8 Best FPS Games That Started As PC Exclusives

Key Takeaways

• Wolfenstein 3D, a classic, introduced 3D graphics and a great franchise.
• Unreal Tournament is a cornerstone for Epic Games, full of fast-paced action.
• DOOM set the stage for FPS titles and is a timeless classic with various iterations.

FPS games are among the most popular in the gaming universe and with good reason. While other genres are great at delivering enjoyable experiences, few can match the adrenaline-rushing action that FPS titles offer, setting them apart in more than one way. Frequently, FPS games are released for many platforms to cover an audience as wide as possible, but this isn’t always the case, at least not at first.

In some scenarios, FPS games are first released for PC and then for other consoles. And sometimes, they’re never even released for additional platforms, making them exclusive to the PC world. Whatever the case, it’s undeniable that there are several timeless classics out there. Here are some of the best FPS games that started as a PC exclusive.

8 Wolfenstein 3D

A Great Title That Inspired Many Future Sequels

• Rudimentary 3D graphics
• Part of a great franchise that spans decades

As its name suggests, Wolfenstein 3D implemented 3D graphics that, while not as sophisticated as those available today, still managed to deliver a great experience, especially in 1992. Broken up into different levels with various rooms full of obstacles like pillars and Nazi enemies, this title was a blast to play and helped carry the FPS torch into the mid-90s.

Wolfenstein 3D is part of a longstanding franchise that has made hunting down Nazis one of its center points. The Wolfenstein games released last decade were just as fun and exciting, exploring the story of B.J. Blazkowicz.

7 Unreal Tournament

Epic Games’ Classic FPS Competitive Shooter

• One of the most important titles in Epic Games’ history
• Fast-paced action with tons of items to make combat more exciting

Unreal Tournament is arguably one of the cornerstones that helped make Epic Games the behemoth it is today. With arena-based deathmatches and exciting FPS combat, this title offered players an amazing competitive experience that, while being nothing new, was still a blast. In the story mode, players face off against bots to defeat them and escalate the tournament ladder until they’re finally worthy of facing the champion, Xan Kriegor.

This title featured items like health packs, body armor, and damage amplifiers to make the gaming experience both more interesting and challenging.

6 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl

A Thrilling Experience In An Eerie Setting

• The game takes inspiration from real-life Chernobyl
• Players can find various items by exploring

Taking place in an area known as the Zone, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl takes inspiration from Chornobyl’s real-life exclusion zone, which adds to the experience, as it makes everything feel much more realistic. As they explore the Zone, players can find various items that allow them to customize their experience.

In the Zone, players can find human settlements, heavily guarded bases and other points of interest they’ll likely want to explore from top to bottom. All in all, this FPS survival title offers an exciting experience that players who love inhospitable, gray environments will absolutely love.

5 DOOM (1993)

The One That Kicked Off The Franchise

• One of the most important FPS titles in history
• Ported in 1994 to other consoles

DOOM is arguably the most important FPS title in history, as it not only helped establish its developer among the greats, but also set the stage for every FPS that would follow it. While this title is clearly lacking in terms of mechanics and graphics when compared to what’s available today and to the various DOOM revivals that have come out in the last decade, it remains a timeless classic.

DOOM was first released for PC and subsequently came to other consoles of its era, such as the Atari Jaguar and the SNES. This opened more doors for this title and allowed millions of additional players to contribute to the demon-slaying efforts.

4 Escape From Tarkov

An Exciting Title Revolving Around Combat, Survival, And International Conflict

• Two opposing factions find themselves in conflict with one another
• The game is a PC exclusive

Set between 2015 and 2026, in the fictional city of Tarkov, Escape From Tarkov places players in different life-and-death situations that will require strategic planning, careful approaches to every encounter, and catlike reflexes. Players can choose from two different factions to play: United Security (USEC), and BEAR, a company stemming from the Russian government to investigate USEC’s illegal activities.

As opposed to other games on this list, Escape From Tarkov is not available on other platforms and remains a PC exclusive. Whether this will change at some point remains to be seen, but it’s rather unlikely.

3 Battlefield 1942

A Strong Member Of The Battlefield Franchise

• Players can choose between five different categories
• An Xbox version was in development at some point but was canceled soon after

As opposed to other Battlefield games that have a more developed story, Battlefield 1942 focuses on multiplayer combat and survival in the middle of flying bullets. Throughout the game, there will be several battles that take place on many maps available to players. During their playthrough, players will have to take on one of five roles: Anti-Tank, Scout, Medic, Engineer, or Assault. Each class is unique and has its own advantages and disadvantages.

While not the best Battlefield title to date, Battlefield 1942 is a blast and offers an entertaining FPS experience for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. The game was first released in 2002 for Windows and later came to Mac OS X, leaving consoles behind.

2 Far Cry

The First Installment Of The Massive FPS Universe That Would Come Later

• Set in a mysterious South Pacific archipelago
• Players can use a wide variety of weapons

The Far Cry franchise has grown exponentially over the years to become one of the most popular FPS universes in modern gaming. This didn’t happen out of luck, but rather as the result of tons of trial and error and a lot of experimentation in terms of game mechanics, narrative, and other important elements.

Set in an unidentified archipelago in the South Pacific. Far Cry allows players to use the tropical environment to find cover for stealth approaches and surprise attacks. The game also features a great variety of weapons that players can take advantage of to progress through the story and survive. All in all, while Far Cry might lack in some areas where its sequels shine, it remains a classic that’s already two decades old at the time of writing this article. Far Cry was released for PC in 2004 and for the PS3 and the Xbox 360 in 2014.

1 Half-Life

A 1998 Classic That Millions Still Talk About Today

• One of the most influential FPS of all time
• Dr. Gordon Freeman must escape a research facility when things go wrong

Half-Life is probably one of those FPS titles that will be remembered for several decades after its release. At the time of writing this article, Half-Life is 26 years old and several players are still talking about it and playing it regularly. The game follows Dr. Gordon Freeman as he fights his way out of a secret research facility shortly after a teleportation experiment goes awry.

Half-Life was such a massive success, that it spawned a series of sequels and spin-offs that helped take the fictional universe the title is set in, to a whole new level.