Of all the genres of video games out there, perhaps none are as pervasive as the shooter game. They have a long history behind them, and plenty of different titles and subgenres to keep a wide audience wanting more.
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Just one of the many ways to narrow down this broad genre is by setting, and the sci-fi setting has become more and more popular as the years have gone by. But even then, there are hundreds of games to choose from. So, which sci-fi shooters are the best of the best?
10
Destiny 2
To Raid Or Not To Raid
While shooters mix and swap mechanics with other genres fairly often, they don’t do so as much with MMOs, except, of course, for the Destiny series. Destiny 2 has proven itself to be a game that has taken both genres and wrapped them up nicely in a sci-fi package.
There is a surprisingly emotional storyline, plenty of challenges to unlock, and even raids to complete with friends. If nothing else, Destiny 2 is a masterclass in having so many gameplay options in one FPS game.
9
Titanfall 2
Prepare For Titanfall
- Released
-
October 28, 2016
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
Titanfall 2 came and went in a flash. But, it left behind a legacy that plenty have been trying to replicate in their own sci-fi shooter games. It may not have aliens or huge spaceship battles, but the mech fights are something else entirely.
It was a game with a pretty solid storyline, with some still-memorable quotes, but the best part was the multiplayer. Each match there were ways to make you feel like a real mech pilot, and in a surprisingly balanced way considering.
8
Metro 2033
In Soviet Russia…
- Released
-
March 16, 2010
- Developer(s)
-
4A Games
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
Metro 2033 may not be the only sci-fi shooter to put a post-apocalyptic twist on the genre, but it did so in a way that was unique to its competitors. Based on the bestselling Russian sci-fi novel of the same name, it shows what happens when humanity is on the brink.
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It’s an impressively grim take on the genre and one that leans towards survival as well as the usual shooter mechanics from time to time. Where else can you go from dodging ghosts underground to fighting mutant bats above?
7
Gears Of War (Series)
Brothers In Arms
- Released
-
November 7, 2006
- Publisher(s)
-
Microsoft Game Studios
- ESRB
-
m
The Gears of War series is one that spurred on a host of other shooter games back in 2006. Since then, it has seen a host of changes, emotional moments, and great gameplay. But, you may not consider it sci-fi at first.
Sure, the aliens that you fight come from underground, and the high-tech weapon you use is just an assault rifle with a chainsaw attached, but even as gritty as it is, it’s still quite a sci-fi setting. No matter where in this series you start, you’re in for a wild ride.
The series is of course, best started at the original Gears of War title. But, each of the games does well about “gearing” you up as far as the storyline goes. So don’t worry if you want to skip to a title with more modern graphics.
6
Doom (2016)
Demons, Demons Everywhere
- Platform(s)
-
Android
, iOS
, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
, PC
, Sega Saturn
, Xbox One
, Xbox 360
, Nintendo Switch
, PlayStation 3
, PlayStation 4
, PlayStation 5
, PlayStation (Original)
, Xbox Series X
, Xbox Series S - Released
-
October 10, 1994
- Publisher(s)
-
GT Interactive
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
Fighting off an army of demons sounds more like a fantasy setting thing, but that’s where Doom would prove you wrong. A reboot of the classic series, the creators chose to dive into the shooter mechanics that made the originals good.
The result was a focus on speed. There are few games out there that make you feel as incredibly powerful as when you’re behind Doomguy’s visor. There are plenty of demons to rip and tear through all across Mars, with a pretty solid arsenal of weapons too.
If you consistently hope to find a shooter title that is faster and more over the top, then Doom should rise to the top of your list.
5
Borderlands 2
A Gazillion Guns
- Released
-
September 18, 2012
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
The Borderlands series has balanced FPS mechanics, RPG character building, and plenty of humor since the beginning, but no game has found that balance quite like Borderlands 2 has. Plus, no game has the sheer number of guns to shoot like Borderlands.
A cast of characters like you’ve never seen before are threatened by the rich mega-corporation CEO Handsome Jack. Their only way to survive against his robot army is to load up and fight back before he can get to the mysterious vault and unlock its power.
4
Mass Effect 2
Save The Universe
Action RPG
Third-Person Shooter
- Released
-
January 26, 2010
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
A game that is perhaps the most “sci-fi” of this list of sci-fi shooters. Mass Effect 2 has nearly everything that comes to mind when you think of the futuristic genre: spaceships, aliens, high-tech weaponry, and planets galore.
With such a grand setting, a grand plot is sure to follow, and to balance it all out, some fairly easy-going shooter mechanics round out the game. Mass Effect 2 found the perfect mix for the series, albeit with a few RPG elements thrown in for good measure.
3
Fallout 3
Love That Green Tint
- Released
-
October 28, 2008
- Developer(s)
-
Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher(s)
-
Bethesda Softworks
- ESRB
-
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
Bethesda’s revamping of the Fallout series brought countless new fans into the fold, and it all started with the humble Fallout 3. It may not be the sci-fi of space battles and alien weaponry (except for a blaster here and there); instead, it’s a futuristic look at an America that changed in different ways.
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This pseudo-50s futurism post-apocalypse makes a great setting for simple shooting mechanics, survival, and plenty of memorable experiences. Fallout 3 somehow balances not only RPG and shooter mechanics, but also humor, horror, and a timeless adventure.
2
Half-Life 2
Wake Up Mr. Freeman
An older game compared to some on this list, but one that is still considered a heavyweight both in and out of its genre. Half-Life 2 is still the pinnacle of the series for its compelling story, simple mechanics, and sci-fi setting you can’t get anywhere else.
As a scientist turned freedom fighter, you have to do your best to turn the Combine’s alien invasion on its head. It’s not an easy fight though, and it lacks the excitement and big battles that you’d see from a modern game doing the same. What follows is a grim tale of the right man in the right place at the right time.
Unlike some of the other games in the series on this list, Half-Life 2 has a pretty detailed story, so it can be worth checking out a summary of the previous game to get caught up to speed.
1
Halo: Combat Evolved
117 Reporting For Duty
- Released
-
November 15, 2001
- Publisher(s)
-
Microsoft Game Studios
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Violence
You can’t talk about shooting games without inevitably getting to Halo, whether that’s about sci-fi ones or not. While the entirety of the series has plenty of games now, it all began with Halo: Combat Evolved.
A title like that had a lot to prove, and it did so in spades. A sci-fi epic of a campaign with a faceless protagonist facing off against an alien threat that seemed hopeless. Not to mention multiplayer which still has developers taking notes.
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