Summary
- Team-based shooters trade lone-hero fantasy for squad tactics, orders, and co-op camaraderie.
- Squad AI, voice commands, and gadgets deepen tactics—from WW2 to sci-fi and modern military shooters.
- Classic squad shooters (Gears, Spec Ops, Republic Commando) reward replays—remasters bring them back.
Players are probably used to their shooters being solo affairs. They’re a one-man army like 80s and 90s action heroes, akin to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Many of the Battlefield and Call of Duty games fit this description, but then there are games that put teams as their focus.
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In these squad-based shooters, players will complete missions in teams. In some games, they can issue orders, swap characters, or even bond with team members outside of missions. There is plenty of variety for all types of players looking for both first-person and third-person shooters with a bit more depth beyond one-man army experiences. They may be hard to find and play nowadays, but these excellent squad-based shooters are worth remembering.
Gears Of War
Getting Past E-Day
Gears of War
- Released
- November 7, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Gears of War is one of the most bro-infused shooter series of all time. It’s a great one to highlight since the recent remaster, Gears of War: Reloaded, was released and is on PlayStation consoles for the first time.
As Marcus Fenix, players will go through a myriad of levels fighting swarms of alien Locusts alongside their squad mates in solo-play or co-op with friends. While co-op will result in a better overall experience, the squad AI proves useful from cover fire to pointing out strategies like opportunities to flank the enemy.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Become As Gods
Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine
- Released
- September 5, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine felt like a reaction to Gears of War, as it had similar gameplay mechanics, like the ability to chainsaw enemies. The Warhammer franchise is older and was more established at the time, but regardless, this Gears of War-style shooter worked for this franchise spinoff.
As Captain Titus, players lead their squad of three Ultramarines into battle, and are treated like gods among normal soldiers who cower in the face of a single Tyranid. Squad members do their own thing, but they are useful in pushing back all the invading Ork armies.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
Gadgets Make An Army Solid
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
- Released
- March 6, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Blood, Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, Shooter
If players want an authentic military experience, Ubisoft has a plethora of games in the Tom Clancy series to check out that fit the bill. For co-op-based squad tactics, players should check out Tom Clancy's The Division or Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands. For something more personal, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 is a great game to pick up, and it is backwards compatible on Xbox consoles.
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Players can choose their squad and weapon loadouts at the start of most missions. In battle, they have direct control of their squad and are assisted by various gadgets that they can use to scan enemies, such as drones, which helps players feel like they are truly in control of an advanced military team.
Binary Domain
Terminated
Binary Domain
- Released
- February 28, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Binary Domain is one of the coolest premises for a game, and it’s a shame it didn’t sell better to convince Sega to make some sequels. Led by the Yakuza team within Sega, the game takes place in the future, where robots have suddenly turned on humanity. They look a lot like the robots from The Terminator films, and they’re just as menacing once their synthetic skin melts away.
Players can choose who to take into missions, and depending on their performance, characters will either hate or like their commander. This can give players a stronger connection to their squad and a stronger incentive to perform better during missions.
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Begun, The Clone Wars Have
Star Wars: Republic Commando
- Released
- March 1, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, Shooter, FPS
Star Wars: Republic Commando is one of the best uses of the Star Wars license for a video game. It takes place during the Clone Wars, but players aren't cast as a powerful Jedi or a dangerous wookie.
As an elite unit of Clone Troopers, players will fight back against the Separatist army of droids. Each unit has a unique speciality, and players can issue commands to them in battle. The story isn’t the most harrowing thing that's based on the license, but it is certainly a fun shooter set in the Star Wars universe.
Spec Ops: The Line
The Harsh Realities Of War
Spec Ops: The Line
- Released
- June 26, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Spec Ops: The Line is one of the grittiest shooters set in the Middle East. Most remember it for the twist at the end and because they got Nolan North to voice the protagonist, Captain Walker, who most gamers know from the Uncharted series. However, the squad-based tactics are what drive the moment-to-moment gameplay, and they're rock-solid throughout.
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Players are assisted by two squadmates who can be selected to target specific enemies, and they’ll carry out their task efficiently for the most part. They can even be directed to use the environment to take out enemies. Because it’s a narrative-focused game, players will learn to care for all three characters in this Dubai war zone, and the story will likely stick with them long after the credits roll.
Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway
Back To WW2
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
- Released
- September 23, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Action
The Brothers in Arms series was one of Gearbox’s biggest franchises before Borderlands. Fans of Troy Baker may want to check these games out, as he voices Sgt. Baker in many of them, including Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway.
Set during World War 2, players will carry out familiar missions from within countryside villages or war-torn cities. Every mission will give players squad mates to command, and while they aren’t the smartest compared to some other more recent squad-based shooters, they’re competent enough.
SOCOM 2: U.S. Navy SEALs
Voiced Commandos
SOCOM II U.S. Navy SEALs
- Released
- November 4, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, Shooter
The SOCOM series on PS2 was one of Sony’s biggest successes. Packaged with a headset, the big gimmick of these games was commanding a squad of Navy Seals with voice commands. It worked in the first game for the most part, but SOCOM 2: U.S. Navy SEALs is where the series stepped it up.
The voice commands worked better, and there was more level variety, allowing for the player's commands to feel more impactful and useful, and offering a wider range of ways to use each squad member. It’s a shame these games were never remastered and that the series hasn't resurfaced since SOCOM 4.
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