Luckily for subscribers, the Xbox Game Pass library is full to bursting with exciting FPS titles that take the genre to new places. From tactical shooter experiences to rather epic slow-motion puzzle shoot-outs, Xbox Game Pass has you covered. Read on if you want to discover your next favorite FPS game.
26 High On Life
High on Life stands out from the other FPS offerings on Xbox Game Pass in more ways than one. Not only does it mix some platforming in with its more shooty-shooty features, but its humor is off the charts. Every weapon you hold in your hand, from melee-oriented sword-things to doughy guns with faces, speaks to you throughout your adventure. The zaniness of High on Life cannot be understated.
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If you have a low tolerance for crude jokes, High on Life is definitely going to test your limits. But if you enjoy immersing yourself in classic Rick-and-Morty-esque laughs, this game was made for you. Not every first-person shooter game has to involve deathmatch; some just need to take you on a hilarious space-faring journey with a talking gun.
25 Battlefield 2042
There are still issues that persist with Battlefield 2042, but given that it’s the latest entry in the Battlefield series, it’s also the one that is receiving some of the most support right now. New maps, specialists, and vehicles have been added in the time since its release, all of which have served to make it a decent offering in the Game Pass library, courtesy of EA Play.
Despite its incredibly problematic launch, Battlefield 2042 is now a serviceable game that’s a pleasure to dip into when you need some mindless multiplayer fun. It’s in no way the cream of the crop, but it’s nothing to scoff at when you’re craving those awesome Battlefield moments that the series is known for.
24 Prodeus
Prodeus is still in early access, but it is by far one of the most underrated FPS games currently on Xbox Game Pass.Taking clear inspiration from Doom, Prodeus is stylized like an early first-person shooter from the 90s, but it includes a few modern amenities. You can look up and down for starters, and though the graphics are intentionally pixelated, the gameplay is fast. Prodeus plays like Doom Eternal sans the Marauder. And the best part is you can even play with a friend. So picture Doom Eternal again, but this time you have a fellow player at your side, zooming and shooting your enemies with you. This is the boomer shooter of your dreams. If you like FPS games and haven’t played Prodeus yet, you have one heck of a good time waiting for you.
23 Deathloop
Deathloop is not your typical first-person shooter as you can very much stealth your way through the different areas of the game. Colt Vahn, our time-loop-breaking protagonist, can sneak his way around in his attempt to kill all the Visionaries on the island of Blackreef. But where’s the fun in that? Deathloop features a variety of guns that have a blend of old-timey and modern looks to them.
And if shooting your way through all those Eternalists is still not loud enough for you, you can add one of the most satisfying kick mechanics in the history of gaming into the mix. It’s more measured than your average FPS game, but it’s brilliant in its execution.
22 Metal: Hellsinger
Now this is what FPS games were meant to be. Music. Metal: Hellsinger presents players with hellishly good music and asks that they perform kills to the beat, creating one of the most satisfying experiences in gaming. Though the title isn’t long, you’ll find yourself itching to replay moments in the game just so you can feel the supreme satisfaction of swiping a sword or firing a gun at the perfect downbeat. No, the narrative is nothing to cry home about, and the visuals are not ground-breaking. But the rhythmic shooting hits this absolute sweet spot between gameplay and soundtrack. It’s not the first game to have done this, but it is the most recent, and it’s a damn fine sample of the genre.
21 Perfect Dark
Even though Perfect Dark is definitely one of the more aged inclusions in our best FPS games list, it was ahead of its time when it was first released in 2000. And aside from the dated graphics, the game still holds up fairly well today. Frequently praised for letting players have the ability to shoot guns out of the hands of the enemy, Perfect Dark contributed to the groundwork for many of our favorite mechanics that we see in modern first-person shooters. Using guns as melee weapons, open-ended levels, and a home base section where you could train and hone your skills are just a few of the features we love in the game. With a reboot on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to get into Perfect Dark once more.
20 Far Cry 5
The Far Cry games are some of the most entertaining FPS games out there, especially given their open-world nature. And Far Cry 5 is one of the greats, especially given that two players can participate in some campaign co-op fun. Admittedly, your jaunt into Hope County is not the absolute best Far Cry experience, but it’s a solid outing in the series. It’s got everything you could want from a Far Cry game: larger-than-life-but-eerily-familiar antagonists, rowdy wildlife, and an open-world sandbox. And you can experience the madness side by side with a friend.
19 Halo 5: Guardians
343’s sophomore entry into the illustrious Halo franchise was a bit of a divisive one among established fans. But factually, what they delivered was a solid FPS that iterated on the established formula in a number of ways. Halo 5 introduced advanced movement mechanics, new and redesigned weapons, and quite potentially the biggest ensemble cast of pivotal characters the series has ever seen.
The campaign picks up after the events of Halo 4. As with the second Halo game, we’re given two playable protagonists in the shape of Master Chief and Spartan Locke, each complete with their own fireteam. The narrative also establishes Cortana as a series villain, to the chagrin of most of the fan base. Story aside, the enhanced movement of Halo 5 makes the multiplayer facet of things an intense affair. Boosting, sprinting, clambering, and sliding became, at least in this entry, part of the Halo experience.
18 Doom (1993)
No list of the best FPS games in general would be complete without including the original Doom. As can be seen further along in this list, the Doom series is home to fantastic first-person titles, and none of them would exist without this 1993 classic. The graphics are dated and the flow of combat can feel odd (the limits of Doom’s engine when it was made means looking up was an impossibility), but the fun inherent in roaming the zany map and shooting demons is undeniable. There are worse ways to explore a genre’s roots, and Doom is most definitely the grandparent of FPS games as we know them.
17 Doom Eternal
Doom 2016 revitalized interest in this grandfather FPS series, but Doom Eternal entirely redefined its formula. Already known for its fast-paced action and demon-slaying antics, Eternal ramped all of that up exponentially. The “dance” of glory-killing and shotgunning foes became far more tactical, as certain demon types require specific weapons to defeat and ammo counts across the board took a nosedive.
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There is no other FPS game in the genre that requires split-second chess moves the way that Doom Eternal does. Add to that improved story environments and tougher challenges to complete, and Eternal is one hell of a game in the Xbox Game Pass library.
16 The Anacrusis
The Anacrusis is still very much a work in progress as an early access title. But the fun you can experience while testing out this game preview is undeniable. You and up to three other players have to flee through the hallways of a spaceship, and gameplay is a combination of Left 4 Dead with a 70s sci-fi aesthetic. Various skills and abilities assist your team on their way to escape, while the aliens constantly throwing themselves at you have a few special types to spice up the combat. Since the game is still in its infancy/toddlerhood, the barebones nature of its setup is easily apparent. However, like flat-out vanilla ice cream, the potential for excitement is there as soon as a few more elements get added on top.
15 Halo Infinite
Halo is back in the form of Halo Infinite, the latest installment in the iconic series. The multiplayer is bombastic and fun, and the campaign breathes fresh air into the franchise. 343’s marriage of an open-world game with that classic Halo DNA might seem like an unlikely pairing at first blush, but experiencing Infinite’s campaign firsthand is something of an eye-opener concerning Halo’s vast potential for emergent gameplay. Narratively, players get to experience the Master Chief’s most personal story to date, as his journey across Zeta Halo to defeat the remarkably credible threat of the Banished dredges up dust and echoes from his past. And now that campaign co-op has finally been added to the game, up to four people can engage in chaotic fun as they grapple their way across the ring.
14 Kill It With Fire
Kill It With Fire is not your traditional first-person shooter. You are not blazing through missions using a variety of guns, cover-based mechanics, or ammo management. Rather, you’re slowly and methodically hunting down spiders that have made their way into your abode. At your disposal, you have a bunch of weapons (guns included) to take out these troublesome arachnids, with each ludicrous new addition to your arsenal somehow superseding the absurdity of the last. You may be more likely to burn down the entirety of your house in the process, but piling up mounds of overturned furniture as you hunt down every last eight-legged monstrosity to have taken up residence in your home definitely qualifies as unreasonably satisfying.
13 Back 4 Blood
Fans of the FPS genre should be quite familiar with the Left 4 Dead games, and Back 4 Blood is a true successor to those zombie-shooting, co-op fun fests. A healthy variety of guns (and a handful of melee weapons) can be found during a run. And boy, do you need them. Hordes of the infected “Ridden” throw themselves at the team of up to four players. Surviving a run entails that everyone is up to speed with their shooting skills. Back 4 Blood is a fantastic addition to the Xbox Game Pass library, and it is a thoroughly enjoyable cooperative experience with phenomenal replay value.
12 Crysis
Courtesy of EA Play, subscribers of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate can experience the Crysis series in all of its glory. Though it has largely fallen out of the cultural zeitgeist, it was something of a graphical benchmark at the time of its release — the phrase “But can it run Crysis?” achieved memetic status with good reason. All in all, the first Crysis is still a first-person shooter game well worth revisiting. The stylish nature of Crysis’ gunplay made it a fan favorite, and while some aspects of the game have aged, it is a callback to the blossoming of the genre. Plus, thanks to the next-gen hardware many now have in their homes, the question of whether or not Crysis will run on a given setup is more or less unnecessary.
11 Quake
Quake was as influential in the molding of the first-person shooter as its predecessor, Doom, and it’s an absolute must-play for any genre enthusiast. This remastering of the id Software classic comes with all the necessary trappings — including campaign expansions as well as full multiplayer support and matchmaking. It certainly does show its age when held up against contemporary shooters, but the fact is that throwing rockets around its timeless arenas while madly dashing for a Quad Damage powerup is every bit as fun today as it was fifteen years ago.
10 PAYDAY 2: Crimewave Edition
PAYDAY 2 was originally released in 2013 — and in some ways, it definitely shows its age. But the Crimewave Edition packs in a whole bundle of improvements and additions the core title has seen over the years to great effect. For the uninitiated, PAYDAY 2’s a co-op crime simulator in which up to four players cooperate to pull off varying heists, ranging from smash-and-grab jewelry store robberies to intricate bank vault break-ins. The approach is largely up to the crew, and the depth of planning and nuance that can go into each caper is extraordinarily gratifying. Certain missions reward certain tactics, of course. But whether you want to pull off a no-hitches stealth operation or a guns-blazing shootout, the world of crime is your (presumably stolen) golden oyster. Missions reward cash and experience, which can be used to buy better gear or sharpen your sordid skills, respectively. Once you come to grips with the options at your disposal and have roped a few friends into your scheming, PAYDAY 2’s bound to become a weekend ritual for any dedicated group of friends.
9 Battlefield 1
Battlefield 1 ticks all the boxes that the franchise is well known for — large-scale multiplayer madness, nearly unheard-of levels of player agency, and destructible-yet-thoughtfully-detailed environments for the battles to unfold in. But it takes the gameplay into a setting rarely touched on by FPS titles: the trenches of World War I. It results in a truly compelling aesthetic and map selection, and the vehicle designs (especially the tanks) are strange and foreign enough to really communicate a sense of immersion into the time period.
8 Deep Rock Galactic
Cooperative first-person shooters are a delight to play, and Deep Rock Galactic combines jolly cooperation with procedurally generated caves. Up to four players can team up to mine precious minerals or escort heavy machinery for the Deep Rock Galactic mining corporation.
Working together is important if dwarven survival is to be ensured; waves of insect-like Glyphids go out of their way to swarm your team of intrepid fellow employees while you’re out on the job. While Deep Rock Galactic is not the typical first-person shooter experience seen in multiplayer action titles, it is not one to be missed.
7 Doom (2016)
Revitalizing the franchise that practically defined the FPS genre for all intents and purposes was a Herculean task in concept alone, but Doom’s 2016 resurgence into the spotlight was heralded with all the hellfire and shotgun blasts that were appropriate for it. It’s a familiar concept: a lone super soldier, a demonic invasion, and a whole lot of guns. Doom 2016’s combat is extraordinarily fast-paced and extraordinarily satisfying, truly marrying the conceptual basis of an arena shooter with modern design sensibilities in a way that makes it nearly impossible to put down once your heart starts pounding.
