The Hardest FPS Games Ever Made, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• First-person shooters like
  Halo 2
  and DOOM Eternal push players to absolute mastery of gameplay mechanics.
• Difficult titles like
  Insurgency: Sandstorm
  prioritize teamwork over individual heroics for a tough challenge.
• Escape From Tarkov
  offers high stakes with permadeath and intense survival elements for a heart-pounding experience.

First-person shooters are a tough genre to get into if someone has never played them before. Mastering moving and aiming simultaneously can be a lot to take in. Shooters have since expanded this concept with tons of new mechanics while improving the feedback weapons give.

For many FPS fanatics, the genre might appear stale with how many games have copied Halo or Call of Duty. It is certainly a problem, but there are plenty of challenging FPS titles that will give the most experienced gamers a challenge.

From competitive multiplayer games to one-life single-player campaigns, many of the hardest FPS games encompass a wealth of gameplay loops in addition to the shooting action that most players expect from their titles. These titles can be pretty challenging and cause players to tear their hair out at times, but players who manage to learn these games and how they work will manage to overcome these tough titles without getting too frustrated in the process.

Updated on November 1, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: Usually when talking about the difficulty in video games, Dark Souls and FromSoftware titles are the first to come to mind, but that’s not where the challenging experiences are limited to. Even before FromSoftware was born, there were many difficult games out there, and the FPS genre has a good share of that.

Doom, Wolfenstein, and Arma are just a handful of extremely difficult FPS titles that don’t have anything short of a Dark Souls game to make the player rage after each gameover screen. Hopefully, there are even more challenging FPS experiences out there for those who love to achieve victory with pain!

The list includes both single-player games with difficult missions and multiplayer games with a long and complex lurning curve.

38 Fistful Of Frags

A Western Half-Life 2 Mod With Old-School FPS Gameplay

A standalone game that started as a Half-Life 2 mod, Fistful of Frags serves as an homage to Western movies of the past, letting players take on the role of cowboys shooting each other to bits. The game is pretty whimsical and worth checking out for any fan of unique fan-made games that feel like complete and unique experiences.

The way players heal in this game is a great example of how the title strives to be tough and innovative at the same time. Players drink booze to heal, causing their aim and vision to sway. This makes healing a strategic decision that players must make outside of a firefight so that they don’t end up woozy and disoriented in the face of enemy fire.

37 Crysis

All-Out Battles Without The Use Of Stealth Can Be Pretty Challenging, Even On Normal Difficulty

For the most part, Crysis can be a fairly tough experience but not a frustrating one for many players as long as they use the capabilities of the suit. However, the difficulty of this game skyrockets if players opt for the highest level of challenge possible.

Enemies in Crysis become more aggressive and smart while trying to shoot the player into smithereens, which will happen quite often. A player’s reflexes need to be perfect if they wish to get through Crysis‘ massive levels with such elite opposition.

36 Titanfall 2

Lack Of Reflexes Will Lead To Many Deaths In A Heartfelt, Story-Driven Campaign

Titanfall 2 is a game that was unfairly overlooked upon release. The game featured many improvements to the core gameplay along with one of the best single-player campaigns in an FPS to date.

The end result is an amazing experience that becomes quite challenging in multiplayer. Players will have to make the most of the extended movement suite and the game’s wide array of firearms to overpower their opposition.

35 Dusk

One Of The Best And Toughest Boomer Shooters With Retro Visuals

David Szymanski is one of the most beloved indie developers around, and it’s clear that the golden age of FPS gaming is something he loves. After all, Dusk is a game that channels the vibe of old boomer shooters, with everything from the retro aesthetic to the fast-packed gameplay making this title a blast to play through.

It’s one of the hardest FPS games that will force players to get better at this title by any means necessary, especially with the monsters ramping up the difficulty and the immaculate horror vibes testing a player’s resolve. First-person shooter fans who give Dusk a shot will be more than elated by the high quality of this title.

34 Project I.G.I.

A Tactical Shooter Where Jumping Into The Fray Can End Things Quickly

Tactical shooters are some of the easier picks for FPS titles that promote difficulty above all. Project I.G.I. is not a game for the faint of heart, with every objective being a heart-stopping affair where a single mistake can have dire consequences for the player if they attract too much enemy attention.

This makes it important to sneak in the shadows, employ a tactical approach, and try to attract as little attention as possible. The game’s AI may not be its strongest point, but players who don’t mind checking out an old-school shooter that’s pretty challenging will find Project I.G.I. to be right up their alley.

33 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

A Combination Of FPS Gameplay, Survival Horror, And RPG Elements That’s Pretty Challenging

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series features some of the toughest open-world first-person shooters ever made, forcing people to manage their resources at all times and not get too overzealous in combat. All the games in this series boast a substantial level of challenge, and Clear Sky is no exception here.

Customizing equipment and engaging in faction wars are a few of the many things people will engage with regularly in this game. The learning curve is immense, but players who give this game a shot will find each and every victory to be an accomplishment after their initial struggles.

32 Apex Legends

Heroes Take A While To Master Before Players Get Into The Flow Of The Game

While Titanfall 2 might not have sold like hotcakes, the same can’t be said for Apex Legends. Technically, the game is free-to-play, but the massive player base makes it clear that Respawn struck gold with this title.

Apex Legends is an FPS hero shooter where players will take some time to learn the mechanics of the various characters they can control in the game. The balanced experience provided by this game, coupled with its deep systems, makes for a scintillating FPS experience where players need to be attuned to the game and its mechanics if they wish to come out victorious.

31 Blood: Fresh Supply

Personifies The Difficulty That Pervaded Most Retro Shooters

Blood was one of the many DOOM clones during the golden age of PC gaming. It approached this genre with a pretty unique setting, with the supernatural elements of the game allowing for unique weapons and enemies that made it quite different from DOOM in its own way.

The remaster of this game retained the great aesthetics and challenging difficulty of this title. Blood: Fresh Supply is by no means an easy title, but people who love the atmosphere and humor of this title will have many excuses to power through this nostalgic gem of a game.

30 DOOM

Demons Don’t Stop Inflicting Pain Every Step Of The Way

The reboot of DOOM was a source of great happiness among fans. However, these gamers were also rather skeptical about how id Software would be able to make the formula of DOOM work in a modern gaming environment.

Thankfully, the developers managed to strike a perfect balance between classic FPS gameplay and modern gaming nuances. This made for a rich first-person shooting experience that was tough as nails as well. It’s easy to see why most people can’t get enough of DOOM nowadays.

29 F.E.A.R

Challenging AI Coupled With An Oppressive Atmosphere

When it came out, most people considered F.E.A.R. to be one of the hardest FPS games ever made. This was mainly achieved through a combination of unforgiving gameplay and smart enemy AI that could flank and surprise the player at every step.

Of course, one has to admit that the constant fear of Alma and the other horrors present in F.E.A.R also contributed to the overall difficulty. After all, it would be hard for players to focus on the game’s shooting when they’re too busy trying to avoid any scares in the game.

Timing Shots To The Rhythm Of The Beat Amidst All The Chaos Is Easier Said Than Done

The idea of combining rhythm games with gunslinging action is something that only indie games could’ve thought of. One of the many titles in this hybrid genre that force players to adhere to the beat and wreak havoc is Metal: Hellsinger.

The soundtrack of this game is incredible, with the DOOM-esque vibes of this title being pretty entertaining in their own right. Players will have a great time as they blast through the stages of this title and slowly become more adept, taking on waves of foes who can severely punish the player if they miss the beat too many times.

27 Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Non-stop Action And A Health Handicap Near The Start Of The Game

MachineGames is a name that most fans of the Wolfenstein series would be familiar with. After all, this company is responsible for ushering in the modern era of Wolfenstein. This game is full to the brim with excellent combat and a story of immense quality. Most players were surprised to see a story of this caliber in Wolfenstein.

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus is easily the hardest game out of all the titles in the series. The initial handicap that BJ suffers in terms of a low heath pool is detrimental enough as is. Furthermore, the game never lets up with its fair share of massive challenges that will keep the player occupied for quite some time.

26 DOOM 2: Hell On Earth

A Sequel To One Of The Most Brutal FPS Games Ever Made

DOOM is one of the most important FPS games ever made, launching this genre and causing many creators to develop their very own DOOM clones to populate the market and entice fans to give their games a shot too. id Software wasn’t planning to rest on its laurels and wasted no time in developing a sequel that added more enemies to kill and weapons to do the killing with while ensuring that the challenge of the first game was preserved.

Sure, the level design of DOOM 2 may have taken a step back from the first game, but that’s a small price to pay for an engaging sequel that doesn’t stray too far from the formula. Players were glad to get their hands on more DOOM at the time, and fans who want to check out games during a time when the first-person shooter genre was still in its infancy will get a kick out of playing one of the hardest FPS games ever made.

25 Neon White

A Fast-Paced FPS That Focuses On Movement And Speedrunning

Speedrunning is an art that takes a while to master and is downright hypnotic to see as professional speedrunners try to get the best time in the game of their choice by any means necessary. It was precisely this energy that Neon White channeled while making its short, tightly designed levels as players moved around the map and took out the enemies standing in their way.

Players find cards in each level that can either be used for traversal or combat purposes, encouraging players to mix and match their approach to each level until they finally nail it. Neon White‘s story segments may not be the most compelling, but fans won’t mind as long as they experience the challenge of completing a level in the fastest time possible. This gameplay loop alone makes Neon White one of the hardest FPS games that players can check out.

24 Valorant

Twitch Reflexes That Need To Be Combined With The Knowledge Of Agent Abilities

Most people describe Valorant as a mix of Counter-Strike and Overwatch. While this might be an accurate description of the title, such a simple explanation doesn’t do justice to the excellent gameplay of Valorant.

Each competitive match in this title becomes a struggle to tactically manage encounters while simultaneously making the most of each agent’s abilities. It’s easy to see why most gamers consider Valorant to be one of the hardest FPS games currently around.

23 Bulletstorm

Combining Stylish Kills With Health Management Is Challenging But Stylish

At a glance, Bulletstorm might sound like an odd pick for this list. After all, the game prides itself on giving players cannon fodder to work with as they rack up a bunch of stylish kills.

However, higher difficulty and the challenge of chaining multiple special kills can be quite difficult for many gamers. Most players need to ensure that they don’t get so carried away in showing off their style that they end up receiving a completely avoidable death blow.

22 Devil Daggers

Demands Mastery Of Simple Gameplay Systems

Devil Daggers is incredibly difficult due to its simplicity. Players only have to worry about the enemies around them and take them down by firing a flurry of daggers at them.

Playing Devil Daggers looks much easier than it truly is. The whole point is to achieve as high a score as possible before death. Games get more hectic as the timer continues, eventually overwhelming the players with hundreds of enemies on screen. Speed, accuracy, and critical thinking are all required to survive the ever-increasing onslaught of demons.

21 Deus Ex

Reliance On RPG Systems And Scarce Resources

The original Deus Ex was a marvel of imaginative cyberpunk storytelling and some elite RPG elements married to an FPS framework. It was also hard due to its reliance on tactics instead of running and gunning. Indeed, soldiering in was not a viable option.

Deus Ex is also difficult for many other reasons, most notably its overabundance of skills. Players had to understand how their skill points would affect the gameplay, which meant determining their preferred playstyle from the outset. To make matters worse, resources are scarce in Deus Ex to encourage players to thoroughly explore every level. Expertly crafted levels and a plethora of choices make Deus Ex the PC classic fans know it for. It just so happens that a byproduct of this was a rather unforgiving combat system.

20 Prey

A Brutal Early-Game And Challenging Immersive Sim Elements

Immersive Sims masterfully blend player choice into their core gameplay rhythm, typically utilizing complex levels and tough enemies to encourage players to explore. As was the case in Deus Ex, the 2017 reboot of Prey is a brutal experience for newcomers to this style of game.

Prey fans likely remember their first playthrough as sluggish and painful in the opening hours. Morgan Yu, the game’s protagonist, is incredibly weak in the opening hours. Until players get their hands on a few Neuromods, taking on even Prey’s weakest enemies is quite the ordeal. Scavenging for supplies and sticking to the shadows is key to survival. For those who are used to immersive sims, this shouldn’t be much of a surprise. However, those new to the genre were in for a tough time.

19 Ready Or Not

A Brutal Campaign Mode With Deadly AI Enemies

Not all tactical shooters need to feature massive maps with military vehicles to deliver complexity, with an extensive focus on gunplay, even counter-terrorism units can also deliver an intense experience to the shooter fans. And that’s what Ready Or Not does!

As a spiritual successor to the SWAT franchise, the player will take over the command of a counter-terrorism squad to deal with multiple situations in a variety of well-designed maps. The goal is simple: get rid of threats with as few casualties as possible. Though, achieving that goal is not too simple with all the smart AI enemies that take cover, trap doors, throw explosives, or kill the hostages if they feel unsafe.