Although there were some fantastic FPS games released on consoles throughout the nineties, it wasn't until controllers with dual analog sticks became standard that the genre really took off outside of the PC gaming space. Franchises like Call of Duty and Medal of Honor helped to lead the charge, with the former still standing tall as one of the genre's heaviest hitters.
Thanks to those aforementioned series and the many others like them, the FPS genre is one of the most popular in the modern age. As a result, there are plenty of incredible first-person shooters available on the PlayStation 5, though the very best PS5 FPS games find ways to set themselves apart, either through their unique mechanics or their unbeatable online support.
20 Atomic Heart
OpenCritic Rating: 74
For a first effort, the team over at Mundfish deserves a lot of credit for what they accomplished with Atomic Heart. Granted, the writing feels a little generic in places and there's a bit too much padding overall, but the game brings plenty of interesting ideas to the table and does a pretty decent job of recreating the classic Bioshock formula that so clearly inspired it for a new generation of gamers.
Atomic Heart is a game that dares to dream big and offers a much better experience thanks to these lofty ambitions, even if not all of them are quite fully realized. It's a pretty weird game on a lot of levels too, but this helps it to stand out where it might otherwise get lost in the crowd of similarly-themed titles. It's far from a perfect game, but it's definitely not a bad one either. In fact, most will likely find it to be pretty good if they decide to give it a chance.
Atomic Heart
- Released
- February 21, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Mundfish
- Publisher(s)
- Mundfish, Focus Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, FPS
19 Far Cry 6
OpenCritic Rating: 76
When most people think about Far Cry, it's usually bundled together with all of the other open-world franchises that became popular around the turn of the century. At its core though, it's every bit as much a first-person shooter series as it is an open-world one, and this is once again the case with 2021's Far Cry 6.
Though it definitely lacks the sparkle found in some of its predecessors, it's still a fantastic game with a decent story and yet another fantastic video game villain; an area where the franchise has always excelled. For those who are fans of the many great Far Cry villains, it's even possible to play as some of them thanks to the game's three DLC episodes.
Far Cry 6
- Released
- October 6, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
18 Dead Island 2
OpenCritic Rating: 75
After spending nearly a decade trapped in development hell, Dead Island 2 finally hit shelves and digital storefronts in April of 2023. Like its predecessor, its core gameplay loop is built around the idea of butchering zombies in the most fun and creative ways possible, and, in this regard, the game definitely succeeds.
Those looking for a deep and meaningful narrative will almost certainly come away disappointed, but for fans of fast-paced FPS combat, Dead Island 2 should be more than capable of scratching that itch. There's a wide variety of weapons on offer to keep things from feeling stale too quickly, not to mention the potential for some pretty epic environmental kills.
Dead Island 2
- Released
- April 21, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Dambuster Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Deep Silver
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
17 XDefiant
OpenCritic Rating: 70
Although it may not have proven to be the COD killer that some had hoped it would be, XDefiant really doesn't fall too far short of the mark. Developed by the team over at Ubisoft San Francisco, the game's core mechanics are built around the idea of teamwork through factions, all of which are taken from popular Ubisoft franchises like Far Cry, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell.
Though it can be a little rough around the edges in places and suffers from a lot of the same issues as some of its many FPS peers, XDefiant is still a pretty solid offering for a free-to-play title and can be a lot of fun when played with friends or a strong team of skilled strangers. With the right post-launch support, it may very well end up being one of the best FPS games of 2024.
XDefiant
- Released
- May 21, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft San Francisco
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- FPS
16 Hell Let Loose
OpenCritic Rating: 76
Before the Call of Duty franchise decided to focus almost exclusively on modern and futuristic warfare, FPS games set during the Second World War were all the rage. Since then, EA's Medal of Honor series appears to have bitten the bullet, but there are still new games set during World War 2 released from time to time. One such game is Hell Let Loose.
Initially developed by Black Matter, the game sees players taking part in iconic battles from various points throughout the conflict, supported by a platoon of other players at their backs. With as many as 100 people taking part, battles in Hell Let Loose can often be incredibly hectic, but also provide players with ample opportunities to showcase both their rifle skills and tactical nous.
Hell Let Loose
- Released
- July 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Black Matter
- Publisher(s)
- Team17
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
15 Chernobylite
OpenCritic Rating: 76
Set right at the heart of the Chornobyl exclusion zone, Chernobylite places players into the shoes of Igor Khymynuk, a Ukranian physicist investigating the decades-old disappearance of his fiance Tatyana. Unlike a lot of the other great FPS games on the PS5, it's a single-player-only experience and falls heavily into the survival horror genre.
Though it may lack polish in places, Chernobylite is built around a lot of interesting ideas by a development team who are clearly very passionate about what they do. This passion really shines through in places tangible, resulting in a game that is full to the brim with character. Some of the plotlines are a little weird, but for fans of supernatural mysteries and gorgeous-looking video games, it's definitely worth a look.
Chernobylite
- Released
- July 28, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Farm 51
- Publisher(s)
- All In! Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
14 After the Fall
OpenCritic Rating: 73
Virtual reality is arguably the perfect platform for the FPS genre, helping to provide players with levels of immersion that up until fairly recently could only have been dreamed about. After the Fall is a great example of this, with the post-apocalyptic adventure offering up one of the best first-person experiences on the PlayStation 5.
Like most VR games, there are still a few issues here and there, most of which relate to interacting with objects at close range. However, the gunplay is more or less perfect most of the time, allowing players to kick back with a group of friends or strangers and mow down wave after wave of undead creatures in a really well-designed world.
After the Fall
- Released
- December 6, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Vertigo Games
- Publisher(s)
- Vertigo Games
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Virtual Reality
13 Metal: Hellsinger
OpenCritic Rating: 79
Metal: Hellsinger feels a bit like a cross between Doom and Guitar Hero, with players encouraged to lose themselves in the hectic riffs of heavy metal music while destroying a neverending army of hell demons. In that respect, it sounds a lot more like Doom of the two, yet rhythm ends up playing a much more important role than one might think.
Aside from its fantastic gameplay, the game also boasts an incredible soundtrack performed by some of the metal genre's heaviest hitters. These include Serg Tankian of System of a Down fame, Matt Heafy from Trivium, and several members of the Swedish death metal band Dark Tranquility. It's not perfect, but it makes for a nice change from the genre's usual offerings.
Metal: Hellsinger
- Released
- September 15, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- The Outsiders
- Publisher(s)
- Funcom
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Rhythm
12 The Finals
OpenCritic Rating: 81
The Finals makes no attempts to reinvent the wheel, instead opting to focus on providing players with a fun time. There's nothing here that can't be found in at least a dozen other first-person shooters, but the execution and the way that all of the game's mechanics come together make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
With full crossplay support and a free-to-play business model, there can be no excuses for not at least checking it out. Those who do will find that there are plenty of options when it comes to customization and a surprising amount of verticality across the game's maps, all of which feature dynamic and destructible environments.
The Finals
- Released
- December 8, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Embark Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Embark Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- FPS
11 Deep Rock Galactic
OpenCritic Rating: 85
Deep Rock Galactic is a cooperative sci-fi shooter in which players take control of a badass space dwarf as they fight off hordes of terrifying enemies and attempt to mine precious resources. For many, that premise alone will be enough to warrant the game's more than reasonable price tag, which is around half what one would expect to pay for a game of this quality.
Deep Rock Galactic: The Best Weapons In The Game
A player's choice of weapon is important in any online FPS game. Deep Rock Galactic is no exception. These are the best weapons on offer.
Every element that makes up the game is perfectly measured, from its challenging yet enjoyable combat to its heavily stylized visuals. The biggest selling point is probably the co-op experience though, with few titles able to offer up quite as much fun as this one. It's one of the best FPS games on the PS5, not to mention one of the most unique.
Deep Rock Galactic
- Released
- May 13, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ghost Ship Games
- Publisher(s)
- Coffee Stain Publishing
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Genre(s)
- FPS