As the next-generation of gaming quickly approaches, it can be easy to get lost in all the excitement; that’s why it’s important to look back and discuss some of the best experiences of the last generation. The first-person shooter (FPS) has been one of the most popular genres since the early 90’s; and most certainly through this last-generation of gaming. Lock and load and prepare for to look back at the top 10 best FPS Games of the last-generation!

We can’t include all of the best FPS games, there’s simply too many to count; however we will be looking at the 10 best of the best AAA FPS games that released between November 2013 – October 2020! This list will intentionally ignore game collections and remasters since most of those games originally released in earlier game generations; and we’ll keep it to one game per franchise. Keep in mind that ultimately this ranking is simply nothing more than an opinion, so feel free to share your rankings with us at our Twitter and Facebook pages!

#10: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

This is Bravo-6, going dark. Released in October 2019, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is the most recent released game in the critically acclaimed FPS franchise. Acting as a full reboot of the original Modern Warfare trilogy, the campaign follows a younger Captain Price and a new character officer named Alex; as they team up with rebels in the fictional country of Urzikstan against invading Russian forces. This controversial campaign is one of the best that the series has had in years; featuring tense tactile moments and controversially violent actions throughout.

The gameplay is pretty similar to the iconic Call of Duty experience, but with the addition of a quicker sprint mode and gun mounting; the game feels more authentic than other entries. With a large library of weapons that sound, act and look like their real life counter parts; the gunplay feels hefty and satisfying as ever! This is simultaneously the smoothest yet real the gameplay has ever been in a Call of Duty game.

Let’s be honest though; most people are interested in the game’s insanely popular PVP multiplayer.  With constantly updated game modes, unlockable and quick moment-to-moment gameplay; this is the best the series has been since Black Ops 2! Classic Modern Warfare maps such as Rust and Shipment make a return to give players a combination of new and old maps that makes for a great variety!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s largest attraction is the free-to-play Warzone battle royale mode! Featuring up to 150 players, squad up in a team of 4, 3 or solo as you enter the largest Call of Duty map ever to out live enemy squads. The biggest highlight that this battle royale offers is the Gulag, a place you go after you die to 1v1 another player; and if you win you respawn and drop back to your squad!

#9: Rage 2

Insanity rules! Rage 2 released in May 2019 and features tight DOOM inspired gameplay with insane vehicle combat similar to Mad Max. This is a criminally underrated FPS offers more than meets the eye, as its vast open world contains a rich variety of freaks to seek out and slaughter! Only because they did it to your settlement first, of course, we’re not that cold… Maybe…

Rage 2′s gameplay makes you feel like a post-apocalyptic superhero, with a special suit that gives you powers with the use of Nanotries! Use a force push to make your enemies fly across the sandbox, jump and pound into the ground that will make nearby enemies explode; and even dash around like The Flash! You also have access to a totally unique arsenal of weapons including a revolver who’s bullets explode when you snap, and a gravity gun that’ll make enemies fly! The shotgun might be one top 3 best in FPS games, it’s unbelievable.

Vehicular combat and racing is a surprisingly fun aspect to the gameplay as well. The primary vehicle you drive is called the Phoenix and can be upgraded to be a post-apocalyptic bat-tumbler; and you get to drive it all throughout the wasteland and take even destroy large enemy convoys! There’s also a large selection of other vehicles including motorbikes, racer buggies, a flying Icarus and even a mech to play around with!

The story is quite simple, but there’s enough of it to keep you motivated as you venture across the wasteland in search of fools to eliminate. For the most part, the story revolved around you working with nearby settlement leaders to carry out Project Dagger and kill General Cross and The Authority for good. The story can be played in generally any order, aside from the opening and the final missions; giving the player the ultimate choice on how to play through the game!

#8: Destiny 2

Be brave, become legend. Destiny 2 launched in September 2017 and largely improved on what the original Destiny had to offer. With more locations, more guns, classes that are expanded upon, rather consistent content updates and strong gunplay; Destiny 2 is the prime example of a looter-shooter worth playing.

Unlike the other games on this list, there are many stories that are told within Destiny 2; most of which include your Guardian rising in power to defeat a larger-than-life threat. Your Guardian represents you and doesn’t show a lot of character, however other NPC characters such as Cayde-6 and Zavala help drive these stories forward in unique and satisfying ways. So far there are 5 main campaigns: The Red War, Curse of Osiris, Warmind, Foresaken and Shadowkeep; with Beyond Light releasing next month.

Destiny 2‘s gameplay is genuinely what holds the game together like super glue; its incredibly addictive and most importantly fun. The vast amount of weapons you can use alongside your classes abilities and supers makes for a unique shooter that can change depending on what class you play as. There’s such a large variety of enemies to fight that creates a variety of combat encounters, resulting in a game that rarely gets boring to play.

The game is filled to the brim with content that will interest both solo players and those who like to play with their fireteams! From solo quests, to 3-player strikes, 6-player raids and a full PvP crucible playlist and even just exploring the open worlds; there is genuinely things for every kind of FPS player in Destiny 2. With new seasons every few months and at least one major expansion every year, this is a game that isn’t going away any time soon!

#7: Metro Exodus

There is more beyond the Moscow Metro. Metro Exodus launched in February 2019 and is the 3rd entry in the Metro franchise. This survival horror and action adventure follows the franchise’s protagonist Atryom and his wife Anna as they flee the Moscow Metro onboard a locomotive called the “Aurora”. Prepare for one of the best semi-open world games you’ll ever experience, as this game as near perfect pacing and a beautiful story to tell.

This game refuses to hold your hand and will force you to adapt to the dangerous post-nuclear world full of hostile people and horrifying monsters. You’ll be savaging for ammo and hand-made weaponry, scrap metal, and other supplies to craft and survive as you travel across Russia. This game doesn’t even have a real HUD, and you’ll be working with in game maps, compasses and more to find your way across the desolate wasteland.

The story is written wonderfully, as the story plays out before you in brilliant and unexpected ways! Even though Atryom only speaks during the loading screens the rest of the cast picks up the develop and drives the story further. It’s an ultra-satisfying experience that will have you thinking about the game for weeks after completion.

As a single-player only game, Metro Exodus proves itself as a remarkable FPS experience that will blow you away. This is a game worth playing through several times and deserves its spot on the list for best games of this generation.

#6: Titanfall 2

Prepare for Titanfall! Speaking of underrated gems, Titanfall 2 may be the biggest one on this list. Titanfall 2 released in October 2016, smack in between Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Titanfall 2’s hype was swallowed up by its surrounding competitors. Where many have heard about Titanfall 2, it still seems that most still haven’t played this fantastic FPS game.

Titanfall 2 may have the most buttery smooth gameplay of the entire generation; with unlimited sprint, speed sliding, wall running, grapple hooks and of course giant Titan robots! This is a game where you’ll rarely be moving less than 90 miles per hour as a pilot; as you use the surrounding environments as a playground for epic parkour combat. Once your Titan is ready, call it down wherever you please and embark within it; now you’re playing as a giant robot as you shoot unsuspecting pilots and clash with enemy Titans!

The campaign is simply outstanding, and tells a heart warming story of a pilot and his big robot buddy as they fight to stop the IMC from using a planet destroying weapon. With incredible level design, one moment you’ll be wall running and climbing objects to retrieve an item; and the next you’ll be embarked in your Titan clashing with an opposing pilot & Titan. There’s even an amazingly unique level that deals with time travel and using the mechanic to get through different obstacles.

The story is quite simple, yet the interactions between the pilot Jack Cooper and his Titan companion BT-7274 provide much needed wholesome vibe. It has its fair share of quiet moments as it does bombastic action set pieces, bringing a great balance that is rarely seen in action FPS games. This is a breath of fresh air that may be short but very sweet.

#5: Battlefield 4

Prepare 4 battle. Battlefield 4 released in October 2013 and offered itself as a launch title for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 when they released soon afterwards. This is a game that took the term “next-gen”, injected adrenaline into it and showed up day one to impress with its immense technical prowess.

Battlefield has been no stranger throughout the last generation, with 4 releases between 2013 and 2018; however Battlefield 4 proved itself to be the most fun and memorable with its modern setting. Introducing epic “Levolution” events, players could literally blow over skyscrapers, destroy dams and flood cities, collapse city roads and more! These events would dramatically affect the map and require players to switch up strategies on the fly; and bring a whole new meaning to destructible environments.

Taking place in a modern setting, Battlefield 4 offers the largest variety of weapons and vehicles that other entries couldn’t catch up with due to their time period. Ground, water and air vehicles are available on almost every map, splitting up the player base evenly between vehicle and infantry; making each match feel like an all out war.

While Battlefield 4 does have a campaign mode, the multiplayer is where this game shines and blows other games out of the water. While Battlefield 1 & Battlefield V are also fantastic games, Battlefield 4 remains the best entry in the series and it still very accessible with servers being fairly populated 7 years later!

#4: Prey

To make this right, someone needs to die. Prey launched in May 2017, and is technically a reboot of the 2006 game of the same title despite having nothing in common. Instead, Prey is essentially this generation’s Bioshock; sharing many similar elements yet remaining completely original and unique.

This single player game is part-time horror, part-time action and full-time masterpiece becoming the most memorable game of 2017. Taking place on the Talos-1, a space station that has been invaded by the alien Typhon; you play as the human Morgan Yu. To survive, you must collect weapons and items and find you way to destroy and escape Talos-1 before the Typhon find their way to Earth.

Prey starts out as a cursed game of hide and seek, as these spider-like Mimics literally turn into in animate objects to hide. As you get close or interact with one of these cursed objects; they’ll form into their Typhon form and try to shove their massive tentacles down your throat. While this is no good way to die, there are many other kinds of Typhon on board the Talos-1 who would love nothing more than to rip you apart.

Weapons such as the Gloo canon and iconic shotgun are great traditional ways to deal with the Typhon; however similar to Bioshock’s Plasmids, Neuromods introduce special abilities that you can upgrade. An example of this could be a standard human upgrade that allows you to become stronger and lift heavy items; but you can also apply Neuropods to use the same abilities as your Typhon enemies.

#3: Halo 5: Guardians

Hunt the truth. Halo 5: Guardians released in October 2015, and is the only new FPS Halo game to release in this last generation. Some Halo fans felt this entry to be disappointing, but it remains one of the most solid, fun and high quality FPS games of the generation. This is what happens when you inject adrenaline directly into Halo base gameplay; and it works wonderfully.

This entry follows Spartan Jameson Locke and the rest of Fireteam Osiris as they desperately hunt down the Master Chief and Blue Team; as they go AWOL in search for remaining fragment of Cortana. Osiris searches across several planets and works alongside fan favourite characters Doctor Halsey and The Arbiter himself. While the story is certainly flawed in some aspects, the encounters and fan service throughout make this a campaign worth experiencing; especially before Halo Infinite launches next year.

Halo 5: Guardians features all new spartan abilities, most of which revolving around the Mjolnir Gen 2’s integrated thrusters. There is now unlimited sprint, slide, stabilize, thrust, spartan charge and ground pound abilities that evolve Halo 4’s gameplay in a smoother experience. Mixed alongside classic weaponry are brand new weapons and repurposed weapons as well; creating the largest weapon sandbox Halo has ever known.

The multiplayer is likely the best in the entire franchise, featuring fun game modes, great arena competitive matches and exciting Warzone battles! Halo 5: Guardians also features Warzone Firefight, which allows you to team up with friends and other online fans against Covenant and Promethean forces like never before. Even if it’s not a classic Halo experience, its a fantastic game that still receives updates and care 5 years later; and makes the top 3 on this list.

#2:Wolfenstein: The New Order

Shootin’, stabbin’, stranglin’ Nazis! Wolfenstein: The New Order launched in May 2014 and wasn’t just great; it was surprisingly phenomenal in every aspect. From violently dismantling Nazi troops, discovering ancient technology, and even celebrating the quiet moment between the chaos; this game is a roller coaster that makes no apologies.

The game is expectedly violent and intense, featuring 1940’s inspired weaponry with a slight sci-fi twist. Shotguns have massive drums that can shoot different kinds of ammo, assault rifles are deadly as ever; and the game introduces the Laserkraftwerk, an upgradeable plasma weapon. Have you ever seen a Nazi explode into a red mist that covers the walls? You haven’t? Well, the Laserkraftwerk is here for you!

The gameplay takes some elements of classic FPS games from the 90’s and mixes them with standard elements of todays FPS games. There is a lot of intractability throughout the game, especially when the game calms down to its more quiet moments; such as speaking with NPC characters or searching for secrets. When the action gets heavy, it can feel like you’re playing a fresh 90’s FPS game with twice the gore and triple the attitude!

Wolfenstein: The New Order take place in an alternate 1960 where the Nazi’s won WWII and have taken over the world; it doesn’t get much worse than that. You play as B.J. Blazkowicz, an American legend who rises against the Nazi regime with fellow resistance members to take back the world. The entire story and characters are written perfectly, to the point where they feel real, relatable and genuinely human. Especially B.J. himself, who is the best written & human protagonist for any game on this list.

#1: DOOM Eternal

Rip and tear, until it is done! DOOM Eternal launched in March 2020 and has quickly made its way to the top of the list! Everything from perfectly balanced gameplay, a lengthy campaign, an intense Battlemode and more; DOOM Eternal proves itself as the best FPS game of the last generation. There’s no such thing as an pitch-perfect game, but this is the closest you’re ever going to get.

Become The Doom Slayer, wield the power of god and weapons big enough to make Satan wet himself in fear. You are the ultimate warrior, an unstoppable beast and the only thing that stands between Hell, Heaven and the destruction of humanity. Travel between dimensions and worlds and become more powerful than ever to take on Hell like never before; this is a story of vengeance, violence and unimaginable power.

The gameplay expands on DOOM (2016)‘s; with brutal glory kills and break-neck speed gameplay. However Eternal challenges the player to do more than just shoot demons; including chainsawing demons to get more ammo, casting them on fire for armour and preforming glory kill for health. If you have any chance at survival, you have to implement these aspects into your combat dance to stay well stocked; even if your arsenal is more hefty than ever. Did I mention that the Super Shotgun now has a meathook?

Personally, DOOM Eternal is not just game of the year, it is the game of the generation across the board. This is a game that doesn’t hold your hand yet gives you everything you need to be a demon slaying legend; and its up to you to master the game. I’ve played through this game more than 10+ times, and I still cannot stress enough how enjoyable and near perfect it is.

Lock and Load

There it is, the top 10 best FPS games of the last generation! Hopefully this list will have included your favourite FPS games, or even introduced you to a new game you want to try! Of course, this ranking is just one opinion and there is no correct or incorrect answers; so we’d love to see yours as well!

As we approach the launch of the next generation of gaming, we will be coming out with a few more rankings of last generations games! This will also include Xbox One and PlayStation exclusives, so be on the lookout for that. As DOOM Eternal is both my game of the year & generation, expect a full blown review for the upcoming expansion DOOM Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 1!

As always, for more rankings, reviews and gaming news you can keep up to date at Informed Pixel. Do you agree or disagree with our list and want to share yours? You can do so over on the official Informed Pixel Facebook page and on the official Informed Pixel Twitter account, we would love to see your ranking!

Listen to my personal project, The Noble-Core Podcast on Spotify and Apple! My Podcast primarily focuses on Halo news and content, but also includes many FPS games such as DOOM, Half-Life & more! Follow me on Twitter @TheNobleGrunt and my Podcast’s account @TheNobleCore for more gaming discussions!