Since its origins in the 1970s withSpasimandMaze War,thefirst-person shooter genrehas become a cornerstone of the gaming industry. One of the genre’s many strengths is that it works well as both a single-player experience, exemplified by titles likeHalf-LifeandBioshock,as it does a multiplayer experience, as shown by theCall of DutyandBattlefieldfranchises.
RELATED:Biggest Xbox One Games By File Size, Ranked
The improved hardware of theXbox Oneallowed developers to createincredibly immersive gamesthat accomplished what the FPS genre does best: make the player feel as though they’re in the heart of the action.
Updated Jun 02, 2025 by Jack Pursey:It’s easy to forget just how short the video game industry’s history is, considering the sheer pace at which the form of entertainment has progressed. So much so, that it’s hard to believe that the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 5’s release dates were under three decades apart, given how far gaming technology has come. The pace that the gaming industry progresses means thatmany genres come and go, as improvements in hardware can elevate them or cripple their popularity.
One genre that has consistently thrived for decades is the first-person shooter genre. FPS games have filled store shelves and topped sales charts since the original DOOM spiked the genre’s popularity, and they haven’t looked back since. For those looking for some more of thebest first-person-shooters on Xbox Oneto play, we’ve updated this list to include a few more entries.
20Prey (84)
Following the success of 2006’sPrey, Bethesda and Human Head Studios began working onPrey 2. However, this game sadly fell into the depths of development hell and was eventually canceled in 2014. Instead of letting the IP die, Bethesda teamed up with Arkane Studios - a French company known for theDishonoredseries - and began working on a reimagining of the 2006 game with an entirely new narrative, which was released in 2017.
19Halo 5: Guardians (84)
Whenever Xbox’s flagship series releases a new title, the gaming industry stops and takes notice.Halo 5: Guardianswas released in October 2015 and had the tough task of continuing the series' high quality.
AlthoughHalo 5: Guardiansisn’t considered to be among the franchise’s best releases, it’s still a solid FPS game and one that is worthy of theHalobranding with its excellent multiplayer andenjoyable co-op. The game is somewhat let down by its lackluster story, though many players were able to overlook this and focus on the game’s strengths.
18Metro Redux (84)
Metro Reduxis a collection that includes the definitive versions ofMetro 2033andMetro: Last Light. The pair of games are set in a post-apocalyptic Russia, following a nuclear war that lay waste to the world and killed billions of people. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t provide much hope for the devastated Earth, as the survivors must contend with dangerous mutants and uninhabitable air.
RELATED:The Best First-Person Shooters Of All Time
As the name suggests, both games predominantly take place in Moscow’s underground Metro, though players must occasionally risk the conditions on the surface.Metro Redux’spost-apocalyptic settingis what makes it stand out, as the development team, 4A Games, did a fantastic job of creating bleak, eerie environments that will stick in players' heads long after they’re finished playing.
17PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (85)
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegroundsis unique in the sense that players can choose between first-person and third-person perspectives.
PUBG Studios' release was one of the most influential titles of its decade, as it was the spark that ignited the rise of the battle royale genre, which exploded in popularity during the late-2010s. Although Epic Games’Fortnitestole much of its thunder,PUBGis still one of the most actively played shooters today, largely thanks to how addictive it is to attempt to be the last player standing.
16BioShock: The Collection (85)
A collection that includes two of the most critically acclaimed titles from the seventh generation of home consoles is always likely to perform well on Metacritic.BioShock: The Collectionwas released in 2016 and supplemented its impressive trilogy of games by including remastered iterations ofBioShockandBioShock 2.It also offeredthe series' DLCssuch asBioShockInfinite:Burial at SeaEpisode 1andEpisode 2.
BioShock: The Collectionalso adds a director’s commentary, enticing pre-existing fans to play through the games once more.
15Halo: The Master Chief Collection (85)
From one collection to another,Halo: The Master Chief Collectionoffers incredible value to players. It implements every first-personHalotitle aside fromHalo 5: Guardians.Moreover, the collection includes the high-definition remakes of classic titles likeHalo: Combat Evolved, which let players seamlessly switch between the old and new visuals with the press of a button.
RELATED:Every Game In The Halo Series Ranked On Campaign Length (& How Many Hours They Take)
Considering the quality of the games included, the collection’s 85 Metascore may seem somewhat low. However, these games suffered from online and matchmaking issues at launch, hampering the score.
14Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (85)
The fifteenth installment into the iconicCall of Dutyfranchise was released in 2018 by Activation, with development from Treyarch who had help from Beenox and Raven Software. The game’s creators made the decisive decision not to include a traditional single-player campaign. The Solo Missions mode replaced it instead.
ModernCall of Dutygames usually meets with high scrutiny and criticism from the gaming community. However,Call of Duty: Black Ops 4received theFan Favorite Shooter Game award at the 2018 Gamers' Choice Awards.
13Titanfall (86)
The originalTitanfallmay have been overshadowed by the release ofTitanfall 2(more on that later). However, the 2014 game still offers plenty of entertainment today for those that can find an active lobby.
Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment made the controversial decision of not including any form of single-player campaign inTitanfall, which was a rarity at the time. The lack of single-player and local split-screen multiplayer disappointed gamers; however, the concept of throwing Titans into the mix of an online battlefield intrigued fans and critics. The game had some issues, though the interesting ideas and fast-paced gameplay made it an enjoyable experiment that set a strong foundation for the excellent sequel.
12Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (86)
In regards to the main series ofResident Evilgames, it seems that Capcom wants to differentiate the titles into groups of three. The first three games utilized fixed camera angles and implemented numerous puzzles. The next three titles offered players more action-heavy gameplay. Now it seems that the series is set to provide anOutlastandAmnesia-inspired first-person survival horror experience.
Resident Evilcertainly doesn’t have the samegun-blazing actionas some of the other titles on this list, as it instead requires players to use their ammo extremely sparingly and rely on their wits to survive.
11Halo Infinite (87)
Halo Infiniteis the most recently released game on this list, having hit stores in December 2021. To say that the game’s reception has been mixed would be an understatement, as although the game received an 87 Metascore that consisted of a few perfect scores, some people were put off by the game’s lack of content at launch, which caused many people to put the game down and never pick it back up again.
Still, what the game does offer is generally excellent, particularly the single-player campaign that differentiates itself from previousHalogames for featuring astunning open world.
