Summary
Hero Shooter gamesare commonly defined as first or third-person shooters where players select a character with unique abilities or weapons. The genre has been around for decades, with particularhighlights over the years coming from Valve’sTeam Fortressfranchise and Blizzard’sOverwatchfranchise. With a cast of great characters and addictive gameplay,Overwatchtook the world by storm on its debut, but there are plenty of other great games in the genre.
The genre has continued to expand. Players can now turn to many different developers and franchises to get their fix of hero shooter games, each with their own unique mechanics and characters to get invested in. But for those who aren’t used to playing hero shooters, what are the best ones to try?
Marvel Rivalswas released in December 2024 andhas already surpassed many significant milestones in its early days. It follows the formula put in place by Blizzard’s Overwatch, series and features fan-favorite characters from the Marvel Comics Universe.
The reason to giveMarvel Rivalsa try comes from its recognizable cast of characters. Players are likely familiar with characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe,such as The Avengers and The Guardians of the Galaxy, so they can jump into action with their favorites in a variety of maps and game modes. What could possibly be better than jumping into action as The Incredible Hulk and smashing enemies to bits? With this being the new Hero Shooter game setting the world alight,Marvel Rivalsis an excellent place to start.
Thia game franchise once reigned supreme in the hero shooter genre.Overwatch, and its sequelOverwatch 2,became wildly popular upon their releasewith their cast of great characters, including theeccentric astrophysicist Sigma and the cyborg ninja Genji.
Overwatch 2has well-balanced and fast-paced gameplay perfect for new players to dive in to, whilst learning to master the characters' skills can reap massive rewards. Even players who aren’t into hero shooters will enjoy jumping into the world ofOverwatch 2,full of well-fleshed-out characters. Due to the variety of character choices available, no two games feel the same. With a focus on teamwork and an interesting lore to dive into, topped off with well-balanced gameplay and exciting art design,Overwatch 2is worth a try for new players.
TheRainbow Sixfranchise began in 1999, as a tactical shooter series following a counterterrorism team as they attempt to stop threats from escalating. With the release ofRainbow Six Siege, the franchise’s genre changed, and a new Hero Shooter titan was born.
With 74 operators to choose from withinRainbow SixSiege,each with their own equipment and weapons, this tactical game provides a different kind of hero shooter experience.Siegeprovides a tactical shooting perspective with a focus on precision with shots, and planning when approaching objectives, like a more realistic game ofCall of Duty’sSearch and Destroy. For players who love this kind of game, thenRainbow Six Siegeis the perfect Hero Shooter.
The Battle Royale genre is full of memorable titles fromFortnitetoCall of Duty: Warzone.Apex Legendstakes all the features players love from theBattle Royale genre and adds in Hero Shootermechanics.
Since its launch in February 2019,Apex Legendshas had over 70 million registered players, with almost 100,000 players still regularly accessing the game in 2025. Players have 26 Legends to choose from, each with their own abilities. With fast-paced gameplay in the Battle Royale format, and so many unique abilities to master,Apex Legendsis worth a try for Battle Royale players looking to branch out.
Another game worthy of giving a try if players aren’t into the hero shooter genre is Riot Games’Valorant. The game features gunplay similar to theCounterStrikeseries,combined with unique abilities for each of the 26 agentsand a setting in a future-Earth.
Valorant’s great art-design and excellent gameplaygarnered a huge fanbase upon its launch in June 2020. The development team at Riot is still committed to adding toValorant,with episode 10 launching in January 2025.Valorantis a great game to try for players who love the first-person shooter mechanics found inCounterStrikewith its focus on precision shooting, but wanting to freshen things up by adding some extra unique abilities.
A recent addition to the Hero Shooter genre,Supervivecombines the MOBA gameplay style ofDota 2andSmitewith Hero Shooter mechanics to create a fun and engaging experience for players. Launching in early access in November 2024,Supervivecurrently boasts largely positive reviewson Steam.
Sixteen characters have been made available for early access, with a variety of special powers available for players to master. The reason to trySupervivecomes from its top-down style, something that hasn’t been seen in a hero shooter before. This change provides an experience that feels fresh to those who like the genre, but could also provide a great place to start for players looking for something different.
The trendsetting game of the Hero Shooter genre,Team Fortress 2,is still going strong more than fifteen years after its initial release. Valve redefined Hero Shooter games, and the servers remain populated to this day.In December 2024,Team Fortress 2had an average player count of over 60,000, and a peak player count of over 140,000.
What makesTeam Fortress 2specialis that it balances its humor with great game design, artwork, and the simplicity with which newcomers can jump in and play. The game’s humor sets it apart from others in the genre, and once players are invested, the high skill ceiling keeps them looking to improve.
