Marathon

Whatever happens, Marathon will go down as one of the year’s biggest shooters. Either, it’ll fail catastrophically, or attract and retain a sizeable playerbase – the latter once seeming unlikely, given its controversial development and underwhelming alpha reception.

Bungie has been scurrying away since alleged plagiarism tanked the game’s reputation mid-2025, implementing changes from drastically improving gamefeel, like faster TTK, to darkening its sci-fi industrial aesthetic, reflecting the 90s original. Will it work? Fact is, for every ARC Raiders, you’ve got a Concord; with online shooters, no-one knows which way the wind will blow. Still, Marathon’s post-alpha overhauls might yet secure it a long future.

Halo: Campaign Evolved

You can’t overstate the original Halo’s impact. Revolutionising first person shooters, Halo: Combat Evolved brought refined gunplay, intelligent enemies, and vehicles better suited for mulching alien grunts than traversal. Now, Master Chief’s iconic space opera is returning, faithfully rebuilt and expanded with all-new weapons, modernised gameplay, two-player split-screen, four-player online co-op, prequel missions, and more.

However, Halo Studios – formally 343 Industries – still has a tall order. Halo: Campaign Evolved’s reception was mixed on reveal, with accusations of reused Halo Infinite assets suggesting, if true, that the remake isn’t as authentic as it ought to be. Yet, crossing the frontline to PlayStation territory for the first time, Halo’s remake isn’t just a ploy to entice new players nor level the shortcomings of 2011’s remaster, but to cement the future of one of gaming’s most important franchises.

Better Than Dead

Games viewed through bodycam perspectives feel like they’re having a moment. Their realistic, shaky visuals, so often the lens for brutal, close-quarters shooting, court controversy for being a little too close to the bone. Better Than Dead looks poised to continue bodycam’s notoriety, but its slightly blocky, de-saturated art, deliberately unnatural hand gestures, and gravity-defying floating shrapnel counteract the rawness of its peers like Unrecord or Bodycam. It’s a smaller-scale title, coming only to PC via Steam, but the responsive shooting and action movie-inspired Hong Kong setting suggest a game which could land a sizeable audience.

Resident Evil Requiem

When you think of first person shooters, household survival horror series Resident Evil likely won’t spring to mind. Yet, Resident Evil Requiem ships with an optional first-person view. And, with tons of shooting at the hands of Leon in his action-orientated sections, we felt it worthy of inclusion in this rundown. If you need convincing, Requiem entry has handguns, including the sawtooth-edged revolver ‘Requiem’ that has featured prominently in the game’s marketing a sub-machine gun, shotgun, and a rifle. So, in other words, enough firepower to blast through Leon’s segments like an FPS horror.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

Saddle up, there’s a new bunch of misfits primed to take on a zombie horde. Yes, on paper you’ve already seen John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, but this upcoming four-player shooter from Saber Interactive does have a few aces up its sleeve. It’ll be deploying the studio’s Swarm Engine, which was used to great effect in Saber’s other efforts World War Z and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Also in the developer’s oeuvre is vehicular puzzler MudRunner, so you can expect countless moments where your squad must winch vehicles through sludge. Famed director John Carpenter lends his creative input and contributes to the score too, giving a distinct aesthetic to what is shaping up to be a mechanically rich shooter.

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

If you can’t keep up with CoD, Hell Let Loose is the industrial war machine in which to spray your bullets. It’s quietly built up a reputation as a hardcore, yet ultimately accessible shooter. And, despite a shift from tactical realism following a developer change, publisher Team17 has greenlit another entry, taking the running and gunning out of World War II and onto a new stage: Vietnam. The explosive fury of Hell Let Loose’s origins is re-established, with Vietnam a sweltering, six-map battle ground for 50v50 matchups. Multiple bands comprise each side, from infantry and recon to mortar squads and helicopter units, meaning this is a multi-faceted, tactically varied conflict that’ll suck away your hours once it all clicks.

DEFECT

Finally, Rainbow Six and Bladerunner combine; DEFECT is a SWAT-sim nestled deep in a dark, cyberpunk world overrun with AI. I mean, of course it’s overrun with AI, but set dressing aside DEFECT packs plenty of variety into its dystopian gameplay. There are smuggling runs, assassination targets, and fugitive hunts which you can take on solo or in PvP and PvE co-op. Multiple warring factions imbue the familiar neon rainfall with chaos; this city’s unravelling in anarchy, and you’ll wield an arsenal of high-tech weaponry and gadgets to clean its streets.

NO LAW

Like DEFECT, NO LAW is an FPS gripped by dystopian nightmares. And, also like DEFECT, this one doesn’t have a confirmed release date. That said, conceptually at least, NO LAW’s development looks to be chugging along nicely. Here, you’re a disheveled veteran who’s a magnet for trouble in a metropolis. Locations are always characterful in cyberpunk fiction, and NO LAW’s Port Desire looks a genuine rival for Cyberpunk 2077’s prodigious Night City. So, prepare to leave your morals behind, NO LAW’s branching story, colourful characters, and blazing guns mean it’s primed to find a huge audience.

Road to Vostok 

This hardcore shooter is set in an apocalyptic border territory between Finland and Russia, and it’s here, against dense pine forests and crystalline lakes, that you’ll shoot, loot, and prepare for an expedition into Vostok proper – a permadeath zone where survival hangs by a thread. Road to Vostok might borrow Escape From Tarkov’s structure and hostility, but the sole developer behind it is promising a deeply immersive experience away from the shooting. Dynamic weather, day and night cycles, and distinct seasons bring life to the in-game economy and AI factions. It’s a huge undertaking for one person, so let’s hope Road to Vostok launches to PC without a hitch on April 7th.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire

Combining the black and white charm of 1930s rubber-hose animation with the confrontational action of modern-day first person shooting, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire brings something new to the table. This jazz-fueled adventure might be too niche for some, but one thing’s for sure: the hand-drawn animation is undeniably compelling. If the gunplay, noir-esque narrative, and corrupted assailants provide a more serious backbone away from the cartoonish aesthetic then MOUSE: P.I. For Hire might land an unexpected hit for first-time studio Fumi Games. Launching March 19th, this one’s going to be playable on PS5 and Switch 2 alongside PC, too.

ExeKiller

It’s nearly five years since Paradark Studios revealed ExeKiller, but in January this year we got our best look yet at the action-adventure-slash-FPS via an official gameplay overview. We already knew the game plants the gunslinging old West into a scorched desert dystopia, but now, aside from piercing revolver battles, ExeKiller confirms survival mechanics, inventory management, device hacking, and cybernetic implant exploration. It’s a heady mix, made all-the-more complex by Paradark’s pledge for non-linear mission structure. What’s certain is ExeKiller presents one of the most unique offerings on this rundown of new FPS games.

ILL

Team Clout’s ILL pushes realism to stomach-churning extremes. Aided by visceral dismemberment, abhorrent monster design, and claustrophobic interiors, this upcoming horror shooter is not for the faint of heart. What’s most striking, however, is the game’s physics engine, with bulbous, blood-drenched creatures moving with uncanny likeness. Together with suitably squelchy sound design, ILL might just break new ground for reactive body horror in games.

Rogue Point

From the creators of Half-Life remake Black Mesa, Rogue Point is a four-player co-op shooter which indie studio Crowbar Collective say brings classic shooter feel with a modern identity. From footage shared, its colourful chaos certainly looks impactful, albeit laced with schlocky humour. This is more of a sugar rush, one-more-run type deal; entertaining, explosive, and not to be taken too seriously. It’s just here to have fun with your mates. Also, by the time this feature is published, Rogue Point will be out soon – it’s coming to early access via Steam on February 12th.

Witchfire

This dark fantasy RPG FPS blends extraction shooting with a roguelike structure, and it’s been in early access since September 2023. Now, its 1.0 release is on the horizon, launching in full mid-2026. If you’ve played Bulletstorm – arguably one of the most underrated FPS games ever – Witchfire is from the same creative minds, so you can expect tons of imaginative ways to slay your opponents. Numerous playable archetypes, a diverse set of biomes, and an array of enemies have given Witchfire a dedicated following already. Fully realised lore and a complete story are all that’s missing, but they’ll be coming when 1.0 drops.

Valor Mortis

Like Resident Evil Requiem, Valor Mortis arguably isn’t an FPS game. Coming from Ghostrunner devs One More Level, it’s billed as a first-person action soulslike – an intriguing, underexplored undertaking if ever we saw one. Set during an alt-history Napoleonic war, where the stench of death fizzes over sodden battlegrounds, you awaken with supernatural powers and a hunger to cleanse the mire of horrifying monsters. A saber is your primary tool, but you keep a pistol in your back pocket, blasting specifically at the weak points of larger enemies. So, yes, not an FPS in the strictest sense, but there’s shooting so it’s in.

Bonus: Next Call of Duty

Probably boring and more of the same. Oh well.

Among the gameplay shown off in the trailer for ExeKiller was gunplay, driving, melee combat, and even some parkour elements. The developers have noted the shooter’s key features being the fact that it rewards curiosity with its emphasis on exploration while not holding the player’s hand to guide them to their next objectives.

Players take on the role of the titular ExeKiller, named Denzel Fenix. In the game’s world, an ExeKiller is a bounty hunter working for megacorporation Helion. Part of Fenix’s job is to hunt down fugitives and reclaim their souls. Tying into the cyberpunk themes of the game, these “fugitives” are people who are trying to escape from the system.

Between bounties, players get to hang out in the massive Tower that also serves as the location of Helion’s headquarters. At the Tower, Fenix can accept new contracts, upgrade his gear, and prepare for missions. The general gameplay structure will be chapter-based, with players progressing through the story depending on the kinds of missions they take on.

Leaving the tower, players get to explore the scorched desert that used to be this universe’s New York City and its surrounding areas. The main method of travelling is a heavily-modified car that has been designed to offer protection from heat and radiation. The car also houses tools like a computer, extra storage, and a radio to listen to music.

While combat will play a major part in the gameplay loop of ExeKiller, survival is also an aspect players will have to pay attention to. Inventory space is limited, and players must be careful about the things they pick up and carry around. Inventory management will be handled through an interface based on classic titles like Resident Evil 4, with players having to arrange all of their things in the available space. Along with weaponry, players will also have access to tools like lockpicks, as well as cybernetic implants that can be used to find hidden things in the environment.

These tools will be especially useful since missions themselves will be non-linear, giving players plenty of freedom to tackle the contract however they might like, be it by sneaking around, or going in guns-blazing.

ExeKiller is coming to PC via Steam, but doesn’t yet have a release date. For more details, check out our interview with the developers from all the way back in 2021.

Earth From Another Sun

Resembling the birthchild of Halo, Destiny 2, Starfield, and Mass Effect is Earth From Another Sun, an upcoming open-world MMO promising 1000-strong battles across an array of intergalactic locales, fought via highly customisable weapons, powers, gadgets, and a fleet of super-cool traversal tools and vehicles including portable jetpacks and hovering tanks. This brief summary is the tip of the iceberg though; Earth From Another Sun has a ton of features. However, time will tell if chucking a smorgasbord of gameplay mechanics at a hero shooter minimises its risk of failure a la Concord.

Crimson Desert 

Currently in development at Pearl Abyss, Crimson Desert is an open-world game brimming with unrivaled ambition and vast swaths of potential. The game puts you in the shoes of a warrior who must battle insurmountable odds to save his kingdom from peril, and that journey is characterized by varied missions and complex game systems that are closely knit with one another to create something that looks truly mesmerizing and fresh. 

Death Stranding 2 

Death Stranding was not everyone’s cup of tea when it was released, but many fans eventually warmed up to this peculiar kind of cargo-hauling experience and came to appreciate its design and the meaning behind its world. Kojima is hard at work on Death Stranding 2, a sequel that will most likely showcase the true potential of a Strand game with its gameplay innovations and narrative developments. The teaser is chock full of questions waiting to be answered, and we are definitely excited to see what’s in store.

War of the Worlds 

Developed by FlipSwitch Games, War of the Worlds is a game that tells a story of humans trying to survive against an alien onslaught. It features shades of both action and horror as you slowly tiptoe around urban neighborhoods in search of a safe haven from all the commotion happening outside. It looks like a pretty open-ended game that allows different forms of gameplay ranging from driving to exploration and much more, and the multiplayer aspect also allows you to assume the role of aliens and experience the narrative from a new angle.

inZOI 

inZOI is a new life simulator that lets you live out a virtual life to the fullest as you try to keep tabs on hunger, happiness, and other meters of each individual that you control. It boasts incredible levels of fidelity thanks to the power of Unreal Engine 5. inZOI has definitely managed to impress us with its vast array of gameplay options and the sheer breadth of choices you get within its sandbox elements.

Mouse 

Mouse’s concept of creating a violent first-person shooter with the jovial art style of cartoons might sound like something straight out of a fever dream, but it all surprisingly works while looking absolutely bonkers. The animation work is immaculate, and the gunplay seems really fun. Add to that a noir-inspired story that would most likely have morally gray characters and twists and turns galore, and Mouse becomes a really interesting game that’s worth keeping an eye out for.

Zoochosis 

Clapperheads is hard at work on the upcoming Zoochosis, a game that puts you in the shoes of a zookeeper of a very peculiar zoo. As the only person with the responsibility of keeping the animals safe and sound, you must keep inspecting these creatures for signs of mutation or infection – and deliver rapid response vaccines to keep things in check. Zoochosis also manages to throw in shades of horror with its dark and dreary aesthetic, and fierce mutations that can lead to scary outcomes. 

Screenbound 

Screenbound is one of the most creative ideas we have seen in recent memory, combining a 3D world with a 2D world in a very interesting fashion. Certain elements of the game world are only visible in the 3D realm, while others like the enemies are only visible on a 2D screen glued to the hands of the protagonist. There’s definitely some inherent jankiness or frustrations that might come from such a gameplay mechanic, but it would be interesting to see how the developers tackle those challenges and create something that’s as fun as it is unique.

Unrecord 

It’s easy to mistake Unrecord’s trailer for actual real-life footage, and that statement alone speaks volumes about its spectacular attention to detail. Everything from the texture work to the lighting and the animations has been created with extremely high levels of fidelity, and it makes great use of Unreal Engine 5’s graphical feature set to deliver something that genuinely feels like a step up from current-gen games. In addition to the visuals, Unrecord also provides an interesting gameplay loop that combines action elements with tactics to create something that’s both thrilling and engaging.

Light No Fire 

From the developer behind No Man’s Sky, Light No Fire feels like the natural evolution of the formula found in Hello Games’ debut title. Light No Fire is set against a massive open world that’s about the size of the Earth built to scale, and that vast space is filled with procedurally generated map geometry and a diverse cast of flora and fauna spread across multiple biomes. It truly feels like a world ripe for exploration, and it would be interesting to see Hello Games’ morphing its past learnings into an entirely new universe. 

Project TH

Heavily inspired by the likes of Splinter Cell or Hitman, Project TH is an upcoming action-adventure stealth game that puts you in the shoes of a covert operative who must make his way through enemy-infested mazes and complete objectives without raising alarms or commotion. Project TH impresses with its photorealistic visuals and smooth-flowing animations, making it a perfect showcase for the power of current-gen gaming systems.

Europa 

Set against the backdrop of an alien world, Europa is a tale about the last human alive trying to survive in a world that plays by its own rules. It features a cartoony aesthetic that has a distinct charm to it, and that also lends a really relaxing vibe to the overall experience. The gameplay entails exploring the many biomes spread throughout its world, solving puzzles, and taking part in missions that will test your survival skills to the fullest. 

Exekiller

Exekiller is a game that presents an interesting dichotomy of the past and the future. It takes the familiar setting of the American Wild West that is usually associated with horses and cowboys, and meshes those elements into a futuristic dystopia ruled by capitalism and technology. Apart from the more aesthetic elements, Exekiller also features a complex gameplay that prioritizes player freedom with the ability to craft your own narrative in a world brimming with choices and an open-ended combat loop. 

Paranormal Tales 

Built using Unreal Engine 5, Paranormal Tales does a great job of actually seating you into the horror. It showcases multiple horror vignettes from different perspectives like a bodycam or a VHS tape, but the more impressive part of the game is how it plays on the fear of the unknown with a stunning atmosphere and appropriately ominous sound design. 

Black Myth Wukong 

Game Science’s upcoming Black Myth Wukong remains one of the more interesting takes on the Souls formula, and that largely boils down to how the developer meshes those ideas with its own and in doing so creates something that’s just as recognizable as it is fresh. With a beautiful art design and compelling fast-paced gameplay, Black Myth Wukong has no shortage of impressive elements to its presentation. 

Pragmata

Currently in development, Pragmata looks like a wonderfully eccentric experience that raises more questions than it answers. The short teaser trailer showcases lunar travel, otherworldly beings, and an astronaut who apparently has to save Diana. While it’s difficult to make sense out of such visuals, they are definitely enchanting to say the least. While details about the gameplay remain shrouded in mystery for now, it is apparently inspired by modern action games so that’s something to look forward to as well.

Ghostrunner 2

Ghostrunner was easily one of the biggest surprise hits of 2020, and fans were absolutely impressed by its fresh gameplay ideas and the one hit one kill design philosophy overruling it all. A sequel was known to be in the works, and the recently unveiled Ghostrunner 2 looks primed to build upon the foundations of the original in new ways. Ghostrunner 2 will once again thrust players into the dystopian setting of Dharma City as they slash and dice their way through hordes of new enemy archetypes and other obstacles. In addition to having motorcycle levels, the game will also feature better boss fights and more complex level designs among a slew of other improvements. It releases for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S sometime in 2023.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

GSC Game World’s upcoming S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is all about surviving and thriving as a lone wolf in the radiation-infested Exclusion Zone all while you try to make your way to the Heart of Chornobyl. The open world is full of NPCs to meet and opportunities to pursue, and your decisions have the potential to affect the world and the people around you. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has endured a tough development cycle complete with all sorts of delays and pushbacks, but the game finally seems to be on track to release this December for PC and Xbox Series X/S.

"You won’t be able to see all quests in one playthrough."

ExeKiller’s mixing up a lot of genres, from Western to post-apocalypse to cyberpunk. That’s an inherently appealing premise, especially since it has the potential to be quite unique, but at the same time, how are you ensuring that it still feels cohesive and doesn’t overwhelm players with a lot of clashing ideas?

Intuition we guess. As filmmakers we love to break out of genre boundaries. We often play with conventions of styles, we mix them to create something new because we believe perfect mixes can create a unique blend. Its always a challenge! But of course we can’t be 100% sure we won’t exaggerate.

Cyberpunk settings often go hand-in-hand with some pretty thematic storytelling. Is that something that player can expect from ExeKiller as well?

Yes and no. We focus rather on sci-fi in general and western themes as well. So there will be some cyberpunk motives but just a few.

ExeKiller is being billed as a very choice-driven game. What can you tell us about that? How crucial will the choices players will make be, and how divergent will their consequences be?

There will be key moments in the game that will have an impact on the plot. In some cases directly choosing the right answer during a dialogue and in some cases making the decision on the fly, like if the player will rescue the hostages or chase the criminal. These decisions will have consequences, that’s why you won’t be able to see all quests in one playthrough. Similarly, each ending will be the result of all decisions that were made during the whole game. There won’t be any final decisions 5 minutes before ending.

"The world of the ExeKiller will be large enough to feel the distance and scale, traveling in your vehicle. We want the player to feel sometimes lost, lonely, irrelevant."

How large and varied is ExeKiller’s open world? What traversal methods will players have access to?

The world of the ExeKiller will be large enough to feel the distance and scale, traveling in your vehicle. We want the player to feel sometimes lost, lonely, irrelevant. Exploration is very important to us, the locations we encounter on our way will be small but full of details, telling their own story. Players will have freedom to go everywhere we let them and explore.  We are creating an open world that we have under full control. It means we are using all possible “natural” ways to limit the map, mountains, force fields, radiation etc.

The open world also promises dynamic weather and radioactive sun storms. Can you talk a bit more about this and what sort of an impact they will have on gameplay?

Due to the very high temperature, some regions of the map will only be explorable at night. The night itself will also make it easier for us to sneak around. We also have radioactive and electromagnetic storms that are a deadly threat to us. When one of them is coming towards us we have to find a safe place as soon as possible. It can be a city, a cave, a canyon, an abandoned building, anything that will provide us with a minimum of protection.  On top of that electromagnetic storms can stop all electric devices including our car and more advanced weapons. At that time only old guns are working and outlaws are a threat and can attack you.

What should players expect from ExeKiller’s optional content and side quests in terms of quality and variety? Will side quests, for instance, have any impact on how the main story progresses?

Yes of course, but at this stage it’s hard to say how many. One of the examples could be related to “The Temple” (you can see this building in our trailer) – a monumental building in the desert hiding a mystery which we have to solve.

How extensive and robust is the progression system in the game? How much control will players have over what sort of a build they want to go for to suit different kinds of play styles?

We want every style of game to be appealing. That’s why some of the abilities and gadgets will help you with fighting and some with sneaking and hacking. We will not have a standard skill tree. You will be able to buy new skills in the form of softwares or extract them from the enemies. For example: If someone uses invisibility you will be able to pull it from the owner. Once you assign a certain skill you will be able to upgrade it further in special places.

"If all goes well, you can expect ExeKiller on consoles."

Roughly how long will an average playthrough of ExeKiller be?

It’s hard to say at this stage but it definitely won’t be a 30-hour game.

Do you have any plans to eventually bring ExeKiller to PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Switch as well?

If all goes well, you can expect ExeKiller on consoles. It will also appear on GOG.