Highlights

  • Sony has provided a variety of great shooters for PlayStation players to fill the void left by the exclusive Halo series.
  • Games like Rage 2, Titanfall 2, and DOOM Eternal offer similar gameplay mechanics and features to the Halo series but are great games in their own right.
  • PlayStation gamers may not see future DOOM titles on the platform following Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda, but DOOM Eternal and DOOM (2016) are still available to enjoy.

Exclusivity is one of the most frustrating aspects of the gaming industry for consumers. Many iconic franchises, like The Legend of Zelda, Gears of War, and Super Mario, are unavailable to PlayStation players, which can leave people feeling left out. One other series that has eluded the blue brand is the sci-fi first-person shooter Halo. Led by its protagonist, Master Chief, the Halo games have been a cornerstone of the FPS genre since Halo: Combat Evolved hit stores in 2001.

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Thankfully, Sony has provided its customers with numerous excellent shooters over the years, which can fill the void left by the Halo series' exclusivity. This list will not simply look at the games that are as close to Halo as possible, as many of them aren't worth playing. Instead, this list will look at games that have similarities to the Halo series but are great games in their own right with their own unique features and gameplay mechanics.

Updated on September 13th, 2023, by Jack Pursey: The issue of exclusivity is clearly not going to go away anytime soon, especially after the acquisitions of major companies like ZeniMax Media, Activision Blizzard, and Bungie by Microsoft and Sony. Although this is a nuisance for gamers, it's fair to say that there's no shortage of games to play today, thanks to the huge range of AAA and indie studios creating high-quality games across countless genres. To shine a brighter light on games like Halo on PlayStation, this list has been updated to include some more information on each game.

1 Rage 2

Rage 2 car combat
Rage 2

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , PC
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
FPS
Released
May 19, 2019

The announcement of Rage 2 came as a surprise to many people, as although the original Rage was a solid open-world shooter, it didn't exactly turn heads or develop much of a long-standing fanbase.

Still, id Software and Bethesda decided to revitalize the series, releasing Rage 2 in May 2019. Whereas the original Rage was predominantly grounded and serious, Rage 2 tries to inject a ton of charisma into the IP. This is evident from simply comparing the games' front covers, as Rage 2's cover is bursting with color in stark contrast to its dreary predecessor.

2 Titanfall 2

Titanfall 2 mech looking from pit
Titanfall 2

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , PC
Developer(s)
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher(s)
Electronic Arts
Genre(s)
FPS
Released
October 28, 2016

It's fair to say that Titanfall 2 wasn't a booming success when it was first released back in October 2016. This was likely due to Electronic Arts releasing the game just one week after another one of their first-person shooters, Battlefield 1. Electronic Arts didn't see an issue with releasing the two games just one week apart, believing them to appeal to different audiences.

Despite the slow start, Titanfall 2 has an impressive player base today, as the game's quality has reached ears through word of mouth. Furthermore, like its predecessor, the game stands out for its mix of fast-past action on foot and mech-style combat when piloting a Titan.

3 DOOM Eternal

doom eternal's box art
DOOM Eternal

Platform(s)
Xbox One , Stadia , PC , PS4
Developer(s)
id Software
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
FPS , Action
Released
March 20, 2020

Arguably the most influential first-person shooter franchise of all time, DOOM received a modern reboot in 2016. The game performed well both critically and commercially, so it was little surprise when Bethesda gave id Software the thumbs up to develop a sequel, DOOM Eternal.

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Unfortunately for PlayStation gamers, future DOOM titles may not appear on the blue brand following Microsoft's acquisition of Zenimax Media, Bethesda's parent company. Still, DOOM Eternal and DOOM (2016) should be more than enough to keep fans of the series occupied.

4 Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

PS4 Wolfenstein II New Colossus Movie Theater
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC
Developer(s)
MachineGames
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
FPS
Released
October 27, 2017

Although the DOOM franchise was undoubtedly more influential to the FPS genre overall, the Wolfenstein series deserves recognition, as id Software's Wolfenstein 3D had many of the ideas that the developer would reuse in the groundbreaking DOOM (1993).

Much like DOOM, the Wolfenstein series is still going strong today. MachineGames' Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus has a similar action-packed pace to DOOM Eternal but with Nazis taking the place of demons.

5 Destiny 2

Destiny 2 Guardian Filthy Lucre Farm
Destiny 2

Platform(s)
PS5 , PS4 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One , PC , Stadia
Developer(s)
Bungie
Publisher(s)
Bungie
Genre(s)
FPS
Released
August 28, 2017

Destiny 2 is an obvious choice for this list, as the game was developed by Bungie. Bungie was responsible for the original Halo trilogy, along with Halo 3: ODST and Halo Reach. Destiny 2 is a leading force in the free-to-play market, and the online shooter has maintained an impressive player base since it initially hit stores back in 2017, largely thanks to the consistent addition of new content that has kept players busy for years.

In a move that surprised many gamers around the world, Sony announced at the start of 2022 that it was acquiring Halo creator Bungie. As such, PlayStation may be getting a new IP that is reminiscent of the Halo series in the near future.

6 Prey

Prey cover art
Prey

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , PC
Developer(s)
Arkane Studios
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Genre(s)
FPS
Released
May 5, 2017

The original Prey was released back in 2006 by 2K Games to impressive commercial success; subsequently, a sequel was slated to release shortly after. However, Prey 2 slipped into development hell and ended up being canceled in 2014. Thankfully for Prey fans, the cancellation of Prey 2 didn't mark the end of the franchise, as the IP was rebooted in 2017.

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Arkane Studios' Prey was highly ambitious, combining a range of genres such as first-person shooter, RPG, and stealth, as well as featuring an open world. The game is well-worth playing for its introduction alone, as it immediately draws players in and gives them a memorable experience.

7 Apex Legends

apex legends characters on a red season 8 background
Apex Legends

Developer(s)
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher(s)
Electronic Arts
Genre(s)
Battle Royale , First-Person Shooter
Released
February 4, 2019

Apex Legends was developed by Respawn Entertainment and is comfortably one of the best battle royale games in the genre's short history. Respawn Entertainment is the same studio that developed Titanfall 2, and subsequently, the games have a similar, fast-paced feel to their gameplay.

Apex Legends has received numerous awards since it first hit stores in 2019, including Online Game of the Year from the 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2019.

8 Borderlands 3

Borderlands CL4P-TP
Borderlands 3

Developer(s)
Gearbox Software
Publisher(s)
2K Games
Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter , Action , RPG
Released
September 13, 2019

The Borderlands franchise has become a cornerstone of the open-world FPS market, along with Ubisoft's Far Cry series. The games are known for their loot mechanics and unique art style, which surprisingly was a change that was implemented late in the original game's development.

Borderlands 3 didn't blow critics away upon release, and the game only scored between 78 and 82 on Metacritic across its three releases. However, the game has recently been re-released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S and has received a whopping Metascore of 91 on PS5, thanks to numerous improvements from the original.

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