending, it’s still a surprisingly good game that deserves more attention.

1) F.E.A.R.

I warned you Monolith would return. F.E.A.R. isn’t just a fantastic shooter; it’s also a truly great horror game. The way it combines a terrifying atmosphere with excellent first-person shooting is brilliant. While you’re well-armed, Monolith skillfully balances power and fear, keeping you constantly tense and on edge.

If combat begins, you’ll face remarkably smart enemies, particularly on harder difficulties. These aren’t just opponents who react to your actions; the developers used a system called Goal Oriented Action Planning to give each enemy its own objectives, making them behave more realistically. Even if you’re not confident in your shooting, it’s worth experiencing the higher difficulty levels of F.E.A.R. to witness the AI’s intelligence firsthand.

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2025-12-14 02:12