Shooters are one of the earliest video game genres, appearing almost as soon as games themselves began. Over time, they’ve grown from simple beginnings into incredibly complex and popular franchises, some of the biggest in gaming. The genre now includes many different styles of gameplay, like classic ‘run and gun’ titles, on-rails shooters, and immersive first-person experiences. We’ve revisited each console generation to find the best shooter from that era, judging them on how critics and players reacted at the time, and – most importantly – how much they influenced the future of shooter games.
1st) Shooting Gallery
1st Gen: Atari Pong | Coleco Telstar | Magnavox Odyssey
The earliest video game consoles weren’t very powerful and had a small number of games. While Pong was incredibly popular – and copied a lot – the Magnavox Odyssey was actually the first true home console. It included several shooting games, with Shooting Gallery being a notable example. This game used a light gun and a plastic screen that players put over their TVs. The game would light up random targets, and players would shoot at them. Things were quite basic in the 1970s, but technology quickly improved with each new console that came out.
2nd) River Raid
2nd Gen: Atari 2600 | Channel F | ColecoVision | Intellivision | Magnavox Odyssey 2
The second generation of video game consoles saw the rise of many new game types, and a lot of fantastic titles were released on different systems. While the ColecoVision had a great version of Zaxxon, we’re choosing River Raid on the Atari 2600 as our pick for this era. This exciting shoot-’em-up put players in the cockpit of a fighter jet on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. You blast through waves of enemy helicopters, fuel tanks, bridges, and other targets. The game adds a unique challenge – you need to refuel mid-flight or crash – which keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging. River Raid was a massive hit, a commercial success, and a key game in shaping the future of the shooter genre.
3rd) Contra
3rd Gen: Atari 7800 | Nintendo Entertainment System | Sega Master System
By the time home video game consoles reached their third generation, shooting games had become incredibly diverse, with hundreds of different titles available. Many excellent side-scrolling shooters emerged during this period, but for many, Contra on the Nintendo Entertainment System stands out above the rest. Though famously difficult – most players needed the Konami Code to get extra lives – Contra was a hugely influential game of its time. It’s incredibly enjoyable, highly replayable, and uniquely allowed two players to play through the entire game together – a true classic.
4th) Star Fox
4th Gen: TurboGrafx-16 | Genesis | Neo Geo | Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The fourth generation of consoles, like the one before it, offered a wealth of excellent shooting games. Titles like Metal Slug, Thunder Force IV, and Blazing Star were popular, but Star Fox on the Super Nintendo truly stood out. While not the very first to use 3D graphics in a shooting game, Star Fox was Nintendo’s first attempt at polygonal graphics, made possible by the Super FX chip built right into the game cartridge. Star Fox pushed the boundaries of what shooters could achieve technically, and remains a prime example of a well-designed rail shooter with a compelling story and memorable characters.
5th) GoldenEye007
5th Gen: 3DO | Jaguar | PlayStation | Nintendo 64
While we’re not focusing on Doom, it always played better on computers, and by the time consoles reached their fifth generation, there were many stronger options available for those platforms. The PlayStation and Atari Jaguar both had good games, but GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64 was truly groundbreaking and the most impactful shooter of that era. It really changed the game, offering some of the best multiplayer experiences ever thanks to its four-player split-screen. Plus, it was a rare example of a movie-based game that was actually excellent, making GoldenEye 007 the best shooter of its generation.
6th) Halo: Combat Evolved
6th Gen: GameCube | Dreamcast | PlayStation 2 | Xbox
The original Xbox became famous thanks to the launch of Halo: Combat Evolved. While the Nintendo GameCube had the excellent Metroid Prime, Halo truly stood out. Its release had a huge impact, and its gameplay – especially the multiplayer – was a major reason people chose the Xbox. I was one of them, and I never looked back! Interestingly, Halo also helped pioneer machinima – if you’ve seen Red vs. Blue, you’ll understand what I mean.
7th) Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
7th Gen: PlayStation 3 | Wii | Xbox 360
It was inevitable that a Call of Duty game would make this list, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare truly stood out during the 7th generation of consoles. It was the first game in the series to move away from World War II, and players loved the fresh setting. Modern Warfare was a massive commercial success and proved the franchise could thrive outside of its traditional environment, leading to games like Black Ops and the continued popularity of the Modern Warfare series. While other good shooters were released during that generation, none were as impactful as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
8th) Doom Eternal
8th Gen: Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 4 | Wii U | Xbox One
With newer gaming consoles arriving, discussions about the best shooter games are sure to start. When looking at the last generation of consoles (the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One), the PlayStation 4 consistently had higher quality games overall. And when it came to shooters, Doom Eternal really stood out. Released in 2020, this fast-paced game continued the popular Doom series with intense action and impressive graphics. Later versions of the game even looked and played better on newer consoles.
9th) Metro Exodus
9th Gen: Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X|S
Like the previous console generations, most shooting games were released on all platforms, with fewer titles being exclusive to a single console during the 8th and 9th generations. Considering this, the best shooter is the one that made the biggest impression and performed most effectively on the hardware of the time. In that regard, the PlayStation 5 version of Metro Exodus stands out as a leader for the 9th generation. While the original game came out in 2019 on older consoles, the Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition released for PS5 in 2021 looks incredible. This enhanced version was also available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
10th) Apex Legends
10th Gen: Nintendo Switch 2 | PlayStation 6 | Xbox Project Helix
There’s no clear agreement yet on when the 10th generation of video game consoles actually began. However, if the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is considered the first console of this generation, then the future PlayStation 6 and Xbox will follow. If that’s true, then Apex Legends is currently the best shooter available on these newer consoles. While the game originally came out in 2019, it still looks and plays fantastic on the Switch 2, making it the top shooter for this generation of home consoles right now.
What’s your favorite shooting game of all time? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-04-01 18:12