Speed is key in some games, especiallyfirst-person shooters. Rather than worrying about stealth and immersion, some games emphasize making a game feel like a rollercoaster ride from beginning to end. Some developers execute this by featuring non-stop gameplay that keeps the player moving at breakneck speed, while others feature non-stop shooting.
First-person shooters come in all shapes and sizes, dating back to the early 90s. Those kinds of games still influence modern games, from linear shooter campaigns to online multiplayer games, leaving players feeling as if they haven’t blinked in the previous half hour, but in the best ways possible.
On top of the increased speed,Quake 2traded demons and sorcery for a dark sci-fi adventure. With the rogue extraterrestrial race known as the Strogg around every corner, the player still has to run and jump to stay alive while listening to memorable metal music.
Quake 2was developed by iD Software and their thumbprint is all over it. It maintains much of the gameplay from the firstQuakeand the classicDoomgamesbut with almost twice the difficulty. Combined with advanced visuals for the time,Quake 2is a classic that still holds up over 25 years later.
WhereRed Dead Redemptionis all about immersion in a gritty version of the Old West,Call Of Juarez: Gunslingeris a more romanticized Western meant for fun. The player controls a bounty hunter going after famous outlaws such as Billy the Kid and Jesse James, with each level playing out linearly.
Call Of Juarez: Gunslingerplays out almost likean on-rail shooter arcade gamebut with direct controls. It’s just running and gunning through different towns, hideouts, and other typical Western locations. The endless violence is complimented with an art style reminiscent of classic wanted posters, making it a thrill ride worth checking out.
Bulletstormseems like a generic sci-fi shooter at first, but the irreverent humor mixed with unique gameplay mechanics help it become a memorable experience for both single-player and multiplayer. Blasting through an alien planet as Grayson Hunt to get his revenge goes by so fastthat it results in a shorter campaignthat leaves players wanting more.
The campaign seldom takes a break inBulletstorm, keeping things going with an endless swarm of enemies. With the ability to freeze enemies in stasis, pull them toward the player, kick them away, and more, the game rewards players with points for eliminating foes in unique ways, especially if they are fast enough to keep combos going.
FromFortnitetoCall Of Duty: Warzone,battle royale games are commonplace now, but typically have a slower pace.Apex Legendschanges the formula with first-person shooter gameplay that makes it nearly impossible to hold still, with almost every match being an endless battle. It forces players to learn how to run, fight, and loot within the span of a few seconds.
Unlike most battle royale games,Apex Legendsis based entirely on teamwork. Some players might be skilled enough to carry themselves, but the game is designed for cooperation, with teammates covering each other as they rush to outrun the ring and defeat enemy teams. This means they are forced to stay on their toes, as the different heroes make things difficult with their abilities.
With three forms of gameplay: the Colonial Marine, the terrifying Xenomorph, and the deadly Yautja Hunter,Aliens Versus Predatoris action-packed as it is scary. Playing as a Marine encourages constant movement and spatial awareness, as Xenomorphs can appear out of nearly any nook and cranny to hunt, moving across all surfaces accurately to the movies.
Even when playing the Predator, leaping through the trees and performing executions is always at breakneck speed, and it’s double that speedwhen controlling the Xenomorph. Each race has its own campaign and can be played in online multiplayer, allowing for plenty of chills and thrills.
5Titanfall 2
Respawn Created Something That Competed With Call Of Duty
BeforeApex Legends, Respawn Entertainment surprised the world withTitanfall 2, which takes place in the same universe. It took the rapid gameplay of playing as an exo-suit-wearing soldier and theirgiant robots known as Titansand amplified it, which included a memorable but short story campaign.
Titanfall 2has bits of theApex Legendstemplate, including many of the same weapons, so fans of that game can adjust quicker to it. However, the parkour elements and the Titans helped turnTitanfall 2into a still unique shooter, with an online multiplayer that is just as punishing asApex Legendsas it requires paying attention to all directions, high and low, to survive, along with wall-running and jet-packing.
When iD Software and Bethesda brought back theDoomfranchise after a long hiatus, many were concerned it would not feel like the original. However, the 2016 sequel/reboot went back to the styles of the originalDoomwith a little bit ofQuake, mixing a brutal and violent shooter with difficulty that even longtime fans of shooters can struggle with.
Doomcould have stuck to being about a random marine speedrunning killing demons and undead on Mars and fans likely would have been happy. However, the 2016 game added a story and even gave the main character an official title: the Doom Slayer, which,combined with the new weapon mod systemand massive levels, resulted in the perfect comeback for the series.
An independent game that surprised many,Ultrakilltakes the lightspeed-quick gameplay of the newDoomgames and mixes inthe combo-based action ofDevil May Cry. It’s bloody, violent, and a total blast that has won the affection of many gamers and critics since it launched in 2020.
Similar toBulletstorm,Ultrakillrewards the player for mixing up tactics and coming up with creative kills. The low-polygons and pixel art are perfect for gamers who grew up with first-person shooters of the 90s and early 2000s, while also allowing for smooth framerates that keep the game moving at an ideal speed.
Shooting up demons is fun, butMetal: Hellsingerthrows in the twist ofalso being a rhythm-based game. Running, dashing, jumping, and even shooting are all timed to the beat of an award-nominated soundtrack or any song put into the game for those on PC via modding, which makes the game as catchy as it is fun.
The music can make the game a memorable experience for multiple reasons, asMetal: Hellsingerfeatures sections that test gamers’ reflexes and timing. Even on normal difficulty, the latter half will make fingers feel sore after a certain amount of time, but that also helps people learn how to keep a beat going if they are thinking of pursuing music.
1Doom Eternal
Bigger, Bloodier, And Better In Every Way
Whether it’s slaying demons or traversing through the bowels of a corrupted version of Earth,Doom Eternaltakes everything that the 2016 game did so well and improves upon it. A sequel could have stuck to being identical to the previous game, butDoom Eternaladds new weapon mods, abilities, forms of traversal, and many more enemy types to help it stand out.
If someone found the previousDoomdifficult,Doom Eternalmight be an ultra-nightmare for them. Later stages incorporate all old and new enemy variations combined with environmental puzzles with even faster gameplay. Something as simple as blinking at the wrong time could be disastrous, and there is essentially zero time to sit still as the Doom Slayer.
