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.

Right off the bat, you get support for 4K/120 Hz on current-gen consoles and PC, cross-platform multiplayer and co-op, several accessibility options (including high-contrast mode and text-to-speech/speech-to-text for multiplayer), and support for eight new languages. If you want to learn more about the development of each game or delve into all of the character sprites, backgrounds, and more, the id Vault collects it all in one neat place.

"However, everyone else logging back in will doubtless pivot to Legacy of Rust, the new campaign. The story, such as it is, sees the player aiming to reclaim a lost UAC base."

Those craving more Doom content get a brand new campaign developed collaboratively by Nightdive, MachineGames and id Software. There’s also a new Deathmatch pack for multiplayer fans, adding 25 new maps, and, perhaps best of all, compatibility for BOOM, allowing mods to be shared and downloaded in-game. If that wasn’t enough, a newly remixed soundtrack by Andrew Hulshut (who’s composed tracks for Rise of the Triad, Prodeus, Dusk, Amid Evil, and more throughout the years) is also available in addition to the classic MIDI tunes.

Based on the original games alone, DOOM 1 + DOOM 2 is worth playing for newcomers. Everything from the level design to the enemies and pacing still feels so sublime after all these decades that it’s incredible. Of course, even if you played the originals or their re-releases but haven’t delved into the add-ons, they’re worth playing. No Rest for the Living is essentially more Doom 2 with a larger number of enemies on-screen and slight twists on its level design.

Final Doom feels a nice evolution on the core Doom formula, maintaining a solid pace, while playing around more with environmental concepts and challenges. Perhaps the only real point of consternation is Sigil – it’s not bad but offers a different kind of Doom experience. It still warrants a playthrough for the eye-catching effects and attention to detail. Sigil 2 is also available as a featured mod, which is a nice gesture.

However, everyone else logging back in will doubtless pivot to Legacy of Rust, the new campaign. The story, such as it is, sees the player aiming to reclaim a lost UAC base. Ancient horrors are afoot, and while it’s all window dressing for the action, there’s still some interesting environmental story-telling. Gunning through Scar Base and taking out the Former Humans, Pinkies, and Ghouls (which are new), you spot several hanging bodies. One hop, skip and jump through a portal later, and more carnage is revealed, from impaled soldiers to piles of corpses.

"Doom is a game that’s seen an unbelievable amount of mod support throughout the years, spawning everything from brand-new campaigns to total conversions that fundamentally change the experience."

The new flourishes stand out, but the classic Doom aesthetic is still in play. Perhaps most impressive is how each level feels structured and unique. Scar Base is the jumping-off point into the Sanguine Wastes, a festering landscape of blood pools where enemies seemingly lurk everywhere, creating a harrowing atmosphere over a lengthy period.

By comparison, Ash Mill is shorter but no less terrifying as you navigate through a twisted lumber mill and various desiccated trees, battling the new Shocktroopers. Out of all the sections in these levels, perhaps a handful stood out as somewhat off, but the rest is prime Doom-level design. Though there are only two new weapons – the Calamity Blade and Incinerator – they’re fun to use.

There’s nothing quite like facing down incoming hordes, firing off a single charged blade and watching it effortlessly slice through them. On that note, even the new enemies slot effortlessly in, with the Vassago perhaps the most imposing when you’re running low on ammo and trying to scrounge for more. I felt a bit divided on Call of the Machine in Quake 2 Remastered, but Legacy of Rust is an excellent addition to an already stellar line-up of campaigns. Of course, the fun doesn’t end there.

Doom is a game that’s seen an unbelievable amount of mod support throughout the years, spawning everything from brand-new campaigns to total conversions that fundamentally change the experience. With mod support now officially available in-game, you can access new maps like in Back to Saturn X Episode 1 and 2, and DOOM ZERO or overhauls like Harmony and REKKR, the former adding a different sci-fi vibe to the experience and the latter putting a twist on things. It’s great, especially for console players.

"Then there’s the new soundtrack. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a fantastic addition to the games, but the mixing needs work. At times, the tracks can feel too overwhelming,"

Unfortunately, since it’s only BOOM-compatible, you can’t experience the most popular mod offerings like GZDoom, Brutal Doom, Myhouse.wasd, etc. It’s not a deal-breaker, but having such a definitive collection of classic Doom titles without those mods feels off. You also need a Bethesda account to download any mods.

However, these pale in comparison to the mod browser, which isn’t good. Cycling through pages feels tedious and though filtering by most subscribed or recently added is fine, the filter settings must be set every single time when backing out of a mod’s listing. That’s not even getting into other issues, like mod addition reportedly being un-moderated, allowing some to upload mods they haven’t authored.

Then there’s the new soundtrack. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a fantastic addition to the games, but the mixing needs work. At times, the tracks can feel too overwhelming, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Switching back to the original MIDI soundtracks is an option, but those sound too quiet, which requires some finagling. The music is essential to the Doom experience, so hopefully, these issues will be adjusted soon.

I can’t speak much to the multiplayer since a message about accounts failing to work kept popping up. There have also been complaints about display options not feeling like the original experience, with no in-game way to reset to default. The movement also feels off for PC players, though I haven’t had any issues on PS5 (even with “Always Run” enabled). It may be worth looking into all of this before taking the plunge.

"Even if the mod browser needs some quality-of-life features and a rethink to its moderation, and the audio mixing feels off, diminishing the excellent new soundtrack, this is one of the best classic collections out there."

Nevertheless, even with these blemishes, DOOM 1 + DOOM 2 is an essential experience for all kinds of first-person shooter fans. The original releases look better than ever, their design harkening back to simpler times without copious ripping and tearing. The add-ons are all impeccable (my misgivings with Sigil aside), and the new campaign is arguably worth the price of admission alone.

Even if the mod browser needs some quality-of-life features and a rethink to its moderation, and the audio mixing feels off, diminishing the excellent new soundtrack, this is one of the best classic collections out there. The sheer amount of love that’s gone into classic Doom since its launch in 1993 is something to behold and the fact that it still has developers and modders dedicating so much to develop new content is noteworthy. With DOOM 1 + DOOM 2 serving as the pinnacle of everything that classic Doom has to offer, the real question now is: Can Doom 3 finally get some love?

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

The entire package includes content such as Doom, Doom 2, TNT: Evilution and The Plutonia Experiment (which constitute Final Doom), Doom 2’s Master Levels, No Rest for the Living, and John Romero’s Sigil. It also features Legacy of Rust, a new episode with two chapters and 16 new maps developed by id Software, Nightdive Studios and MachineGames.

Multiplayer enthusiasts can also look forward to 25 new Deathmatch maps and cross-platform support for Deathmatch and co-op for up to 16 players. Other new features include mod support, remixed soundtracks in Doom 1 and 2, up to 4K and 120 FPS support on current-gen consoles and PC, text-to-speech, and more.