Resident Evil (2002)

The original Resident Evil was a groundbreaking title, mixing together survival and horror in a way that was never seen before. The PlayStation version was a product of its time, and the developer remastered it for the GameCube generation with a significant overhaul to its visuals and several quality-of-life changes. The fixed camera angles meant better pre-baked reflections and textures, making the visuals a step above what was possible with a free camera.

Nailing down any one aspect of PC gaming is challenging, but it’s that diversity that really makes it shine. Let’s check out the 30 best PC games that have stood out through the decades.

Sons of the Forest

The first rule of playing Sons of the Forest is to experience the original if only to appreciate its story-telling and how things work. Then dive into the sequel and really start to grasp all the different tools that Endnight Games has offered, from solar-powered golf karts and hang-gliders (with launch pads) to an extensive range of firearms, new melee weapons, and mechanics, like AI helpers and a revamped building system. Though its narrative won’t quite hook you, the sheer amount of stuff to do on the island – inhumane and otherwise – provides hours of fun.

What Remains of Edith Finch

There are quite a few games disparagingly labeled “walking simulator” due to the lack of action present. What Remains of Edith Finch proves that “walking simulators” don’t have to be boring and they can present some of the best examples of video game storytelling.

What Remains of Edith Finch tells the tale of the titular Edith Finch who visits her ancestral home and uncovers the terrible events that led to their deaths. It’s a game that packs an emotional punch, and there’s a lot of tragedy to process. For a unique gaming experience, this is a title not to be missed.

]]> 599284 https://gamingbolt.com/30-best-first-person-shooters-of-all-time-2024-edition Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:19:23 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=596510 The first-person shooter genre is one that’s persisted for decades. It served as the framework for all kinds of experiences – multiplayer, single-player, and everything in between – while delivering unforgettable stories and gorgeous visuals. Among the hundreds of titles released throughout, select choices remain the very best that the genre has to offer. So without further ado, here are our picks for the 30 best first-person shooters of all time, as of 2024.

Duke Nukem 3D

3D Realms’ Duke Nukem 3D hasn’t aged well when examining its more risque elements. At the time, it stood out for imbuing some character into the first-person shooter genre, courtesy of Duke’s one-liners. The environmental interactions and destruction also felt fresh, to say nothing of bizarre weapons like the Shrink Ray for cutting enemies down to size.

SUPERHOT

What should be a gimmicky concept – time only moving when you do – results in an engaging, clever experience in the first-person shooter space. Superhot isn’t just about scoring headshots, throwing weapons, or swinging katanas to take out scores of enemies – it’s the assessment, the moments between each kill, that make it sing.

Valorant

Mix Counter-Strike: GO’s tactical shooting with characters befitting a hero shooter and you get Valorant, in a nutshell. As slow-paced and odd as it may seem, this is also one of the best tactical shooters, if not competitive multiplayer titles, out there. Despite only being out for a little over four years, Valorant offers tense gameplay that’s hard to put down.

Borderlands 3

Ignore the base game’s story, characters and writing for the sake of your sanity, and the gameplay in Borderlands 3 is a significant step up. From the smoother response and feedback and improved mobility to more varied gun types and deeper build crafting, it’s a strong looter shooter, though nowhere near as timeless as its predecessor.

DOOM 1 + DOOM 2

While fairly recent, DOOM 1 + DOOM 2 collects the best of both titles into one excellent package. Boasting all their additional content, Sigil, and a great new campaign by MachineGames, the release is made even better with in-game mod support, a stellar remixed soundtrack and cross-platform multiplayer deathmatch, with 26 new maps to cause chaos on.

Killzone 2

After the infamous E3 2005 incident, Guerrilla Games’ first-person shooter had nowhere to go but up, and subsequently knocked it out of the park. The gorgeous visuals were a factor, of course, but the well-designed missions, gunplay, intelligent AI, and tight level design made for an incredible experience (even if the ending was underwhelming).

Halo 3 ODST

Though not quite the follow-up that fans expected, especially after Halo 3’s thunderous conclusion, ODST was still a worthy side story. It focused on one of the most compelling units, the Helljumpers, as they infiltrated New Mombasa and engaged in urban warfare with the Covenant. Perhaps its biggest contribution is the introduction of Firefight, a Horde-style variant with difficulty modifiers, a shared lives pool, and multiple sets to overcome.

Bulletstorm

People Can Fly and Epic Games had a pretty simple goal with Bulletstorm – gamifying stylish ways to kill the opposition. The story and characters are ultimately secondary; kicking enemies into environmental hazards, sending them sky high for some skeet shooting, and more for extra points is ultimately what sold the experience. Even if it remains underrated (no thanks to its terrible VR port), Bulletstorm is still a hell-raising good time.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

The Zone remains as haunting as ever in GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, the third title in the series and most compelling yet. Though it has its share of bugs, the sandbox gameplay combined with the atmospheric horror and survival elements make for a harrowing time, whether you’re dealing with Anomalies or the various factions.

Destiny 2

Bungie’s live service shooter has had a long history, one with many ups and downs. Even throughout all of the changes, it remains perhaps the best of its kind. Between excellent campaigns like The Witch Queen and The Final Shape, an unmistakable feel for its weapons, gorgeous art direction, and stellar raids, Destiny 2 is still worth playing.

Unreal Tournament

When Quake 3 Arena was believed to reign supreme, Unreal Tournament appeared out of nowhere and claimed the throne. While the former still held a strong esports presence, the latter was the overall better product, from its map design and visuals to the sheer variety of mode types. Assault alone is an incredible addition to the competitive FPS formula and playing with AI bots actually felt enjoyable, even on the higher difficulties.

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter

Turok may have initially come across as “What if FPS but killing dinosaurs instead of humans?” but surprised many with its exploration and gorgeous visuals on the Nintendo 64. Of course, the combat was no slouch either, as each of the 13 weapons resulted in ample gore. Together, these elements made for an unorthodox but memorable shooter.

Prey (2017)

What could have been with the Prey franchise if Human Head Studios’ sequel wasn’t cancelled? We’ll never know, but in the meantime, Arkane Austin’s 2017 reboot, which embraces a more immersive sim structure and deep space paranoia, is excellent. As Morgan Yu, players must survive in a massive space station overrun with Typhon, but not everything is as it seems. The result is one of the finest first-person titles ever made.

Far Cry 3

Moving away from Far Cry 2’s realistic sandbox, Far Cry 3 went much bigger, returning to the tropical island setting while introducing a compelling new villain. Though the story is far more structured, the open world is rife with quests, enemy camps, wild animals, and much more. To this day, Far Cry 3 remains in a class of its own.

Metro: Last Light

Much as Metro Exodus embraced an open-world-style approach to its large areas, there’s something about Metro: Last Light and its linear narrative. Maybe it’s how well-designed each section felt, whether you were escaping from captivity or slinking through the surface, avoiding contact with its mutants. Perhaps it was the moral dilemmas that Artyom faced. Either way, the series’ brand of survival and fast-paced gunplay is at its peak here.

Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (Classic)

Ignoring the utter cluster that Aspyr’s re-released turned out to be in the online department, the classic Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is still a timeless game. The campaign is enjoyable enough but Galactic Conquest was a game changer of a single-player mode, offering a Risk-like map to fight through and conquer. Multiplayer was still arguably the highlight of it all, especially with 24 maps and modes like Hero Assault.

Medal of Honor (1999)

Developed by Dreamworks Interactive, it was the premiere World War 2 title, immersing players in the conflicts of the time while offering a top-tier presentation. Allied Assault would be more remembered thanks to its recreation of the Battle of Normandy, but Medal of Honor still deserves its flowers.

Left 4 Dead 2

Decried as little more than an expansion pack before launch, Left 4 Dead 2 expanded so much on its predecessor’s already compelling co-op gameplay. New Special Infected, deeper campaigns with more varied objectives, a wider variety of melee weapons and guns, and incredible replay value courtesy of its AI Director were just some of the reasons it stood out. Of course, its modability over the years has also ensured some great laughs.

Resistance 3

As the conclusion to the Resistance trilogy, Insomniac’s Resistance 3 is also its least successful. It’s a shame because, on top of new and old weapons, the atmosphere and dark subject matter added to the stakes, making it feel like humanity’s last desperate attempt to stay alive. While it still needed some polish, the gunplay and overall presentation made for a fitting end to the series.

System Shock (2023)

One of the best first-person titles ever made, System Shock is also far from easy to remake. Nevertheless, Nightdive Studios took a swing, rebuilding the visuals from the ground up while staying true to the far-future cyberpunk aesthetic of the original. Even with the improved UI, overhauled Cyberspace and other changes, it still maintains that sense of dread and terror that defined the original.

GoldenEye 007

Rare was already pretty well-established before GoldenEye 007 and yet, its launch raised the developer’s stock considerably. It isn’t just one of the best video game adaptations of a movie (usually a formula for failure back then), but proof that console shooters could be great. The local multiplayer alone defined many gamers’ lives growing up.

Cyberpunk 2077

After all the updates, revamped perks, and improvements, Cyberpunk 2077 has gone from a good first-person shooter to a great one. It’s backed by actual build variety, whether you’re a manic Mantis Blades user, a Netrunner overloading every single enemy, or skilled in a variety of guns. Of course, everything else that makes the game great, from its side quests to its open-world activities, doesn’t hurt either.

Wolfenstein 3D

While not quite the first-ever FPS made, Wolfenstein 3D is what ultimately led to the genre’s rise. It was frantic and fast-paced, with revolutionary visuals and excellent weapons. Though it offered secrets to discover throughout its ten episodes, the simplicity is ultimately what made it such a universal hit.

Quake 2 Remastered

Crafted with Nightdive’s assistance, the recent enhanced edition of Quake 2 packs all the mission packs, Quake 2 64, and a new episode from MachineGames into one package. Then it adds the id Vault, AI opponents in multiplayer, 4K/120 Hz support, and various quality-of-life features, turning one of id’s best shooters ever into a contemporary must-play.

The FINALS

Embark Studios’ THE FINALS is often forgotten when discussing competitive shooters, especially free-to-play options. Nevertheless, it’s a strong package with some unique modes, dynamic combat thanks to full environmental destruction, and extensive strategy, thanks to the unique gadgets. The arena-style combat may not appeal to everyone, but it still makes for some intense PvP sessions.

Black Mesa

If developing a sequel to Half-Life is challenging, remaking the experience, especially as a small team of fans, is an almost Herculean effort. Yet throughout many years of waiting, Black Mesa was finally a reality, delivering everything we loved about the original with gorgeous revamped visuals and entirely new sections like Xen.

DOOM (2016)

Considering how diminished interest had been in the franchise, it’s a miracle that DOOM even released. The fact that it’s this good is just an anomaly. Everything about it, from the visuals and action, particularly the new Glory Kills, is simply fantastic.

Perfect Dark

GoldenEye 007 showcased Rare’s surprising expertise for incredible first-person shooters and Perfect Dark only solidified it. With a tighter narrative focus and strong characterization (as seen with the iconic Joanna Dark), it weaved stealth, tense gunplay, memorable set pieces, and stellar levels into one cohesive package. The fact that it delivered so much despite the Nintendo 64 nearing the end of its lifespan is an achievement unto itself.

Titanfall 2

While it’s a shame that the original didn’t become all that popular, Titanfall 2’s fate is even more tragic given the sheer quality involved. The multiplayer is much more involved with its variety of Titans, weapon types and abilities (even if some maps could be hit or miss). Furthermore, the campaign is simply an all-timer with its level design, boss fights, and stories, making it worth the price of admission alone.

Half-Life 2

When you’re in Valve’s shoes and Half-Life is the pinnacle of narrative first-person shooters, there are high expectations. Yet, Half-Life 2 surpasses with relative ease, from the presentation and world-building to the story-telling and characters. Each area is memorable and unique; the Combine makes for enjoyable foes to fight; and the Gravity Gun is iconic all on its own.

Resident Evil Village

The Resident Evil series has seen its fair share of remakes in the form of the stellar Resident Evil 2 and the disappointing Resident Evil 3, but it has consistently delivered high-quality follow-ups. These include Resident Evil 7 and its follow-up Village, the latter of which represent the best of what the series offers. Resident Evil Village majestically swerves from one kind of horror to the next without any hiccups, and the action keeps pace with the changing scenery and shifting mechanics. The core gameplay of shooting down zombies is much faster than Resident Evil 7, but it retains the heft and groundedness of a survival horror game that comes together to make it one of the best in its class.

#16. SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS (2018)

Back in 2005, Sony delivered what is, to this day, considered one of the greatest games ever made in Shadow of the Colossus, and while its 2018 remake obviously didn’t have the same impact, it certainly did justice to its source material. Bluepoint Games smartly decided not to mess with a winning formula too much, and instead, with its remake, decided to merely accentuate the original’s biggest strengths and polish up some of its rough edges. For newcomers and veteran fans alike, 2018’s Shadow of the Colossus is an excellent way to experience this all-time classic.

#15. DEMON’S SOULS (2020)

Merely a couple of years after releasing the aforementioned Shadow of the Colossus, Bluepoint Games and Sony delivered yet another excellent remake in the form of PS5 launch title Demon’s Souls. Once again, the developer approach the FromSoftware classic with great respect, choosing to keep the vast majority of the core experience intact and instead glowing up its visuals and production values. The Soulslike genre has come a long way since its made its debut with Demon’s Souls in 2009, but for those who want to go back to the beginning, the 2020 remake is an unmissable experience.

#14. CRASH BANDICOOT N.SANE TRILOGY

Crash Bandicoot was essentially dead and buried until not too long ago, but thankfully, Activision decided to bring the franchise with a bang. Developed by Vicarious Visions, Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy perfectly encapsulated everything that the original PS1 trilogy was about, capturing all of its highs and lows and wrapping them up in gorgeous modern-day visuals to demonstrate just why this iconic platforming franchise took off the way it did.

#13. BLACK MESA

Starting as a fan-made unofficial remake of the original Half-Life, Crowbar Collective’s Black Mesa had an eventful journey behind the scenes, but when it finally launched as an official remake with Valve’s blessing in 2020, it proved to be well worth the wait. From its new content additions to the smart ways in which it evolved the original game’s mechanics to, of course, the gorgeous visual glow-up it brought to the table, Black Mesa proved to be a worthy reimagining of one of the all-time greats.

#12. MAFIA: DEFINITIVE EDITION

The Mafia franchise has certainly been through the wringer over the years, and recent years in particular have been tough on its fans. In 2020, however, we thankfully got a respite from the dourness thanks to Mafia: Definitive Edition, an incredible remake of the series’ very first outing. The original Mafia’s story and writing and its excellent period setting are still fondly remembered as some of its biggest strengths, and all of that was able to shine that much brighter in the remake. Some of the gameplay and design choices felt a little aged, yes, but for fans of the series in particular, it was a wonderful blast from the past.

#11. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK’S AWAKENING

Despite being a handheld-only game, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening has always held a special place in the hearts of Zelda fans, so to say that its Switch remake proved to be more than up to the task of remaking it for a new generation is no small praise. The biggest change it made, of course, was to its visual style, and while the new aesthetic may initially have proved to be an almost jarring change, ultimately, it turned out to be the perfect foil for the weird, bizarre adventure that is Link’s Awakening. Meanwhile, from its setting to its story to its world and dungeon design, the remake proved in more ways than one that the game’s qualities truly are timeless.

#10. TONY HAWK’S PRO SKATER 1+2

Much like with Crash Bandicoot, Activision and Vicarious Visions brought yet another dead and beloved franchise back into the limelight with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, and it would be safe to say that the results were even more resoundingly successful. Though one might argue that the original Tony Hawk games were a product of their time, going back to their incredibly tight and endlessly enjoyable gameplay, their oodles of content, their pumping licensed soundtrack, and all the visual upgrades that came with the remake only proved that the skateboarding masterpieces are just as great today as they were when they first launched.

#9. POKEMON FIRERED/LEAFGREEN

Game Freak loves remaking Pokemon games, and it’s done a fair few of them over the years, but it’s far to say that all but one (which we’ll get to in a bit) have failed to match the brilliance of their first remaking effort. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen took players back to where it all started, bringing Kanto back to life on the Game Boy Advance with updated visuals and combat and progression mechanics, and the end result was absolutely glorious. It’s been nearly two decades since this duo of remakes first launched, but they still stand as one of the series’ greatest games to date.

#8. METROID: ZERO MISSION

Metroid: Zero Mission presents the definitive take on Samus Aran’s original adventure, remaking it so comprehensively, and so thoroughly modernizing it, that it functionally renders the original game entirely obsolete. You never have to even consider playing the original, because everything it did, Zero Mission did as well, but better, while doing even more on top. Keeping the same basic map, enemies, plot progression, and power ups, but with modern game design sensibilities and some better signposting for new players, and adding a triumphant epilogue at the end that truly showed us how the story of Samus Aran began, Zero Mission remains a high watermark not just for the Metroid franchise, but remakes in general.

#7. YAKUZA KIWAMI 2

Yakuza 2 is a fan favorite game for a lot of reasons, including characters such as Ryuji and Kaoru, hilariously over the top but epic setpieces such as a golden castle bursting from the underground into the streets of Osaka, or an actual brawl with a tiger, and the introduction of the fan-favorite Sotenbori map. It’s a beloved game and any remake needed to treat it with appropriate care. Kiwami 2 did a good job of that, to say the very least. While it was nowhere near as faithful to Yakuza 2 as the original Kiwami was to Yakuza 1, taking liberties with story, music, and even content, it nonetheless delivered an exceptional outing for the Yakuza franchise that ranks as one of the franchise’s highs.

#6. RESIDENT EVIL (2002)

The folks at Capcom are the masters of remakes, and that can all be traced back to 2002, when the Japanese company released a ground-up remake of the original Resident Evil for the GameCube. Even though the original RE1 was barely six years old at that point, the remake felt like a ridiculous jump forward, thanks in large part to astoundingly gorgeous visuals that somehow still manage to hold up to this day. RE1 remake also added significant portions of new content to the original game that enriched the experience in ways we couldn’t have imagined, from new areas to story additions to, of course, Lisa Trevor. The fact that the remake is still widely held up as one of the best survival horror remakes of all time should tell you all you need to know about how good it was.

#5. FINAL FANTASY 7 REMAKE

Remaking a game as legendary as Final Fantasy 7 is far from an enviable task, and it becomes even less enviable when you decide to change it from head to toe to the extent that it essentially turns into an entirely different game. With Final Fantasy 7 Remake, that’s exactly what Square Enix did though, and it was a risk that paid off. Covering only the first few hours of the original and turning them into a full-fledged first instalment of a trilogy, the 2020 remake boasted incredible visuals and spectacular combat, and somehow managed to make what was essentially a small section of the original game feel like a fleshed out experience in and of itself. Add to that the smart changes it made and the ways in which it played on fans’ expectations, and what we got was what may even be one of the best Final Fantasy games ever made.

#4. DEAD SPACE (2023)

There was a long period of time where it looked like there was no hope whatsoever that the Dead Space franchise would be able to come back to life, but thanks to Motive Studio’s recent remake of the 2008 original, that’s exactly what it’s done- and how. The Dead Space remake is, in a word, spectacular- a standard-bearer not only for how to remake a beloved classic, but also for survival horror games as a whole. The psychological horror, the nightmares that the decrepit Ishimura hides around every corner, the gripping story and the way it unfolds, the brutal and visceral combat and how incredibly enjoyable it remains from start to finish- everything that was true about Dead Space back when it came out is still true in its 2023 remake, but even more potent and even more effective.

#3. RESIDENT EVIL 4 (2023)

Of all the Resident Evil games Capcom has made so far, this one was probably the trickiest proposition, thanks, of course, to its immense legacy- but they proved to be more than up to the task. The RE4 remake is a masterclass in all the ways that the original was, and then some. With its pacing and its combat and the sheer, constant tension that pervades every second of the experience, it emulates the highest highs of its source material from start to finish, while it also finds a way to make just the right amount of clever, unexpected changes to keep even the most hardened of veterans on their toes, all while still remaining incredibly faithful to the game that it tries to recreate. Suffice to say, Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece, twice over.

#2. POKEMON HEARTGOLD/SOULSILVER

Game Freak and Pokemon both peaked with Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. The original games, Gold and Silver, were already considered the best instalments of the franchise and some of the best RPGs ever made, so to actually take those games and somehow make them even better was an astounding achievement. By and large, HeartGold and SoulSilver were very faithful to the original games, but smart visual and mechanical changes made them feel much more modern, allowing the timeless design of this densely packed experience to shine that much brighter. With a combination of next to no cuts, plentiful improvements, and the core excellent of the originals brought over as is, HeartGold and SoulSilver instantly cemented themselves as Pokemon’s best outing- a crown, many might say, they still hold to this day.

#1. RESIDENT EVIL 2 (2019)

For our money, 2019’s Resident Evil 2 remains the absolute king of remakes, which, given the lofty company it keeps in this list, is huge praise. The jump from the original RE2 to its remake is absolutely massive, but even going from fixed cameras and tank controls to over the shoulder and third person shooting, the remake still manages to perfectly capture the essence of the original. Hell, it even enhances it. The gorgeous visuals, the stellar level design exhibited throughout the entire game (and in RPD in particular), the excellent boss fights, the implementation of Mr. X- all of it combines to make for a survival horror experience for the ages. The changes that the RE2 remake makes are, admittedly, pretty radical ones, and while some might bemoan the loss of, say, the zapping system, ultimately, they all contribute significantly to giving the game its own identity, so that the remake is able to stand alongside the original rather than either replacing it or being overshadowed by it. For fans of RE2 in particular, that alone is a massive achievement that cannot be overlooked.

Crowbar Collective has had a long journey with Black Mesa, its remake of Valve’s Half-Life that released to critical acclaim earlier this year. The team has continued polishing the title and has announced its final major update – the Definitive Edition. It goes live today for all current owners, free of cost.

The Definitive Edition brings a large amount of polish and updates to the art along with “significant” optimizations for performance on lower-end PCs. “Power Up” has seen a lighting and gameplay pass while “On A Rail” (map B) has been completely redesigned. There’s also full workshop support and closed captions (with translations) for Spanish, English, French, German, etc.

There are still some known issues with the game (like female scientists not healing the player) and the developer also has to release map source files. But with this update, Black Mesa is well and truly finished. For fans of Half-Life and quality first person shooters, it’s well worth checking out. Read our review here for more details.

Highlights of the Definitive Edition

• Massive polish and art updates throughout the game
• Complete lighting and gameplay pass to the chapter “Power Up”
• Complete redesign of second “On A Rail” map (map B)
• Significant optimizations across the whole game that will improve performance on low to mid range PCs
• Outdoor art passes for “We’ve Got Hostiles”, “On A Rail”, “Questionable Ethics”, “Surface Tension”, and “Forget About Freeman”

Mafia: Definitive Edition

After the Definitive Editions for Mafia 2 and Mafia 3 released with numerous issues, there was concern for Mafia: Definitive Edition especially since it’s a full-fledged remake. Fortunately, Hangar 13 has exhibited true love and care in updating the classic. The graphics have been significantly improved, especially with the new lighting engine; more story sequences have been added; and even the layout between objectives has been redesigned. So if you’ve ever wanted to experience Tommy Angelo’s rise through crime, this is the way to do it.

Dreams

It’s hard to measure the level of fidelity in Media Molecule’s Dreams. The main story mode, Art’s Dream, is stunning with its painting-esque backgrounds, ethereal textures and stellar particle effects. However, the creation tool-set is where things truly become crazy. Players have been creating everything from first person hack and slash titles with realistic graphics to mind-blowing sculptures of a full English breakfast. It’s a lot to take in and this is only just the beginning.

So without further ado, let’s get started.

BLACK MESA

Perhaps the most well-known (and also probably one of the very best) fan remakes to have ever been released. Black Mesa, which only recently launched after years of development, is a full-on remake of Half-Life 1– and without the shadow of a doubt, it is the best way to experience that all-time classic. That it not only understands and perfectly encapsulates everything that made Valve’s shooter so good, but also actually makes it better in many ways is a testament to its impeccable quality.