Summary
- Delta Force engages players with grounded gunplay, boasting large battles and military simulation elements.
- Titanfall 2, despite its high quality, struggled between COD and Battlefield releases, impacting its long-term success.
- Rogue Company blends hero mechanics with tight gameplay, appealing to fans of Overwatch and COD for a distinctive experience.
Few video game franchises have dominated a genre quite like Call of Duty. Following its success, the shooter space has seen many games come and go that have attempted to replicate or improve on the formula with distinctive art styles, gunplay, and mechanics to try and dethrone the king of shooting.
Many games release with a lot of hype and interest, but only the best manage to maintain a sustainable player count and survive the first year. However, just because a game didn't receive the praise and level of popularity as something like COD, doesn't mean the game itself was bad. There are plenty of examples of great games that couldn't quite make it in such a contested genre.
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Delta Force
The Classic Returns With A Modern Twist
Delta Force
- Released
- December 4, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Team Jade
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Android, iOS
Originally one of the pioneers of realistic, squad-based warfare, Delta Force is back and better than ever. The game has gained attention for its grounded gunplay, large-scale battles, and nods to military simulation, positioning it as one of the more serious shooters out there.
Now fully released and out in the wild, the game is drawing in well over 100k players every day, largely thanks to the free-to-play model that supports both PvP and co-op PvE missions. Despite the mixed reviews, it remains a pretty great shooter to jump into and enjoy for a few hours. There is more than enough content for both solo players and groups alike.
Titanfall 2
A Masterpiece That Deserved More
Titanfall 2
- Released
- October 28, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Titanfall 2 is one of the best movement shooters of all time. Almost a decade after its release, it remains a super-fun and satisfying experience for any fan of mobility-focused shooters. The biggest problem was the game's launch timing, which was between both the latest COD and Battlefield. This stifled the early interest and affected the long-term success as well.
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Even though the game never fully caught on, it maintains a small but healthy player base that ebbs and flows whenever the game is on sale. With the developer's focus shifting onto other titles, the future of the Titanfall franchise is uncertain, but if it ever sees another sequel, the potential for success is high.
Rogue Company
A Stylish Shooter With A Loyal Following
Rogue Company
- Released
- October 1, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- First Watch Games
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Launched as a sleek, third-person competitive shooter, Rogue Company blended hero mechanics with tight arena gameplay. Its clean gunplay and team-focused objectives made it a favorite for players looking for an Overwatch-meets-COD hybrid, and it certainly delivered on that concept.
While its mainstream momentum has slowed, it still has a miniscule yet devoted community. Esports support has waned, and future resurgences are unlikely. Yet while it may not dominate headlines, it has still earned its place as a solid attempt at something new.
Splitgate 2
Portals Meet Precision In A Vibrant And Fast-Paced Arena
Splitgate 2
- Released
- June 6, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- teen
- Developer(s)
- 1047 Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Splitgate wowed players with its unique fusion of Halo-like combat and portal-based movement. When a sequel was announced, fans of the original and new players alike all flocked at the chance to play it the second it released.
Part of what helped the appeal of the game was the level of enthusiasm from the lead developers, many of whom cited their creation as the COD killer that many had been waiting for. But after a rocky start, the game has since been returned to beta form, with the original being shut down as well. The future might be uncertain, but with so much passion and drive, the delayed release should give the game plenty of time to improve for launch next year.
Dirty Bomb
Too Ambitious For Its Own Good
Dirty Bomb
- Released
- June 2, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Splash Damage
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Dirty Bomb was a great team-based shooter built around class synergy, quick gunfights, and objective-based missions. It had a strong design and a passionate player base that genuinely adored the gameplay direction and distinctiveness, but despite that, this title struggled to grow beyond a niche audience.
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Despite good mechanics, content support slowed, and the servers were taken offline just a few short years after the release. Still, the game is fondly remembered for its gunplay and its unique flavor in the crowded shooter market. While it didn’t kill Call of Duty, it still carved out its own short-lived legacy.
The Finals
Carving Out A Unique Space In The Genre
The Finals
- Released
- December 8, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Developer(s)
- Embark Studios
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The Finals made a huge splash with its dynamic environments, destructible arenas, and explosive broadcast-style matches that drew players in on aesthetics alone. Its high-paced gameplay felt fresh and chaotic, offering something different from the military-heavy tone of games like Call of Duty. After just a few matches, many players were sucked into its addictive gameplay loop.
Nowadays, The Finals still boasts a healthy player base, especially after several balancing updates and map additions. Its esports potential continues to grow, and while it hasn’t reached COD’s scale, its unique tone and visual flair have earned it a place as a standout in the modern FPS landscape.
XDefiant
A Large Publisher Doesn't Guarantee Large Success
XDefiant
- Released
- May 21, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft San Francisco
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
After a rocky beta and some delays, XDefiant finally launched in mid-2024 with a mix of arcade-style gameplay and faction-based customization drawn from Ubisoft’s many IPs. Fans of old-school COD games, especially the Black Ops 2 era, were pleasantly surprised by the game's crispiness and fluidity, and the combat certainly scratched an itch that many players were missing.
Unfortunately, despite some successful early numbers and a lot of attention within the Twitch community, the game was shut down very quickly after its launch, due to a lower overall play count than initially anticipated. Despite being dead on arrival, the game showed promise and demonstrated that, with the right team and ideas, a great shooter can spawn from anywhere.
Ironsight
Under The Radar With Not Enough Traction
Ironsight
- Released
- June 20, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
Ironsight launched as a free-to-play modern military shooter with responsive gunplay and a wide range of weapons. It had everything a Call of Duty fan might want, including killstreaks, sprint-to-shoot pacing, and customizable loadouts, all in a near-future setting that kept the boots on the ground.
Despite its quality, it never truly caught on in the West. Poor marketing, limited server support, and the rise of other live-service shooters meant its population quickly dwindled. In August 2025, the game will officially be unplayable. It was a valiant attempt to break the mold into a new direction, but ultimately not distinctive enough to leave a lasting impact.
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