Top 10 Most Influential First Person Shooters of All Time

Top 10 Most Influential First-Person Shooters of All-Time



Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no denying they’re what made the genre it is today. Welcome to Watchmojo, and today we’re taking counting down our picks for the Top 10 Most Influential First-Person Shooters of All-Time!


While the genre may receive some flak from mainstream media, first-person shooters have helped innovate the gaming industry in various ways from combat and storytelling to philosophy and improved game design. But of them all, these were the ones that broke the mold.

#10: “BioShock” (2007)

At the dawn of the 7th Console Generation, Bioshock set the stage for what was capable on the hardware of this era. It’s haunting atmosphere, sound design, water effects and lighting, all set the stage of this awe inspiring underwater city. “BioShock” excelled with its narrative, built on the shoulders of just a few well-written characters, beautifully decrepit environments, and thought-provoking themes that reflected both history and philosophy. Additionally, “BioShock” incorporated a unique combat system where players could use their elemental powers on the environment to defeat the mad denizens of Rapture. With 2K recently announcing the founding of a new studio to handle future Bioshock, we’re eager to see what they can do with even more powerful hardware.

#9: “Metroid Prime” (2002)

Prior to this reinvention of the classic franchise, most FPS’s merely consisted of going from room to room and shooting any bad guys on the way. But Retro Studios showed that FPS’s could be a whole lot more. Considering how young the sixth generation of consoles was, “Prime” achieved a level of detail and immersion in its world that made it hard to stop playing. It also presented a new atmosphere for “Metroid”, focusing more on tense combat encounters while exploring eerie facilities. We’ll always love the classic 2D “Metroid” games, but “Prime” was a game that managed to blow away diehard fans and newcomers alike.

#8: “Unreal” (1998)

By 1998, FPS games were all about speed and dominating every deathmatch you could get into. The PC market needed an upgrade in visuals, and ultimately it was “Unreal” that came knocking at the door to drastically shake up the genre. While its gameplay wasn’t too different than other fast-paced shooters before it, “Unreal” was a milestone in terms of technology. Thanks to the Unreal Engine, games could render detailed textures and character models while boasting a solid frame rate. To this day, hundreds of games are using some version of Unreal Engine. Had it not been for the arena shooter, who knows where those games would be? We also have to give a shout out to the “Unreal Tournament” series, which perfected the arena shooter formula with intelligent AI, creative weapons, and excellent map designs.

#7: “Quake II” (1997)

If you weren’t playing “Unreal”, you were playing id Software’s arena shooter, “Quake”. However, we’re choosing its sequel because of how much care was put into making “Quake II” feel like a complete package. Not only did it manage to improve connectivity for online matches, but it took the multiplayer of “Doom” and showed the world how maps should be designed for arena shooters. Combine that with an explosive single-player campaign and “Quake II” was a requirement for any PC gamer. If only its success could have better carried the franchise through the decades…

#6: “Counter-Strike” (2000)

While the ‘90s birthed dozens of arena shooters, the turn of the millennium ushered in a new way to approach shooters. “Counter-Strike”, which started out as a mod for “Half Live”, drove the genre away from chaotic action and into strategic territory. The weapons were more realistic (both visually and mechanically), and maps demanded players know their surroundings and have the tactical know-how to get the advantage. Now you had to start worrying about choke points, building proper load outs, and knowing when to rush B...or something like that. “Counter-Strike” helped the FPS genre branch out into new territory, and the franchise remains influential even today.

#5: “Halo: Combat Evolved” (2001)

Many staples we find in modern FPS’s today, can all thank this Xbox launch title for making them the norm. Regenerative Health, 2 weapon carry limits. These two aspects alone changed the pacing of Modern First Person Shooters. And while it wasn’t the first title to introduce hop in/hop out vehicles, It was the first game to do them right, thanks to a simple to understand control setup and robust physics system. Furthermore, while local multiplayer wasn’t new to FPS’s on consoles at the time, (more on that in a bit), the earlier mentioned additions made it the goto FPS for party nights. Made all the more sweeter if you had a LAN setup.

#4: “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare” (2007)

Anyone who owned an Xbox 360 knew that this was THE game to own, and for good reason! “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare” showed that Online competitive FPS’s could be accessible to more than just the hardcore PC gaming crowd, it also established the modern military genre, something that continue’s to be felt to this day. As for game design, it borrowed elements from RPGs, such as a progression system for ranks and kill streaks that kept the gameplay exciting and unique. It also helped that the single-player campaign was top-notch!

#3: “GoldenEye 007” (1997)

Prior to "GoldenEye's" existence, console players had the misfortune of playing clunky ports of popular FPS games. So, they weren’t really getting the full experience until Rare went and brought James Bond to the N64. Originally starting development as a rail shooter for the SNES, GoldenEye 007” eventually wrangled a whole new demographic into the FPS genre, serving up incredibly fun modes like Golden Gun, while also featuring characters from our favorite Bond flicks. It showed the potential FPS games had when focused on local multiplayer, and to this day, “GoldenEye” is one of those N64 games that is a must-play when childhood friends get together. Perhaps most amazing of all, multiplayer was a last minute addition to this iconic title.

#2: “Half-Life” (1998)

Before “Half-Life” came about, most enemies in games would simply charge at the player while utilizing minimal defense. Valve’s sci-fi FPS, on the other hand, incorporated realistic AI behavior, allowing the genre to become less of a shooting gallery and more of a firefight. Enemies would force you out of cover instead of turning a corner to let you gun them down. Half-Life also showed that story can exist within gameplay and not take control away from the player. Which for many, was a building block not just for FPS’s but for AAA single-player gaming as a whole. This philosophy of innovation with each new installment, carried over to “Half-Life 2” as well as the long awaited “Half-Life: Alyx” VR game. Trust in Valve.

#1: “DOOM” (1993)

We will never forget the early innovations of “Wolfenstein 3D”, but in the end, we had to put “Doom” on this list instead. While “Wolfenstein” helped build the foundation for first-person shooters, “Doom” cranked everything up to eleven with its intense music and adrenaline-fueled nature. On top of intricate level designs and focus on speedy traversal, the game was a pioneer in online gaming, allowing four players to connect to a server so they could blow each other to bits with shotguns and rocket launchers. In the years since, “Doom” has continued to be an innovator in pushing hardware limitations to the maximum while delivering the same fast, fluid, ultra-violent experience the franchise has come to be known for.