Skip to Content
Tier
Tier Your gaming journal
Get
Best games

Best Shooter games of 2006

The 11 best Shooter games released in 2006, ranked from 2,924 critic and player ratings.

The best Shooter game of 2006 is Half-Life 2: Episode One, with a critic score of 87/100 — updated November 2026.

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: 2006.
  • 11 games are listed on this page, carrying 2,924 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 13 November 2026.

Top 11

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

01 Half-Life 2: Episode One Half-Life 2: Episode One 2006 · 897 ratings · finished by 23% · 4 h to beat Half-Life 2: Episode One is the first of a planned trilogy of expansion packs/episodes for the 2004 first-person shooter game, Half-Life 2. The episode takes place immediately after the end of Half-Life 2, in the war-torn setting of City 17. The player is forced to deal with the effects of their actions during the main game. The episode is a stand-alone game; while a continuation of Half-Life 2, it does not require the original game to be installed or registered to a user's Steam account to play. It takes advantage of several major upgrades to the Source engine since the release of Half-Life 2, primarily its high dynamic range rendering capabilities and the upgraded facial animation system. Episode One was released together with Half-Life Deathmatch: Source, a port of the original Half-Life's multiplayer, which doubles as Episode One's multiplayer component. The retail copies of Episode One also come with Half-Life 2 Deathmatch for those who have not previously purchased the later title. 87 /100
02 Resistance: Fall of Man Resistance: Fall of Man 2006 · 125 ratings In an alternate 1951, Sgt. Nathan Hale is among a unit of US soldiers sent to aid the British military against the invading aliens, known as Chimera. When Hale's unit is completely wiped out in a surprise attack, he struggles for survival... 87 /100
03 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2006 · 160 ratings · finished by 14% Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six makes its next-generation hardware debut in the most dramatic installment of the renowned first-person shooter franchise to date. Experience Las Vegas like never before – through revolutionary next-generation technology as you work against the clock to keep one of the world's most recognizable cities from utter devastation. 86 /100
04 Gears of War S Gears of War 2006 · 559 ratings · 1 Tier vote · finished by 29% A third-person tactical shooter from Epic, running on the Unreal Engine 3. Gears of War thrusts gamers into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Unlike other shooters, Gears of War is all about teamwork in a big way. All game modes, levels and scenarios are designed specifically to encourage co-operative play, whether it be with A.I. partners or human players (with A.I. teammates designed with specific strengths, weaknesses and personalities.) On top of that, voice recognition will be available for players, and obviously voice chat to discuss strategy with your friends. In addition to voice chat, gamers will be able to experience individualized matchmaking, view player statistics, earn player achievements, customize their games, and build and personalize their gamer profiles over Xbox Live. 84 /100
05 Battlefield 2142 Battlefield 2142 2006 · 106 ratings Having placed their previous online shooters in WWII, the Vietnam War, and modern day settings, Battlefield 2142 took place in a future where a new ice age had thrown the world into a panic. The soil not covered by ice can only feed a fraction of the Earth’s population, and players choose to fight for one of two military super powers in an epic battle for survival: The European Union or the newly formed Pan Asian Coalition. Introducing a futuristic art style, science fiction weaponry, and the asymmetric game mode Titan, Battlefield 2142 still has a hardcore following that doesn’t want to leave the future behind. 80 /100
06 Prey (2006) Prey (2006) 2006 · 215 ratings Prey tells the story of Tommy, a Cherokee garage mechanic stuck on a reservation going nowhere. Abducted along with his people to a menacing mothership orbiting Earth, he sets out to save himself and his girlfriend and eventually his planet. 77 /100
07 Call of Juarez Call of Juarez 2006 · 183 ratings · finished by 20% · 8 h to beat Call of Juarez is an epic adventure western themed FPS game. The player alternately assumes the roles of two distinct, antagonistic characters: a sneaking fugitive Billy and his hunter the reverend Ray. 75 /100
08 Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Lost Planet: Extreme Condition 2006 · 121 ratings · finished by 18% The game is played through a third person over-the-shoulder view. Players are allowed to switch between first person and third person at any moment. Players either travel on foot or ride various types of mechanized suits called Vital Suits (VSs). VSs carry heavy weapons such as chainguns and rocket launchers. They can pick up weapons lying on the ground and fire multiple weapons at once. On foot, players are able to use a grappling hook to pull themselves up to normally hard-to-reach places, or to hook onto a VS and hijack it. Driving VSs and using certain weapons requires thermal energy. Also, the planet's cold temperature causes the characters' thermal energy level to continually decrease. Players can replenish their thermal energy level by defeating enemies or activating data posts. Data posts also allow players to use their navigational radars to see incoming enemies. Each of the 11 levels is accompanied by a boss, which can be either a VS or a large Akrid. 74 /100
09 Call of Duty 3 Call of Duty 3 2006 · 328 ratings · finished by 42% "Call of Duty 3" is a first-person shooter developed by Treyarch and published by Activision, released in 2006. This installment in the acclaimed series focuses on the Normandy breakout, one of the most pivotal moments of World War II, and follows the Allied forces' push to liberate Paris from Nazi occupation. Players experience the conflict from multiple perspectives, including American, British, Canadian, and Polish soldiers, each with unique missions and challenges. The game's narrative is rich with historical detail and emphasizes the diversity of the Allied effort. "Call of Duty 3" is known for its intense, fast-paced combat and enhanced gameplay mechanics, such as improved melee attacks and the introduction of close-quarters battles. It also features expansive multiplayer modes, allowing players to engage in large-scale battles online. With its high-quality graphics, realistic sound design, and compelling storytelling, "Call of Duty 3" provides a deeply immersive World War II experience that captures the heroism and horrors of the battlefield. 74 /100
10 F.E.A.R. Extraction Point F.E.A.R. Extraction Point 2006 · 120 ratings F.E.A.R. Extraction Point is the first standalone expansion pack for the video game F.E.A.R. A prominent gameplay element new to this game is reflex time, an ability which slows down the game world while still allowing the player to aim and react at normal speeds. This effect is used to simulate the player character's superhuman reflexes, and is represented by stylized visual effects, such as bullets in flight that cause air distortion or interact with the game's particle system. Other new features include the ability to bash open doors by using the melee function, as well as blast them open with explosives, and the ability to smash crates, some of which contain supplies. 73 /100
11 BLACK BLACK 2006 · 110 ratings 71 /100
Browse all Shooter games

Other years

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

Same year, other platforms

Best PC games of 2006Best Xbox 360 games of 2006Best PlayStation 2 games of 2006Best Nintendo DS games of 2006Best PSP games of 2006Best PlayStation 3 games of 2006Best Mac games of 2006Best Wii games of 2006Best Xbox games of 2006

Nearby rankings

Best Shooter games of 2005Best Shooter games of 2007Best RPG games of 2006Best Sports games of 2006Best Strategy games of 2006

Catalog statistics

Most abandoned gamesMost completed games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Shooter game of 2006?

Half-Life 2: Episode One currently tops the ranking with a score of 87/100 across 897 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.