Top 10 Greatest FPS Campaigns of All Time
Top 10 Best FPS Campaigns Ever
Top 10 Call of Duty Campaigns
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Best FPS Campaigns Ever. Competitive multiplayer is all well and good, but for this list, we’ll be looking at the most action-packed stories from first-person shooters. We’ll also only be including one entry per franchise. Which campaign is your favorite? Head to those comments and let us know.
#10: “Metro Exodus” (2019)
The latest in developer 4A Games’ post-apocalyptic series makes full use of its interesting setting. Ravaged by nuclear war, “Metro’s” Russia has never felt so intimidating, yet so enticing, as it does here. And a hefty dose of nonlinearity definitely helped the game succeed. We play again as franchise hero Artyom, working to find other survivors across the continent. Not only are there a whole host of human enemies attempting to stop him, like cannibals, but the world is also fraught with horrific creatures. A dynamic weather system, a day-and-night cycle, and varying seasons as the story progresses help add to this engaging, hellish landscape.
#9: “Metroid Prime” (2002)
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Known for its heavy focus on exploration, Nintendo’s “Metroid” skipped its first 3D console. But when it arrived on the GameCube, it blew everyone away. “Prime” followed Samus on Tallon IV, exploring the ruins of the Chozo Race and attempting to stop the villainous Space Pirates. Developer Retro Studios did an incredible job adapting the franchise’s traits into a 3D space. Exploration and world building are still key features. Scannable environments give the player information on enemies and wildlife. And there are a plethora of secrets that require later upgrades, just begging for the player to return for a worthwhile bounty. “Prime” added an FPS spin on what was already great and painted a bright future for the franchise.
#8: “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” (2009)
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“Call of Duty” may be more appreciated for its multiplayer, but there’s no denying that “Modern Warfare 2” is one incredibly thrilling campaign. Developer Infinity Ward built on everything great from the first game. And its harrowing missions, like the airport scene and the Gulag rescue, gave players front row seats to the horrors of war. It follows Task Force 141 attempting to stave off a war between the US and Russia orchestrated by one of the franchise’s most ruthless villains, Vladimir Makarov. However, the good guys are just as compelling. Ghost, Price, Soap, and Roach may sound like silly names. But to the initiated, they’re characters that have yet to be topped in any other entry.
#7: “Halo 3” (2007)
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The climax of the original “Halo” trilogy brought everything from the first two to a boiling point. Continuing the interstellar war between humans, the Covenant, and the parasitic Flood, the third entry was packed with riveting fire fights throughout. Additionally, like all great FPS sequels, it added a bunch of new weapons and equipment. There’s nothing quite like decimating a horde of enemies with new toys while also using the game’s new vehicles to lead the charge on its larger battlefields. And with co-op letting up to 3 friends join you, those battlefields could quickly become painted with alien blood.
#6: “Borderlands 2” (2012)
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For fans of mature humor, psychotic characters, uber violence, and more guns than you could ever count, there’s nothing quite like “Borderlands 2.” Gearbox’s original was praised for its unique aesthetic and use of RPG mechanics. But the sequel increased everything astronomically. Following a group of Vault Hunters on the planet Pandora, players must aid a resistance group against Handsome Jack, a vile villain so hilarious you almost start to root for him… until he commits another atrocious act. With four classes to choose from, each of which have three different skill trees, and a planet bursting with deadly enemies, loot, and eccentric supporting characters, there is plenty to enjoy in “Borderlands 2.”
#5: “Titanfall 2” (2016)
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“Titanfall 2” follows a rookie rifleman who teams up with his former mentor’s Titan to stop an evil organization from blowing up his militia’s home planet. And while its set-up may sound a tad generic, it more than makes up for it with stellar gameplay and magnificent level design. Each mission brings a new gimmick, whether it be traveling between two points in time or platforming through obstacles on a factory line. And all throughout, the campaign is bolstered by fluid movement mechanics like sliding and wall-running. However, it’s the Titan’s combat, which can be changed by collecting different loadouts, that truly gets the blood pumping. “Titanfall 2’s” campaign never overstays its welcome, instead offering something short, sweet, and to the point.
#4: “Doom” (2016)
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“DOOM” fans were starved for a new entry by the time 2016 came around. Luckily, the Slayer didn’t disappoint. After a research station on Mars gets overrun with demons from Hell, it’s up to the player to exterminate everything in sight. The Doom Slayer gains access to some of the most destructive weapons in gaming history, but the supreme controls and gameplay ensure that even a simple shotgun is a force to be reckoned with in your hands. “DOOM” is a quick-paced, blood-soaked blast to play. That’s not to mention Mick Gordon’s entirely badass metal soundtrack, which deservedly earned the game a handful of awards.
#3: “Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus” (2017)
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Another extremely violent Bethesda-Mick Gordon team-up, “The New Colossus” had the unenviable task of following up 2014’s fantastic franchise revival. Set in alternate 1961 after the Nazis won WWII, the sequel picks back up on B.J. Blazkowicz and his allies fighting against the Third Reich. The action took players to the Nazi-occupied US, showcasing fallen cities through great level design and art direction while also giving its hero some much-needed backstory. Your despicable enemies here make every combat encounter suspenseful. But it also makes every shot, stab, or explosion you deal them all the more satisfying. Rampaging through Nazi forces, especially when dual-wielding massive guns, just never gets old.
#2: “Half-life 2” (2004)
The word “classic” gets thrown around a lot, but that’s exactly what “Half-life 2” is. Taking place 20 years after the first, Valve pitted Dr. Gordon Freeman against invading multidimensional aliens known as the Combine. “Half-life 2” is now a titan amongst first-person shooters and it’s easy to see why. Its weapons and physics-based puzzles, which merge beautifully with the Gravity Gun, make it spectacularly fun to play. Combat can be both exciting and intimidating thanks to the game’s clever enemy AI. And its narrative is heightened by great characterization, particularly in Gordon’s allies, Dr. Eli Vance and his daughter Alyx. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Far Cry 3” (2012)
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“Superhot” (2016)
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“F.E.A.R.” (2005)
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Fantastically Blended Survival Horror and Special Forces Action
#1: “BioShock” (2007)
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There are few games that nail its tone and atmosphere as well as “BioShock” does. Following a plane crash into the ocean, the player is sucked into the politics, crime, and monstrosities of the underwater, would-be utopia, Rapture. From the imposing Big Daddies and their unsettling Little Sisters to the murderous, ADAM-obsessed citizens, danger and horror wait around every dark corner. Though upgradable weapons and the power-granting Plasmids give you the courage to keep digging. Rapture’s lore is fascinating, told through environmental storytelling and audio recordings. Everything in “BioShock” will pull you in, adding another piece to the puzzle and leading you to one of gaming’s best twists.
