FPS games would be nothing without the guns within them. It doesn't matter if players are using realistic military rifles or futuristic laser weapons; the armaments they have access to play a crucial role in dictating how the game feels, and when they are able to modify and customize them, the whole experience feels a lot more enjoyable.
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A lot of games take the basic route of giving players a range of guns to choose from, but a few go above and beyond, letting them change virtually every aspect they could ever need to. From cosmetics to the actual mechanics of the weaponry, these FPS games show how important customization is in keeping players happy and invested for more than a single match.
Escape From Tarkov
Realistic Military Weaponry
Details:
- Thousands of builds through modular parts
- Attachments meaningfully affect weapon stats
Escape From Tarkov offers one of the deepest weapon modification systems ever created in an FPS. Nearly every component from the barrel to the stock to the scope can be swapped or tuned to fit the player's needs and playstyle.
What sets the game apart, however, is how impactful the attachments are in the actual gameplay. An unmodded gun will feel sloppy and awkward, whereas by adding just a few extra features, players can transform an average rifle into a powerful killing machine that can be tailored to whatever use case is needed at the time.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
More Mods Than Ever
Details:
- Weapon slots with dedicated use cases
- Night and day difference between attachments
Call of Duty has always allowed players to customize a large range of weapons however they choose, but in MW3, things are taken to a whole new level. The basic options like magazine size and scopes remain, yet beyond the base systems lies even more depth for players to discover.
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The aftermarket parts and conversion kits bring with them far more drastic changes that alter how guns function at a fundamental level. Burst weapons can become fully automatic, and heavy LMGs can be made mobile, giving individual weapons a whole new playstyle that can be altered even further with the original set of attachments.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands
A Whole Toy Box Of Guns To Try
Details:
- Extensive attachment across real-world weapons
- Tactical uses for each and every modification
Ghost Recon Wildlands embraces tactical flexibility through a robust customization framework that encourages players to adapt to different mission scenarios. Players can modify all the weapon classes with adjustable scopes, suppressors, stocks, and under-barrel attachments, each serving a specific purpose across the various areas.
Normally, simple changes like a silencer don't feel all that impactful. Here, however, a heavy weapon can suddenly be a viable infiltration option, and long-range weapons can easily be used in more close-quarters situations, transforming weapon close-quarters into hybrid armaments that can be tailored to the circumstance and needs at hand.
Payday 2
Turning Bank-robbing Into A Playground
Details:
- Anything from perks to specific ammo types
- Other factors, like concealment, affect weapon choices
Payday 2 turns gun customization into a far more in-depth thought exercise that tests how creative players can be for each mission. Every weapon can be dissected and outfitted with a wide range of attachments that alter how it handles during the various chaotic robberies, some affecting stopping power, and others aiding in a more stealth-oriented approach.
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Because each heist demands a different approach, custom loadouts become integral to success. High-concealment pistols support quieter, more calculated infiltrations, while modded LMGs and shotguns dominate full-alert firefights, allowing players to make use of a range of weapons without ever feeling forced into one playstyle or another.
Mothergunship
Building Guns From The Ground Up
Details:
- A literal gun creation mechanic
- Absurd combinations of attachments, only limited by player creativity
Mothergunship delivers an incredibly imaginative approach to weapon customization. Instead of swapping attachments, players craft guns from scratch, linking components in outlandish configurations, giving them a huge range of options in terms of firepower and killing potential.
Multi-barrel laser arrays, rocket-shotgun hybrids, and bullet-spewing monstrosities are all possible within the system. Rather than being stuck to using a few specific guns, players are instead encouraged to be as creative as possible to fully unlock the true explosive potential of the game.
Fallout 4
Crafting Whatever You Can
Details:
- Range of unique customization and mechanical options
- Specific weapons can be transformed into entirely different types
Fallout 4’s crafting system treats weapons as tools that evolve over the course of an entire playthrough. Single rifles can be transformed into snipers, or pistols can become automatic bullet storms, but the key lies in the range of options and the amount of freedom that players have right from the start.
There is also a lot of breadth in terms of functional flexibility, as different enemy types and encounters will demand a certain weapon in order to take them down. The whole experience allows for a huge amount of experimentation, with virtually any build being viable and having a use case within the wasteland.
Ground Branch
Creating The Perfect Armament
Details:
- Real-time attachment placement
- Weapon behavior is dictated by weight and balance
Ground Branch's weapon customization system feels more like a gun shop simulator than a feature in an FPS game. Players are able to slot attachments like scopes and laser sights anywhere along the weapon's rails, giving them access to a huge range of options that no other game has.
The impact of each attachment is also far more complex than just basic stat upgrades. Factors like weapon weight come into play, making individual placements feel more realistic, and rather than just throwing on the best attachments onto each weapon, circumstances become the main deciding factor.
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