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Best Shooter games in 2026

The 250 best Shooter games, ranked from 33,700 critic and player ratings.

The best Shooter game right now is Metroid Prime — updated November 2026.

Also covers battle royale, first person shooter, first-person shooter, fps, third-person shooter, tps.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Each game is ranked in one genre only, the one that defines it best, so the same title never tops two different genre charts.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 1970 to 2026.
  • 50 games are listed on this page, carrying 33,700 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 13 November 2026.

Top 50

Played them? Give your tier with the + next to each game. No account needed to try — create one to keep your tiers.

01 Metroid Prime Metroid Prime 2002 · 893 ratings A 3D exploration-focused metroidvania with first-person shooting mechanics and the first 3D entry in the Metroid series, Metroid Prime follows Samus Aran after the events of Metroid (1986) as she boards a Space Pirate frigate, then chases her escaping archrival Ridley into the intricately structured Tallon IV, a planet full of deadly wildlife and former home to the advanced and ancient Chozo race. 97 /100
02 Gears of War 3 Gears of War 3 2011 · 354 ratings · finished by 25% Gears of War 3 is the spectacular conclusion to one of the most memorable and celebrated sagas in videogames. Gears of War 3 plunges players into a harrowing tale of hope, survival and brotherhood. In Gears of War 3, players fight on as Marcus Fenix, the grizzled war hero and leader of Delta Squad. Eighteen months after the fall of the last human city, the war against the Locust rages on. Meanwhile, deep beneath the surface, a fearsome new threat is infecting the planet from within. With survivors scattered and civilization in ruins, time is running out for Marcus and his comrades as they fight to save the human race. 97 /100
03 Half-Life C Half-Life 1998 · 2,959 ratings · 2 Tier votes · finished by 25% · 12 h to beat Half-Life is a 1998 first-person shooter (FPS) game developed by Valve Corporation and published by Sierra Studios for Windows. It was Valve's debut product and the first game in the Half-Life series. The player assumes the role of Gordon Freeman, a theoretical physicist who must escape from the Black Mesa Research Facility after it is overrun by aliens following a disastrous scientific experiment. Its gameplay consists of diverse combat, exploration and puzzles. 96 /100
04 Metroid Prime Remastered Metroid Prime Remastered 2023 · 87 ratings Get behind the visor of intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran in her critically-acclaimed first-person adventure. Step into the boots of Samus Aran as you navigate the winding paths and interconnected environments of an alluring-yet-dangerous alien planet. Use powers like the iconic Morph Ball and Grapple Beam to revisit hard-to-reach areas and find a path forward. With revamped graphics, sound, unlockable art, and updated control schemes, Samus’ 3D platforming debut has reached greater heights. Calm and capable, Samus takes on this solo mission...but she is far from alone. 94 /100
05 BioShock Infinite A BioShock Infinite 2013 · 2,702 ratings · 3 Tier votes · finished by 32% · 12 h to beat BioShock Infinite is the third game in the BioShock series. It is not a direct sequel/prequel to any of the previous BioShock games but takes place in an entirely different setting, although it shares similar features, gameplay and concepts with the previous games. BioShock Infinite features a range of environments that force the player to adapt, with different weapons and strategies for each situation. Interior spaces feature close combat with enemies, but unlike previous games set in Rapture, the setting of Infinite contains open spaces with emphasis on sniping and ranged combat against as many as fifteen enemies at once. 93 /100
06 Battlefield 2 Battlefield 2 2005 · 358 ratings In Battlefield 2, players will choose to fight for one of three military superpowers: the United States, the Chinese, or the newly formed Middle East Coalition. Armed with the latest modern weaponry, players can take control of any of the game’s 30+ vehicles to engage in major conflicts with over 64 players in some of the largest online battles on the PC. Additionally, persistent character growth allows players to rise through the ranks and attain the ultimate rank of General. 93 /100
07 Unreal Tournament 2004: Editor's Choice Edition Unreal Tournament 2004: Editor's Choice Edition 2004 · 165 ratings · finished by 10% 93 /100
08 Half-Life: Alyx Half-Life: Alyx 2020 · 259 ratings · finished by 15% Half-Life: Alyx is Valve’s VR return to the Half-Life series. It’s the story of an impossible fight against a vicious alien race known as the Combine, set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. Alyx Vance and her father Eli mount an early resistance to the Combine's brutal occupation of Earth. 93 /100
09 BioShock S BioShock 2007 · 3,242 ratings · 4 Tier votes · finished by 26% · 3 h to beat BioShock is a horror-themed first-person shooter set in a steampunk underwater dystopia. The player is urged to turn everything into a weapon: biologically modifying their own body with Plasmids, hacking devices and systems, upgrading their weapons, crafting new ammo variants, and experimenting with different battle techniques are all possible. The game is described by the developers as a spiritual successor to their previous PC title System Shock 2. BioShock received high praise in critical reviews for its atmospheric audio and visual quality, absorbing and original plot and its unique gaming experience. 93 /100
10 Team Fortress 2 D Team Fortress 2 2007 · 906 ratings · 3 Tier votes · finished by 7% · 8 h to beat Nine distinct classes provide a broad range of tactical abilities and personalities. Constantly updated with new game modes, maps, equipment and, most importantly, hats! 92 /100
11 Unreal Tournament Unreal Tournament 1999 · 289 ratings 92 /100
12 Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition 2000 · 224 ratings · finished by 9% 92 /100
13 Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Metroid Prime 2: Echoes 2004 · 193 ratings 92 /100
14 Medal of Honor (1999) A Medal of Honor (1999) 1999 · 171 ratings · 1 Tier vote 92 /100
15 Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 2005 · 94 ratings 92 /100
16 Medal of Honor: Allied Assault Medal of Honor: Allied Assault 2002 · 348 ratings 91 /100
17 STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II STAR WARS Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II 1997 · 110 ratings · finished by 6% 91 /100
18 No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way 2002 · 110 ratings 91 /100
19 Halo 3 A Halo 3 2007 · 858 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 28% 91 /100
20 Dead Space (2008) B Dead Space (2008) 2023 · 240 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 26% 91 /100
21 Gears of War 2 A Gears of War 2 2008 · 453 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 26% 90 /100
22 Killzone 2 Killzone 2 2009 · 165 ratings 90 /100
23 Half-Life 2: Episode Two Half-Life 2: Episode Two 2007 · 1,472 ratings · finished by 23% · 5 h to beat 90 /100
24 Dead Space 2 A Dead Space 2 2011 · 1,097 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 26% 90 /100
25 The Orange Box The Orange Box 2007 · 159 ratings · finished by 19% 90 /100
26 TimeSplitters 2 TimeSplitters 2 2002 · 139 ratings 90 /100
27 Syphon Filter Syphon Filter 1999 · 118 ratings 90 /100
28 Returnal Returnal 2021 · 193 ratings · finished by 18% 90 /100
29 Deathloop Deathloop 2021 · 266 ratings 90 /100
30 Far Cry 3 A Far Cry 3 2012 · 2,243 ratings · 11 Tier votes · finished by 38% · 16 h to beat 90 /100
31 Dusk Dusk 2018 · 109 ratings 90 /100
32 Max Payne 3 S Max Payne 3 2012 · 1,166 ratings · 2 Tier votes 89 /100
33 ARC Raiders C ARC Raiders 2025 · 276 ratings · 1 Tier vote 89 /100
34 Battlefield 1 S Battlefield 1 2016 · 901 ratings · 5 Tier votes · finished by 22% 89 /100
35 Overwatch A Overwatch 2016 · 1,178 ratings · 5 Tier votes · finished by 24% 89 /100
36 Max Payne S Max Payne 2001 · 1,811 ratings · 2 Tier votes · finished by 43% 89 /100
37 Halo: Reach Halo: Reach 2010 · 681 ratings · finished by 28% 89 /100
38 Far Cry A Far Cry 2004 · 557 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 32% 89 /100
39 Battlefield 1942 Battlefield 1942 2002 · 276 ratings 89 /100
40 The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay 2004 · 159 ratings 89 /100
41 Titanfall 2 S Titanfall 2 2016 · 857 ratings · 4 Tier votes · finished by 25% 89 /100
42 Left 4 Dead 2 S Left 4 Dead 2 2009 · 1,216 ratings · 2 Tier votes · finished by 17% · 9 h to beat 89 /100
43 Kid Icarus: Uprising Kid Icarus: Uprising 2012 · 91 ratings 88 /100
44 Counter-Strike D Counter-Strike 2000 · 773 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 12% · 26 h to beat 88 /100
45 Apex Legends B Apex Legends 2019 · 669 ratings · 4 Tier votes · finished by 5% · 5 h to beat 88 /100
46 Deathloop D Deathloop 2021 · 554 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 13% 88 /100
47 Counter-Strike: Source Counter-Strike: Source 2004 · 544 ratings · finished by 8% · 67 h to beat 88 /100
48 GoldenEye 007 (1997) GoldenEye 007 (1997) 1997 · 425 ratings 88 /100
49 Metro 2033 Redux Metro 2033 Redux 2014 · 380 ratings · finished by 24% 88 /100
50 Unreal Tournament 2004 Unreal Tournament 2004 2004 · 210 ratings 88 /100
Browse all Shooter games

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By platform

Best Shooter games on PCBest Shooter games on Xbox 360Best Shooter games on Xbox OneBest Shooter games on PlayStation 4Best Shooter games on PlayStation 3Best Shooter games on MacBest Shooter games on PlayStation 5Best Shooter games on Xbox Series X|SBest Shooter games on LinuxBest Shooter games on Nintendo SwitchBest Shooter games on XboxBest Shooter games on PlayStation 2

By year

Best Shooter games of 2025Best Shooter games of 2024Best Shooter games of 2023Best Shooter games of 2022Best Shooter games of 2021Best Shooter games of 2020Best Shooter games of 2019Best Shooter games of 2018Best Shooter games of 2017Best Shooter games of 2016Best Shooter games of 2015Best Shooter games of 2014

Earlier years

Best Shooter games of 2013Best Shooter games of 2012Best Shooter games of 2011Best Shooter games of 2010Best Shooter games of 2009Best Shooter games of 2008

Catalog statistics

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best Shooter game right now?

Metroid Prime currently tops the ranking with a score of 97/100 across 893 ratings. Ranking updated November 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.