Oldest First-Person Shooters (That You Can Still Play)

There's arguably no more iconic genre in gaming than the first-person shooter, to the point where the genre is almost synonymous with video games as a whole, and for good reason; first-person shooters offer action, excitement, and often a narrative to tie it all together.

Before the advent of the FPS, games were much less linear, and outside the scripted experiences of point-and-click adventure games, narrative games were relatively rare. Although first-person shooters and 3D games were being experimented with back in the 70s with niche games like Maze War, they didn't really hit their stride until the 90s with the innovations of iD Software. Furthermore, there aren't many FPS games that were released before 1991 that can be played on modern hardware. Each of these games, however, can be played through Steam and/or GOG.

Updated on March 15th, 2024, by Harry Ted Sprinks: First-person shooters have remained one of the most popular genres of video game, covering a multitude of sub-genres from arena-shooters and battle royales all the way to immersive sims. With so much space for design and innovation, the FPS genre was once one of the most exciting video game genres to be a fan of. Starting with iD Software, the FPS genre was born and quickly boomed, feeding fans with a constant stream of new and exciting titles. Because of this, the FPS genre is rich in its history, and it's always worth looking back on old classics like Halo and TimeSplitters 2, to see how they hold up. That's where this list comes in, and a couple of new entries have been added to further that goal.

12 Catacomb 3-D (1991) - ID Software's First FPS

Available on: GOG

With the technical prowess of John Carmack and the work of fellow founders John Romero, Tom Hall, and Adrian Carmack, iD Software produced their first FPS: Catacomb 3-D. It's a fun experience for those interested in gaming history, though as a predecessor of the arguably superior DOOM, it's more of a curio than a masterpiece.

This game, set in a dark-fantasy world and tasking players with slinging spells with their fully-animated hand, helped to pioneer "raycasting" in video games. Catacomb 3-D was particularly impactful for its ability to render the world according to the camera, rather than rendering the entire level at once. This enabled levels to be larger, and dramatically helped performance.

11 Wolfenstein 3D (1992) - An FPS Pioneer

Available on: Steam, GOG

This fast-paced, violent shooter tasks players with blasting away Nazis during WW2, battling through the various mazes of a Nazi prison in order to escape. This loose but effective narrative theme combined perfectly with iD Software's breakthrough technology and innovative gameplay, built on the back of Catacomb 3-D.

Wolfenstein 3D is one of the most influential FPS games of its time; its episodic structure, variety of weapons and enemies, and action-packed visceral combat made it an instant hit that paved the way for future iD Software productions.

10 DOOM (1993) - The Popularization Of The FPS

Available on: Steam, GOG

As one of the most famous and revered games of all time, it could be argued that DOOM was the beginning of modern gaming, setting the industry on a path that it would follow for the foreseeable future.

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DOOM was notable for its exceptional lighting and more interesting geometry than iD's previous attempts with Wolfenstein 3D, thanks to John Carmack's continued technical abilities. The game had a solid theme and narrative that was easy for players to latch onto (a space marine fighting endless hordes of demons), and an iconic soundtrack that fueled the fast-paced gameplay.

9 System Shock (1994) - One Of The First FPS Immersive Sims

Available on: Steam, GOG

Widely regarded as one of the first, and best, immersive-sims of all time, System Shock was a groundbreaking FPS game that featured a strong narrative and immersive gameplay that encouraged player agency and freedom.

System Shock is relatively non-linear, allowing players to explore the space station freely as they attempt to stop a rogue AI. Due to the game's more complex mechanics and design, System Shock is less accessible than other games on this list (such as the relatively straightforward DOOM), but its newer "Enhanced Edition" makes it easier to experience. Furthermore, for those that want a more modern experience, the game received a remake in 2023.

8 Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995) - A Well-Crafted Star Wars DOOM Clone

Available on: Steam, GOG

The Star Wars franchise has long been a subject of video games, but Star Wars: Dark Forces is arguably one of the best, making for a competent FPS with detailed environments and characters, as well as a classic Star Wars narrative that fits the themes and universe of the franchise.

Star Wars: Dark Forces doesn't feature a save system, instead tasking players with beating missions in one sitting using a limited pool of lives. While this might not be for everyone, the game's loyalty to the Star Wars franchise, great fan service, and solid FPS gameplay more than make up for it. Furthermore, the game received a remaster in 2024 from Nightdive Studios.

7 Quake (1996) - A 3D FPS That Pushed Boundaries

Available on: Steam, GOG

Arguably one of the most influential FPS games of all time, Quake pushed the boundaries of modern hardware in 1996 with detailed textures and geometry, excessive gore in the form of "gibs" (blood and guts flying out of enemies), and even 3D models for the enemies and weapons.

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Quake also featured bodies of liquid that could be traversed, as well as the ability to jump - and "rocket jump". Quake would go on to spawn various sequels, and eventually pave the way for competitive multiplayer gaming. Furthermore, Quake is often used as the cornerstone of modern retro games like DUSK, and it's still an enjoyable and polished experience that's worth playing today.

6 Blood (1997) - A Gruesome Horror FPS

Available on: Steam, GOG

This gruesome, Lovecraftian horror FPS features a variety of horrific, highly-detailed creatures and an incredible atmosphere. Blood puts players in the shoes of the mentally-deranged, hyper-violent Caleb, and has them blasting away cultists and creatures alike with a notoriously creative arsenal of weaponry.

Blood is violent and challenging, but it remains one of the best "boomer shooters" of all time, and an FPS that's still worth playing even today. The game also features plenty of tongue-in-cheek pop-culture references, and the excellent voice work of Stephan Weyte as the diabolic protagonist. The game received an enhanced edition in the form of Blood Fresh Supply in 2019.

5 Half-Life (1998) - A Revolutionary Narrative FPS

Available on: Steam

Pioneering a linear gameplay structure and visual storytelling, Valve's iconic Half-Life put a crowbar in the hands of the physicist Gordon Freeman and tasked players with guiding him through a laboratory dealing with an outbreak of horrific creatures.

Half-Life still runs well on modern hardware and is arguably one of the most influential FPS games in terms of the way it handled its narrative and gameplay structure. The game also features great sound design, competent AI, and some light exploration that's mostly present in its larger levels. Most importantly, though, it could be argued that Half-Life is responsible for popularizing storytelling in video games.

4 SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle (1999) - An Innovative Tactical Shooter

Available on: Steam, GOG

• Platform(s): PC
• Released: November 23, 1999
• Developer(s): Sierra

SWAT 3 took the isometric, 2D real-time tactics Police Quest: SWAT games and gave them 3D environments and characters, as well as FPS mechanics, perspective, and controls. This dramatically changed the way the game was played, and gave the series more of a boots-on-the-ground feel, making it grittier and more immersive than the previous games.

It could be argued that SWAT 3's squad commands and intuitive controls, as well as its focus on realism, were largely influential on future tactical shooter titles, though the classic Rainbow Six games shouldn't be discredited. However, it's very rare that titles like SWAT 3 are released in the modern day, making this (and its revered sequel, SWAT 4) a game worth playing even today, as there are very few alternatives on offer outside the dark and gritty FPS, Ready Or Not. It should be noted that although the game did release in 1999, the more widely available "Game Of The Year Edition" was released in 2001.

3 Soldier Of Fortune (2000) - A Gritty Military FPS

Available on: GOG

• Platform(s): PC
• Released: March 28, 2000
• Developer(s): Raven Software

This military FPS was developed by Raven Software, now known more for their Call Of Duty games. However, Soldier Of Fortune was a solid and innovative entry in the swathe of FPS games that were saturating the market towards the end of the 90s and the start of the 2000s.

Soldier Of Fortune is perhaps most notable for its highly detailed visuals for the time, as well as its extensive character "gibbing" and damage system that allowed for different damage effects based on where enemies were hit, which is something that players often take for granted in the modern day.