What are Shooting Games?
Despite the aggressive element of shooting games, this genre continues to attract millions of fans around the world. Whether for power fantasy or curiosity, players find the drive to enjoy shooter games inspired by military and covert operations. It’s arguably one of the most (if not the most) popular genres in the gaming industry today.
In general, a shooter game involves taking aim at the enemy and firing the bullet as accurately as possible. The game physics follows real-life scenarios, typically when handling a handgun, sniper, or other firearm. The goal is to master how to shoot and aim to bring down opponents and complete missions as necessary.
Did you know that ‘Spacewar!’, the first computer game, followed simple shooting mechanics played in a player-versus-player format. Today, the game design for gun games is more sophisticated yet preserves the basic elements such as aiming and firing. Some online shooting titles allow gamers to use a voice channel and communicate with teammates or opponents.
What are the different types of shooting games?
The immersive world of shooter games is vast and varied, which explains why it’s entertaining for different audiences. This genre is highly competitive and tests the player’s hand-eye coordination. In single-player modes, you must make the right call to eliminate enemies and survive. Here are the sub-genres of shooting games that you can play today.
First-Person Shooters
Video games with a camera set on a first-person perspective and involve weapon-based combat are called first-person shooters or FPS. The view enables a player to get into the gunfight as if they were inside the scene. Other than the point-and-shoot design, these games can have a compelling story and elaborate character to boot.
FPS games generally have an action gameplay wherein players get a “through the eyes” view of the in-game surroundings. The core part of this shooter game experience is its realistic perspective of the character engaged in a fight. Call of Duty and DOOM are highly memorable titles with an FPS view.
Third-Person Shooters
TPS or third-person shooters are a type of shooting game that shows the protagonist visibly from head to toe. The combat style is cinematic, letting gamers fully visualize the character move and fight throughout the campaign. TPS games are the opposite of FPS in terms of camera view, although the game elements remain the same.
TPS shooting games offer a great way to fully appreciate character design and customization. Some titles allow you to switch from third-person to first-person perspective. However, a lot of players prefer to stick to one camera angle, ensuring consistency of the gameplay. You can play TPS games like Fortnite and Gears of War if you’re curious about this category.
Tactical Shooters
There are many free shooting games that require a more tactical approach to win. These titles belong to a unique category within the FPS or TPS sub-genre, often having a steep learning curve. Tactical shooters are competitive in nature since they feature ranking systems, which in turn affect the matchmaking process. The gameplay is progressive—skilled players are pitted against similarly ranked opponents.
Tactical-based war games can involve a lot of planning for squad or solo play. Communication becomes a huge factor in winning these games since players must devise a way to attack efficiently. In a way, this sub-genre is quite challenging yet addictive to play, as evidenced by popular titles like Rainbow Six Siege and Counter Strike.
Arena Shooters
One of the classic subcategories, arena shooters are a staple for people who love the shooter game genre. The arcade style of these older games features fast-paced action occurring on a small- to medium-sized map. Players must pick up a weapon quickly and engage in an intense battle, whether in multiplayer or free-for-all mode. Quake and Unreal Tournament are the best examples.
Traditionally, arena shooters dominated gaming competitions because it demands a high level of skill and game sense. Players enter the arena with a basic weapon but can grab better guns and upgrades to enhance their winning chances. Movement is another huge factor in victories—gamers need to master specific movements to gain an advantage in gunfights.
Run and Gun
The run and gun sub-genre focus on multi-directional shooting but also incorporates jumping mechanics like platformers. This category is a mix of the shoot ‘em up genre and platform games, creating an interesting shooter game. The gameplay loop follows an arcade style wherein the character runs around quickly and shoots as many enemies as possible.
These shooting games let the player’s avatar move on foot and eliminate attackers while on the run. Some of the most prominent titles in this sub-genre include Metal Slug and Contra.
Light Gun Shooters
Light gun shooters are another arcade type of game that introduced the use of mechanical guns shot at on-screen targets. Some successful titles in this sub-genre are Time Crisis and Duck Hunt, which featured realistic recoil and reload mechanics.
Modern consoles try to bring back the appeal of light gun shooters although the classic gameplay is difficult to recreate. Today, online shooting titles under this classification uses advanced devices, such as the Wii remote for Wii.
What are the best shooting games?
These top-charting titles are the best of the best when talking about shooting games for avid players of the genre.
Call of Duty
Although a paid game, Call of Duty is a series that many users are willing to pay for anytime. This famous shooter franchise has fans across the globe raving about it for many years. Its play and replay value are always at an all-time high thanks to the engaging content and addictive gameplay.
Playing this FPS game with a squad makes CoD even more entertaining to play. Only a few titles can compete with the series when it comes to popularity and support. The game is so popular that it found its way to the mobile platform, adding millions of mobile users to the bandwagon.
Fortnite
One of the free shooting games in the list, Fortnite is a game incorporating building mechanics to battle royale. In this title, players can create barriers to protect themselves against enemies. Aside from firing at enemies and surviving to the end, the game also requires you to observe resource management. Reinforcing your arsenal with the best weapon combinations is a great step towards winning the match.
This fast-paced shooter game has an unlikely feature: the graphics are bright and almost cartoonish. However, this quality doesn’t change the fact that Fortnite is one of the most played titles in this genre.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends is among the beautifully balanced gun games that blend lifelike and fantastical elements in one package. For one, the game design revolves around the usual aim-and-shoot gameplay of this category. On the other hand, the characters come equipped with unique abilities that you cannot find in other titles.
Still, Apex Legends is a must-play for voracious shooter game enthusiasts. You can squad up and fight your way together, making it more irresistible to play!
PUBG Mobile
Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds is a PC battle royale title that managed to worm its way into the mobile platform. PUBG Mobile, as it’s commonly called, is a world-famous game that features weapon-based combat inspired by military ops. This online shooting game pits 100 players against each other. The goal is to win gunfight after gunfight and come out as the survivor in the match.
PUBG is available in solo or multiplayer modes and is free to play.
Counter Strike
An FPS classic, Counter Strike is a franchise with a simple team-based gameplay. However, the mechanics require mastery of first-person shooter skills that you can acquire through practice. The more you play the game, the better you can get with handling weapons, aiming, and mastering the maps.
Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal is another FPS campaign in the list that earned high praises from pros and amateur gamers alike. Players must eliminate terrifying demons and save humanity from being completely overcome by hell. The storytelling and intense gameplay are what make this title a worthy addition to the list.
Halo Infinite
Players need to get ready for the intense running and gunning in Halo Infinite to conquer the challenges. It has an open-world layout, which means that there are a lot of bases to cover. Still, there are minigames to help you take quick breathers in-between all the exploration and fighting.
Resident Evil
Resident Evil is one of the first titles that come to mind when thinking about horror shooting games. The immersive storyline is very effective in sucking you into the action-packed sequences. As a result, you give it your all to survive the gory challenges within the RE realm.
