There was no shortage of great games to play in 2021 and the FPS genre was filled with many of them. From Halo Infinite to the rise of indies like Splitgate, 2021 has been a blast for fans of FPS games. That's not to say there weren't some duds, but the year balanced itself out with more good than bad thanks to 2021's best FPS games.
The FPS genre is one of the most crowded. Given games like Call of Duty bring in heaps of money each year and how masterpieces like DOOM have had such an impact on gamers, it's hard for developers to resist entering the genre themselves. As other titles like Titanfall continue to push the envelope with what an FPS game can be, more and more innovation is keeping shooters from going stale. Now, even some of the biggest titles are learning how to innovate within the parameters they set for themselves decades ago.
In 2021, three of the biggest shooter franchises returned to compete head-to-head-to-head. Yet, somehow, one could argue Halo Infinite came out on top despite having all the odds stacked against it. The series has been on a downward trend for many years, yet it came back bigger and better than ever. Even newcomers like Hell Let Loose gave sandbox shooter Battlefield a run for its money. Needless to say, it was a heck of a year for FPS games.
Halo Infinite Is One Of The Best Shooters Of The Decade
Halo Infinite is one of the best FPS games of not only this year, but probably one of the best of the last decade. From top to bottom, it's an incredibly well-made shooter that effectively utilizes the sandbox elements that fans adored about the first game. Not only does the campaign open itself up with a beautiful open-world filled with unique Breath of the Wild-esque opportunities, but the multiplayer also captures that sense of freedom and creativity as well.
343 has largely been living in Bungie's shadow since it took over the franchise and although it struggled, it has managed to create something that has given the series a second life. Although Halo Infinite has its flaws, it is something to behold. Thanks to new and crafty abilities, satisfying gunplay, excellent level design, Halo Infinite can sit proudly atop of the list of the best FPS games of 2021, along with some of the greatest modern shooters ever.
Resident Evil Village Is A Perfect Blend Of Everything The Series Has Done Before
Resident Evil Village may not be the game some people think of when they hear best FPS games - after all, it's a horror game first and foremost. It's also a series that has largely existed as a third-person shooter, but Resident Evil 7 changed the way fans look at the franchise, literally. Resident Evil Village takes the first-person POV that was introduced in the previous game and evolves it tremendously, blending survival horror with the action of games like Resident Evil 4.
Shortly after the beginning of the game, protagonist Ethan Winters is ambushed by a bunch of monsters and has to use some basic guns and tools in the village to defend himself. It quickly becomes loud, explosive, and far more intense than almost everything in Resident Evil 7. As the game goes on, the action ramps up even harder and the player gets bigger and better weapons until it culminates in an almost Call of Duty-esque setpiece in the center of the village. It's the perfect mixture of all of Resident Evil's different evolutions over 25 years and cements Village as one of the best shooters of 2021.
Severed Steel Is Like Mirrors Edge Meets Superhot
Severed Steel is like if The Matrix, Mirrors Edge, and Superhot all had a baby that somehow defied everything humanity knows about biology. Using a combination of parkour and slow-motion gunplay, developer Greylock Studio creates a beautiful harmony in its gameplay. A number of developers have tried to do this kind of gameplay before, but few have done it as well as Severed Steel. There are few other shooters like it this year which helps cement it as one of 2021's best indie games as well.
Far Cry 6 Highlights Ubisoft's Continued Refinement Of Open-World Games
Far Cry 6 continues to showcase Ubisoft's efforts to refine its open-world formula. While some of the other Far Cry sequels have felt like more of the same, Far Cry 6 feels evolved. With tanks, jet packs, grappling hooks, and all kinds of ways to cause mayhem, it's a truly exhilarating title. Even the little things such as the fact that the player will slide down sloped surfaces for as long as they have momentum helps make this one of the best action games of the year.
Even the story of Far Cry 6 helps give the player that lust for chaos thanks to its themes of revolution and resistance. It's a game that gives players the keys to the sandbox very quickly and very rarely holds them back from doing whatever they set their mind to. Within the first hour or two, players can find a tank and drive around, clearing out outposts without having completed much of the story. It actively encourages the players to do whatever they wish and sometimes, all players want to do is shoot some cool guns.
Deathloop Is One Of Arkane's Most Creative Games
Deathloop is a game that is great on paper, yet really difficult to pull off. Somehow, Arkane pulled it off. Thanks to its work on Dishonored, Arkane uses its layered level design with non-restrictive gameplay systems. It feels like an even more action-oriented version of Dishonored, with a mind-bending story to make it even more lucrative.
This Metroidvania-esque game places players in the shoes of an assassin named Colt who also happens to be stuck in a time loop. Using the loop, players must gain as much information as possible to take down eight different targets before the clock strikes midnight. If unsuccessful, the loop resets. Deathloop is an incredibly replayable game that rewards players for their thoroughness and inventiveness. It's also one of the handful of games that really connects the player with the protagonist as they're always on the exact same page as each other, getting frustrated with their shortcomings, but also feeling satisfied in their triumphs.
Honorable Mention: Splitgate
Although Splitgate became playable to the public in 2019, it's hard not to acknowledge it in 2021. Partially as a result of it coming to consoles, the game blew up in popularity and exposed shooter fans to a world of new possibilities within the genre. It even made some wonder if Splitgate could somehow rival Halo Infinite due to its core gameplay and inventive mechanics. It's been described as Halo meets Portal and there's really no better way to put it.
It takes an already incredibly fun shooter and makes it better by allowing a new and creative way to invoke strategy. The gunplay feels like a modern-day Bungie-made Halo game without trying to be too flashy. Yes, there are portals, but they feel organic and make for a new tool that will likely be utilized by other shooters in the future. Splitgate has also continued to grow beyond its initial concept by taking from its community, giving way to things like Splitgate's mantling and other mechanics that just make the game that much better.
Honorable Mention: Hell Lets Loose
Hell Lets Loose is the ultimate modern-day WW2 shooter. It runs circles around other WW2 shooters like Battlefield V and Call of Duty: Vanguard by putting that grit and horror of the real war into a playable experience. There are only a handful of truly immersive WW2 experiences like Hell Let Loose and although it probably won't be for the faint of heart due to its hardcore gameplay, it's unrivaled by its AAA counterparts. For those looking for a much more hands-on shooter with tactical gameplay on a large battlefield filled with vehicles, classes, and tense, terrifying gunplay, Hell Let Loose is a perfect match.
Honorable Mention: Chernobylite
Chernobylite is another fantastic horror game on the best FPS games of 2021 list, but it's more akin to Metro or S.T.A.L.K.E.R. than Resident Evil. It's yet another survival horror experience built on the foundation of exploring the radiated wasteland of Chernobyl. Although it has pretty solid shooting, the premise is what will likely hook most players. Chernobylite follows a physicist who worked at the nuclear plant that led to the real-life disaster trying to find his wife amidst the destruction 30-years later.
In some ways, it's a bit reminiscent of Resident Evil 7's main story. It's an incredibly compelling story in a unique world that oozes nothing but atmosphere. Anyone still yearning for a follow-up to Metro Exodus will likely get a kick out of this creepy yet thrilling horror FPS game.
