Shooters are one of the oldest game genres to date. There have been hundreds of thousands of shooter games released since the dawn of video games, and some of the best ones can cost you a pretty penny. It happens all the time where I see an ad for a new game and want to get my hands on it as soon as possible, yet I look at my wallet and decide it’s better to pass it up.
However, there are some really good free options for shooter games out there – and they’re not all as terrible as you’d think. So, let’s dive right into my personal ranking of 30 free shooter games you should try, from worst to best.
30) Sniper Fury
Released in 2015 for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. Released to PC in 2017.
The trailer to Sniper Fury. Though this game isn't super fun, I like the trailer's cinematics.
Coming at the bottom of the list is Sniper Fury, a game that is, well, barely a PC game. It was released in 2015 to mobile devices and stayed there for two years until it was released to Steam. It’s a mobile game at heart and plays like one too.
It’s a sniper game set in the near future, so the objective is to shoot the enemy from long distances. The levels are super repetitive though, and the graphics aren’t that great. It plays like a mobile game and every sniper game before it.
Rating: 20/100
29) APB Reloaded
Released in 2010 for PC.
APB Reloaded is an open-world online multiplayer where the player engages in cops and robbers type gameplay. Players must retrieve a certain item and take it to a specified location while fighting off criminals or enforcers. APB isn’t a “bad” game in my opinion, it just has so much against it.
First of all, the game looks terrible, which comes from it being a decade old. The city the game is set in is bland and colored in grey and muddy tones, and the few car chases that players might engage in is the only interesting aspect of playing this game.
Rating: 22/100
28) Ring of Elysium
Released in 2018 for PC.
Ring of Elysium used to be a very fun game. It’s a first-person shooter battle royale, meaning players must fight for survival until only one stands victorious. Not to say it’s not a fun game, but it tried to be like the popular PUBG: Battlegrounds, so it stripped away the little bit of uniqueness the game had.
Ring of Elysium is still a fun game and has a very loyal fanbase behind it; it’s just that fanbase dwindles as time goes by. Its many bugs and glitches make it hard to stay attached to the stale game.
Rating: 25/100
27) Heroes & Generals
Released in 2016 for PC.
Heroes & Generals is an online first-person shooter set during World War II. The player spawns in an open world with lots of other players as they participate in different game modes. One good thing I can say about this game is that it’s quite balanced, but that’s about it.
There’s a reason the game’s so low on the list. When the player starts, they only have a rifle and must grind to unlock new weapons, which can take an unbearably long time. Also, the world is huge, which plays to its downfall with the lack of transportation. You’ll be doing a lot of walking and grinding in Heroes & Generals, but not the fun adventurous kind.
Rating: 27/100
26) World of Tanks Blitz
Released in 2014 for iOS and Android. Released to PC in 2015.
World of Tanks Blitz is the free mobile counterpart to the popular game World of Tanks. In this game, players engage in tank versus tank combat in a World War II setting. The game can be fun, but because it was made to be a mobile game, it lacks in everything from graphics to gameplay.
Blitz is best played strategically and slowly with it being quite difficult at times. That’s not a bad thing, but sometimes slow and steady doesn’t win the race. There are also numerous bugs, and the progression system doesn’t work well, so I recommend keeping this game on your phone rather than your PC.
Rating: 28/100
25) A.V.A Global
Released in 2022 for PC.
A.V.A Global is your average first-person shooter. It has the bones but no meat, basically. You can create clans, connect with friends, and engage in different game modes in this modern warfare style game.
The game doesn’t offer anything original. Most aspects of this game can be found in every other game in the same genre. The graphics are fine, though it looks like a copy of Call of Duty. It doesn’t have a very large player base either, so you may be the only one playing.
Rating: 30/100
24) The Cycle: Frontier
Released in 2022 for PC.
The Cycle: Frontier is another run-of-the-mill first-person shooter. It definitely has more personality than A.V.A Global, but so do the rest of the games on this list. You play as a prospector dropped onto an abandoned alien planet as you engage against other players. It’s a sci-fi shooter with added Western elements, which is honestly nothing new.
The game sounds fun, and it is; it just lacks greatness. The graphics are good and atmospheric, but the whole idea feels uninspired and boring at most times.
Rating: 33/100
23) World of Warships
Released in 2015 for PC.
From the same publisher as World of Tanks Blitz, World of Warships is a naval simulator which translates the complicated mechanics of controlling a warship onto a keyboard layout. The player takes control of a warship as they navigate and battle other players.
World of Warships looks great. It gets very detailed in its ship design and has a good atmosphere. However, playing it can be quite boring. It takes forever to not only reload your weapons but to fire them, so gameplay is all around a slow experience.
Rating: 35/100
22) Hired Ops
Released in 2016 for PC.
Hired Ops is another average first-person shooter where the player fights in a global conflict between different mercenary groups. The player can choose between four classes and engage in different game modes, but there really isn’t anything new with this game.
Hired Ops has a wide weapon arsenal which can keep the game interesting, but playing with them is nothing but average. The game has terrible sound quality, and by now it’s pretty much dead.
Rating: 37/100
21) MechWarrior Online
Released in 2013 for PC.
MechWarrior Online is a first-person shooter simulator where the player controls a giant bipedal BattleMech and fights other players. I’d say it’s a simulator because there are many interfaces the player must control inside the mech suit besides just shooting a weapon.
MechWarrior has a good design and an interesting concept. The mechs look cool and the maps have nice sci-fi elements to them, it’s just that the graphics look a little outdated. Combat is fun and can be intense at times, but the game lacks in any sort of story that brings the whole thing to life. Also, the number of controls make it hard to master and overwhelming for new players.
Rating: 40/100
20) Black Squad
Released in 2017 for PC.
Black Squad is a military first-person shooter where two teams face off against each other in various game modes. It takes a slow and tactical approach to its gameplay where the player’s skill is rewarded.
Though this game isn’t as fast as the other games on this list, it thrives in allowing you to think about your next move. Its levels don’t have the best design, and gameplay isn’t always super smooth, but the game is still fun.
Rating: 43/100
19) Rogue Company
Released in 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Rogue Company is a multiplayer third-person shooter set in a futuristic world. There are many game modes to engage in, and there is a large cast of playable characters called Rogues that the player can choose from to face off against the enemy team.
Rogue Company is a fun game. The futuristic maps are well-designed, and each Rogue has their own abilities and personalities, making them feel like more than just choosing a class. Though the maps are small, and movement can feel off at times, this game is worth checking out.
Rating: 45/100
18) War Thunder
Released in 2012 for PC.
War Thunder takes everything good from World of Tanks Blitz and World of Warships and runs with it. It’s a vehicular combat simulator where the player gets to fight against other players in different tanks and planes. The player can choose between different factions, game modes, and thousands of vehicles.
War Thunder is a decade old but it still feels fresh and fun in with its land and sky battles. Gameplay can be a little frustrating at times, and it’s obvious that plane combat is more interesting than ground combat. However, there’s still something to be found in War Thunder.
Rating: 48/100
17) PlanetSide 2
Released in 2012 for PC.
PlanetSide 2 is a fast-paced first-person shooter game set in the future after humanity discovers an alien planet. The story is that a power struggle arose with the discovery of alien weapons, so the population broke into factions which the player must choose between when they start the game.
The game is fun and quite original in concept and story. Players must work together using infantry along with ground and air vehicles. One of the only downsides to this game is its terrible tutorial. It’s bad enough to scare off new players, but if you make it past that, a fun game awaits you.
Rating: 50/100
16) Armored Warfare
Released in 2012 for PC.
Armored Warfare is another game like World of Tanks Blitz in that you battle other players in armored tanks, it just has a better execution. The graphics are a lot more realistic and the thousands of tanks to choose from are more detailed. There’s also lore to be found throughout the whole game, making the world feel alive.
There are hours to be spent playing Armored Warfare, though players may be spending those hours only to unlock a higher-tier tank. There’s a lot of grinding to be had when trying to unlock new vehicles. Looking past the connectivity issues also, this game is quite fun.
Rating: 53/100
15) XERA: Survival
Released in 2019 for PC.
XERA: Survival is an open-world third-person survival shooter game. The game takes place in the future where artificial intelligence has taken over and ravaged the world. The player must face off against not only rogue robots but other players in PvPvE combat.
XERA is undoubtedly an original game with a well-executed concept. The world is huge, beautiful, and ominous. It just needs more modes of transportation to get around besides walking. It’s also best played with friends, and I know those are in short supply for gamers. The game is still very fun nonetheless.
Rating: 55/100
14) Cyber Hunter
Released in 2019 for PC, iOS, and Android.
Though Cyber Hunter was originally made to be a mobile game, it’s still a very fun game to play on PC. Cyber Hunter is a third-person battle royale game with many futuristic and sci-fi elements. You glide down into a huge map with other players and battle it out to be the last survivor. The game also has many modes of transportation, so you won’t be doing as much walking like in XERA: Survival.
Cyber Hunter is different from most battle royale games of its time. It has beautiful graphics and fun characters. However, the fact that it’s mainly a mobile game bogs down PC play at times. Though it still has many fun mechanics that make the game worthwhile.
Rating: 57/100
13) Halo Infinite Multiplayer
Released in 2021 for PC and Xbox One.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer is a classic Halo first-person shooter game where the player joins a team and fights the enemy in semi-open world maps. It’s Halo – the beloved futuristic sci-fi shooter – just in a free version.
Well, “free” might not be the best word. It’s free to play multiplayer, but to play the campaign you must buy the full game. Most people just want to play the many team-based multiplayer game modes, though. Also, the updates are few and very far between, but it’s still a very fun Halo game at the end of the day.
Rating: 60/100
Halo Infinite Multiplayer Download
12) Splitgate
Released in 2019 for PC.
Splitgate is one of the most creative and original games on this list. It’s like a regular futuristic shooter where you join other players in different game modes, but there’s the added tool of portals. You can shoot portals and teleport away from enemies or get near them, however you choose.
In my mind, Splitgate is a mix between Portal and Halo. It plays like Halo but with the added gimmick of using portals, and who wins is still up to who uses that gimmick in the most skillful way. The graphics are great and the overall concept is very original.
Rating: 63/100
11) Destiny 2
Released in 2017 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, but became free in 2019.
Destiny 2 is a game I have many fond memories of. It’s a very fun first-person shooter set in space, where the player fights robots and aliens on foreign planets. The whole experience is very immersive, and you can easily spend hours customizing your character and figuring out your class.
Destiny 2 is a top-tier game. That is, if you pay for the full experience. The free version is still incredibly fun, but to get your hands onto the game’s most amazing parts, you might have to throw some money at it.
Rating: 65/100
10) Aim Lab
Released in 2018 for PC.
Aim Lab is a little different than the other games on this list. It’s not a conventional shooter, as instead of playing with other players, this game is supposed to help you get better at shooting. It’s a sandbox game supposed to train you for the games on this very list.
The game is actually very helpful. It has built-in analytics to tell you what you need to work on and what you’re getting better at. Also, the sandbox style of the game allows you to put yourself in any scenario. Aim Lab is a very helpful and original game, so it is highly recommended.
Rating: 67/100
9) Spellbreak
Released in 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Bringing it in with another unconventional shooter game, we have Spellbreak; a battle royale where the player uses magic instead of guns. While there are no guns, the player shoots magic spells with gauntlets acquired throughout the open-world map. All magic spells – from wind to poison – can be combined to create their own unique spell.
Spellbreak is definitely a fun one and puts a spin on the battle royale genre. You swoop down onto a grassy terrain littered with abandoned structures and pick up magic gauntlets. What’s not to like? Though the map does lack in aesthetic variety, Spellbreak is a fun game and worth checking out.
Rating: 70/100
8) PUBG: Battlegrounds
Released in 2017 for PC, iOS, and Android. Released to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2018.
PUBG: Battlegrounds is a third-person battle royale shooter that ignited the aforementioned battle royale craze. It starts with the player parachuting onto a huge map with some hundred other players, where you must survive to be the winner. This is another game you have most certainly heard of before.
PUBG’s gameplay is just realistic. There are no cartoony mechanics like Fortnite has now, it’s just you, your weapon, and the vastly beautiful map. It forces you to be tactical in your approach and try everything in your power to survive. The only reason PUBG isn't placed higher on the list is because, now, there's a few bugs and cheaters that can make certain matches unenjoyable.
Rating: 73/100
7) Team Fortress 2
Released in 2007 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
Ah, Team Fortress 2. This is probably one of the most recognizable titles on this list, as this team-based multiplayer shooter has stayed popular since its debut in 2007. Its many game modes and characters, who all have their own abilities and personalities, have kept TF2 in the spotlight.
Its characters are instantly recognizable. The gameplay can be serious at times but it still gives way for some truly hilarious gameplay. It’s amazing that TF2 has stayed popular for 15 years, but that goes to show you how fun the game is.
Rating: 78/100
6) Paladins
Released in 2018 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Paladins is a class-based first-person shooter where the player engages in different team-based game modes. Paladins has strong fantasy elements because, alongside some characters wielding magic, you play in a medieval world with creatures like dragons and elves. Paladins looks like you’re shooting inside of an RPG game.
Paladins is a very colorful and lively game. Each character the player can choose is full of personality and skill, making them a joy to play as. Paladin’s fun gameplay also makes this game worth checking out.
Rating: 80/100
5) Valorant
Released in 2020 for PC.
Valorant is a multiplayer first-person shooter similar in look and gameplay to games like Apex Legends and Overwatch. However, it still succeeds in being its own unique game. It takes place on Earth in the future where many fantasy and sci-fi elements combined after an event called First Light.
The player can also choose between a cast of characters to play as, who all not only have their own abilities but personalities. And those abilities are very easy to learn and take control of. Valorant is all around a fun game that stands out in its genre.
Rating: 83/100
5) Fortnite
Released in 2017 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Alright, if you haven’t heard of Fortnite before, I’m not sure what to tell you. It’s a first-person shooter battle royale and was a result of the battle royale craze a few years back. The game focuses on the gimmick of being able to build structures around you, whether it be a tower to shoot enemies or a fortified base. However, you must watch out for the ever-enclosing storm.
If I were to write this back in 2018, Fortnite might have been number one on this list. It had amazing gameplay and the few mechanics it had worked great in its favor, but as the years went on, the game just turned goofy. Getting Goku-blasted by Rick Sanchez is a legitimate way to die in this game. However, the fun shooter gameplay that made it popular a few years back is still there.
Rating: 85/100
3) Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Released in 2012 for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive is a first-person multiplayer shooter where the player joins one of two teams in objective-based gameplay. This is another game that has stood the test of time. It’s remained popular because it’s stuck to its roots of being a simple military shooter but stayed fresh with updates and additions.
CS:GO is a game that you have at least heard of if you did not grow up with it. Its amazing mechanics offer hours of fun gameplay. It was even given the “Best eSports Game” award at multiple events, so this game is truly great. The only gripe is that its graphics are beginning to look outdated, but some could call that’s just the game’s charm shining through.
Rating: 90/100
Counter Strike: Global Offensive Download
2) Call of Duty: Warzone
Released in 2020 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Call of Duty: Warzone is COD’s attempt at a battle royale, and it works great. It’s a first-person shooter where you must survive to be the last player standing. You spawn on a ridiculously large map with many other players and must use the already established COD mechanics to survive. It’s similar to PUBG but sticks to COD’s roots and relies on your shooting abilities more than anything.
Warzone is another game that is just realistic. It takes the grittiness of COD and adds it to a massive multiplayer game. Also, there are multiple Contract game modes to play besides the regular battle royale. Still, Warzone puts a great spin on the battle royale format and has masterful execution.
Rating: 95/100
Call of Duty: Warzone Download
1) Apex Legends
Released in 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
At the top of the list, we have Apex Legends, an incredibly fun first-person battle royale shooter. It also arose during the battle royale craze, yet it takes the serious gameplay of PUBG and the appealing style of Fortnite and runs with it. The game has many sci-fi and fantasy elements and a cast of characters to choose from, who all have their own abilities and personalities. All of the beloved traits from the other great games on this list can be found here in Apex Legends.
Apex is just a joy to play. Gameplay is fast-paced and skill-based, and though some legends seem more powerful than others, it’s still up to the player to see who wins. The game thrives in having a cartoony style yet still taking itself seriously. Though Apex Legends does not come without its flaws (every game on this list has flaws), it’s still incredibly fun to play and takes the cake at number 1.
Rating: 100/100
And there we have it. Every one of these games has their own charms and strengths, so it’s very much up to your opinion as to which is better than the rest. However, I think any gamer can enjoy the games on this list, especially the ones near the top 10. I really hope you consider giving a few of these games a try.
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