Summary

  • The best gunplay games feel responsive and powerful, enhancing player experience with a variety of weaponry.
  • Unique gun mechanics in games like Helldivers 2 and Titanfall 2 offer intense action and entertaining combat encounters.
  • From futuristic weapons in Cyberpunk 2077 to historical guns in Red Dead Redemption 2, games with great gunplay create immersive worlds.

Gunplay is an essential element to the way games feel in the hands of players, and to keep players constantly engaged and happy with the plethora of weaponry at their disposal, the guns need to feel responsive and powerful. The best gunplay in games has ranged and evolved over the years, with even games from the classic era of the early 2000s featuring as the blueprint for games releasing in 2024.

Without these stellar gunplay games, players might not have as much fun with the power that could be within their hands. These games range through genres, whether that’s sci-fi, Western, or even a Battle Royale, but the universal consistency is that they all feel great to play, gun in hand.

7 Helldivers 2

Spread Democracy WIth Unsafe Weapons

Helldivers 2
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Third-Person Shooter
Extraction Shooter
Action
Science Fiction
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Released
February 8, 2024
Developer(s)
Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction

A new entry into the gaming scene, Helldivers 2 is taking players by storm thanks to the creative elements of fighting bugs and robots in near-endless swarms to spread democracy to the galaxy. Helldivers 2 is a lot of fun with friends, strangers, or alone, and the opportunities to get killed in action are hilarious, as well as intense. What makes the game so fun isn’t just the satire or the arsenal of missions and stratagems but the weapons.

What makes the game so fun isn’t just the satire or the arsenal of missions and stratagems but the weapons.

Helldivers 2 feels great to play, and players can pick and choose from an assortment of weapons to battle the forces of Terminids and Automatons. Heavier weapons feel responsive, and the kick and recoil feel great on PS5 controllers. The bullet drop feels great, and the explosive power of some weapons makes Helldivers feel like gods.

6 Titanfall 2

Fast Mobility & Heavy Titans Makes For High-Octane Gun Fights

Titanfall 2
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Released
October 28, 2016
Developer(s)
Respawn Entertainment
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre(s)
FPS

One of the best multiplayer games out there, Titanfall 2 is extremely enjoyable, and the gunplay is what evolved games should be striving for. The high-octane energy of running around and wall running makes for quick combat encounters, and the responsive weaponry permits players to create their own loadouts and fight against other energetic players in a tightly woven clash.

Best Multiplayer FPS Games Of All Time (Featured Image) - Counter-Strike 2 + Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory + Team Fortress 2
Best Multiplayer FPS Games Of All Time

It's hard to top these legendary multiplayer FPS games for the impact they had on the genre.

The aiming and ability to do air dashes make it feel like a mobile John Wick!

The aiming and ability to do air dashes make it feel like a mobile John Wick, and getting access to a Titan provides players with an immense amount of hulking power. Using these large weapons against smaller foes, or even in a one-on-one against another Titan, provides immeasurable fun.

5 Cyberpunk 2077

Hard-Hitting Futuristic Weapons Raise Hell In Night City

Cyberpunk 2077
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Released
December 10, 2020
Developer(s)
CD Projekt Red
Genre(s)
RPG, Action

Night City is a dangerous place, but V can be even more dangerous than the gangs that infest this dystopian city. Cyberpunk 2077 has great gunplay, and the different classes of weapons feel equally responsive and powerful, even without players investing in Attributes and Perks to make them the most feared merc in Night City.

The individual power of each weapon makes for a grand time in Cyberpunk 2077!

Gunplay is even further enhanced with upgrades from Ripperdocs, allowing players to literally slow time as they shoot enemies and grenades with high-kicking revolvers, or machine guns with an immense amount of recoil. The individual power of each weapon makes for a grand time.

4 Fallout 4

Powerful Self-Crafted Weapons Make The Wasteland More Manageable

Fallout 4
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Released
November 10, 2015
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
RPG, Action

Heading out of Vault 111 into the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Boston, players are going to immediately find themselves in need of a gun to battle the radroaches and other monstrosities in this lawless frontier. Luckily for them, there are plenty to choose from and craft to make a quick meal out of every enemy.

The variety of weapons can make the gunplay addicting in Fallout 4!

The fast-firing, recoil-hitting pistols found across the wasteland and the immensely powerful Gatling guns that complement the use of power armor can really make the gunplay addicting in Fallout 4. Whilst some enemies might eat the bullets like they’re nothing, others will suffer and dismember, especially with the enticing V.A.T.S. System.

3 Red Dead Redemption 2

Powerful & Historical Weapons From The Old West Make Shootouts Perfect

Red Dead Redemption 2
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Released
October 26, 2018
Developer(s)
Rockstar Games
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure

In the dying years of the Wild West, venture across the frontier as Arthur Morgan, a gunslinger for the Van der Linde gang who needs to decide if he wants to be a good man or a bad man. Red Dead Redemption 2 has a thrilling and emotional story, but what really takes the cake is the gunplay and the historically accurate guns that players can wield on their person and keep stored on their horse.

The different versions of pistols, rifles, and shotguns in RDR 2 all feel unique in terms of movement, firepower, and spread.

The sound design for the weapons is incredible, and using Dead Eye provides immeasurable power and reflexes that will see enemies painted red with death. The different versions of pistols, rifles, and shotguns all feel unique in terms of movement, firepower, and spread.

2 F.E.A.R.

An Utter Classic Where Movement & Guns Work In Rhythm

F.E.A.R.
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Released
October 18, 2005
Developer(s)
Monolith Productions
Platform(s)
PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Genre(s)
FPS, Horror

The classics always do it best, and F.E.A.R. Has some of the best combat of all time. Many mechanics complement F.E.A.R.’S gameplay, providing adrenaline-fueled gameplay experiences that will have players sliding around in slow motion with dual-wielded pistols, shotguns, and other weapons to blow the heads off their enemies and leave them a red mist of blood and guts.

Through kicks and shoves, to blasts with shotguns, the power of a F.E.A.R. Player is immense and intense.

F.E.A.R. Doesn’t just have an intense story, the most memorable aspect of the game will certainly be the array of combat encounters that will keep players on their toes and truly addicted to the ways that they can take enemies out. Through kicks and shoves, to blasts with shotguns, the power of a F.E.A.R. Player is immense and intense.

1 Destiny 2

Satisfying Precision Shots Add To The Addicting Gameplay Loop

Destiny 2
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Released
August 28, 2017
Developer(s)
Bungie
Genre(s)
FPS

A fast-paced FPS MMO, Destiny 2 has evolved over the years, with countless new seasons bringing forth new waves of content in terms of modes, weapons, and stories. Battling across the Solar System has never felt so smooth, thanks to the assortment of guns and responsive firing modes of the different types available, from sci-fi fusion rifles to trusty hand cannons.

The ability to craft specific types of weapons and builds to complement the gunplay adds to the fun in Destiny 2!

Hitting precision shots feels great, and the rewarding damage capability speaks for itself. The ability to craft specific types of weapons and builds to complement the gunplay adds to the fun, allowing players to easily lose hours in Raids and PvP as they fight with the guns that feel right for them.

Destiny-2-Best-Raid-Exotics,-Ranked
Destiny 2: Best Raid Exotics, Ranked

Destiny 2's best exotics come through as rewards within their challenging raids.