The genre of first-person shooters goes back to 1992 when Wolfenstein 3D made its way to the DOS. At the time, it was one of the most innovative games in terms of graphics and gameplay, as most other titles on Nintendo and DOS were either 2D platformers, role-playing games, or puzzle games.
However, things have changed over time, as the genre of FPS is currently one of the most saturated ones in the market. From the Call Of Duty series to Valorant, every major multiplayer game is seemingly a first-person shooter. Hence, it's shocking that there are so many great underrated FPS games on Steam.
To be considered for this list, older games need to have 3,000 reviews or fewer, while newer games can have no more than 500.
Updated March 20, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Many people feel that first-person shooters have become stagnant and uninspired, which is understandable given how so many titles in this genre follow the same template. However, this couldn't be further from the truth, and there are several great FPS titles that are quite invigorating in terms of their gameplay. In fact, there are so many titles in this genre that some truly ingenious ones get lost in the crowd, with the following underrated FPS games being great examples of the same.
15 E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy
A game that channels the elements of an immersive sim while keeping action gameplay as a major focus, E.Y.E.: Divine Cybermancy is a unique FPS title that more people need to check out. The story is a fever dream that players will decipher only after multiple playthroughs.
The game's unique mechanics make it a blast to play through despite a bit of jank. Fans of unique FPS titles who don't mind playing through a classic gem will have a ton of fun with E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy.
14 NecroVision
NecroVision is a World War 1 FPS that ends up adding a ton of fantasy elements to the mix. This ends up making the game way more interesting and unique after a pretty strong introduction, with the gameplay encouraging combos and frenetic shooting.
The game may have its fair share of issues, but the sheer heart that went into this game more than makes it worth checking out. NecroVision may not be a polished FPS, but the combat is extremely engaging and more than makes up for any bugs or odd design choices.
13 Receiver
Receiver is a hardcore FPS that turns reloading into a complicated mechanic that players must master to get through the game unscathed. This is easier said than done since this roguelike game punishes players for wasting shots and taking too much time to reload.
Players who manage to understand the reloading mechanic and load up their vehicle in record time will feel a unique sense of euphoria in every way. Receiver's concept may be simple, but it's the brilliance of this game's execution that makes it so worthwhile.
12 Cruelty Squad
Cruelty Squad is one of the most unique underrated games on Steam, with the title featuring an abstract art style and mind-bending visuals that make the title pretty engaging indeed. Players can either employ stealth or go all-out with their weapons to complete the many stages in Cruelty Squad.
The gameplay is pretty tactical and players without a plan will be annihilated in record time. The bizarre nature of this game is the biggest reason why Cruelty Squad is worth checking out for fans of FPS titles.
11 Fashion Police Squad
Channeling the energy of a retro FPS, Fashion Police Squad is one of the most non-lethal FPS games on Steam. Instead of killing foes outright, Fashion Police Squad tasks players with hunting down poorly-dressed enemies and giving them a much-needed makeover.
The premise of this title is pretty ridiculous but it's the dedication Fashion Police Squad has to this concept that makes it such a fun title. Fans looking for a light-hearted FPS will get a ton of mileage out of this game.
10 ADACA
ADACA is a relatively new first-person shooter that came out in July 2022. It's an old-school game where the main character is stuck on a bizarre planet named ADACA. In this game, players must survive, uncover secrets and explore the massive open world full of details.
The game offers a lot of weapons and a story-driven campaign as it is strictly an action-adventure single-player title. A few things that make this one stand apart are the in-game abilities, such as the "GRAVITY-MANIPULATING arm," which lets players pick up objects in the environment and use them to their advantage.
9 Animalistic
Animalistic is a Steam early access first-person shooter somewhat similar to the popular FEAR titles in gunplay. The game offers a lot of blood & gore, which pops out due to its unique psychedelic art style that is hard to find in FPS games nowadays.
Steam info describes the game as "a fast-paced, ultraviolent, and stylish indie FPS game where you brutally clear room after room of creepy humanoid animals." Animalistic has a few qualities that make it a worthwhile title, such as 13 handcrafted levels, custom soundtracks, and other details.
8 Nighthunt
On the surface, Nighthunt looks like a knock-off of Propnight, as both of the games offer online PvP and have horror elements. However, the similarities between the two games end with the two details mentioned before. Nighthunt is an FPS game that is more about action and 3v3 stealth-based gameplay than about hiding from a monster.
In this game, players will have to collaborate to defeat their opponents and use unique weapons available at their disposal. The best thing about Nighthunt is its general concept: one team defends the base while the other tries to infiltrate and steal the radio antenna.
7 Heal & Hurt
Next up is Heal & Hurt from indie developer Normogames. This multiplayer first-person game is a retro-style arena shooter with old-school graphics that can make any 90s gamer feel like a kid again. Heal & Hurt allows players to become an angel and a skeleton and switch between them.
The game's concept is unique as players will switch sides each time they die in a round. Since angels and skeletons operate completely differently, players will have to be on their toes about changing their play style every time they respawn.
6 Severed Steel
Like Heal & Hurt, Severed Steel is a run-and-gun shooter all about action. However, unlike the previous entry, this one is more Sci-fi than medieval and a single-player experience. In Severed Steel, players must master multiple skills such as bullet time control, and swap to the right guns for maximum carnage.
The game's concept relies on player movement and reflexes, which makes it quite similar to other titles such as Unreal Tournament. Severed Steel is a relatively new fps game that deserves more attention for its "destructible voxel environments" based gameplay.
5 Ctrl Alt Ego
Ctrl Alt Ego is a nonlinear immersive sim fps game that appeared on Steam in July 2022. It is a rare first-person experience that blends sci-fi elements with physics-based survival-type gameplay. The game's concept is unique as players must move their consciousness between robots and devices and understand their powers to progress in the story.
The game's advertised features include exploring a nonlinear and interconnected world, a darkly farcical story, and puzzle solving with no preordained solution. Even Kotaku has praised Ctrl Alt Ego by saying, "Utterly incredible just how differently almost every situation can be approached."
4 Project Warlock 2
Project Warlock II is a Steam early access title, an old-school shooter with DOOM-like gameplay. The first-person shooter is a single-player game that heavily focuses on giving players the most gore-filled gameplay with vintage visuals. Developer Buckshot Software describes Project Warlock II as an "Adrenaline-pumping gore retro funhouse" full of weapons, magic, monsters, vertical arenas, and heavy metal music.
The game officially claims to take inspiration from FPS classics such as Quake and Doom 64, which is a big reason it looks and plays like a true 90s first-person action shooter. It really is a lot of fun, not to mention one of the most underrated FPS games on Steam.
3 Voltage High Society
Voltage High Society is an old-school cyberpunk game reminiscent of classics such as System Shock. It's a single-player title that claims to be the ultimate "First-person Metroidvania," where players battle and explore a deteriorated metropolis ruled by cybernetic demons.
In Voltage High Society, players must find unique upgrades and weapons to progress in the story and unlock hard-to-reach areas. Steam info states that the retro title contains "Cyberpunk and body horror with gritty retro aesthetics," which is visible from its unique visual style that includes a lot of red and greys.
2 Blood And Zombies
Blood And Zombies is probably the most modern-looking title on the list, as it offers a visual style similar to the popular Killing Floor games. Moreover, the gameplay is comparable to other popular zombie shooters and includes a lot of gore identical to titles such as Left 4 Dead.
Blood And Zombies is a co-op shooter that revolves around surviving among the dead in a horrific zombie apocalypse. Players assume control of humanity's deadliest survivor in the game, who can defend against any wave of enemies using guns, turrets, and skills.
1 Aliens Vs. Ghosts
Aliens vs. Ghosts is an early access single-player game that stands out because of its stunning neon visual style and sci-fi gunplay mechanics. It's a simple action shooter where players use "Nukes, Electricity, Freeze Rays, Heat Rays, and powerful Minions" to beat all the Ghosts.
Aliens vs. Ghosts is a wave-based shooter that demands quick reflexes and gun-switching abilities. It is a game that contains epic boss fights, unique skills such as summoning powers, multiple classes, and tons of upgrades. However, the best part about this game is its indie vibe, which makes it stand apart from the rest.