Great Story-Driven FPS Games

Highlights

• FPS games have evolved to include diverse genres and engaging stories, such as
  Resident Evil Village
  and
  The Outer Worlds.
• Games like
  Resistance 2
  and
  Far Cry 3
  have improved upon their predecessors, offering deeper storylines and fully realized game worlds.
• Metro 2033
  and
  BioShock
  provide immersive and atmospheric experiences, blending storytelling with intense FPS gameplay.

First-person shooter games have evolved a lot over the years. From their action-heavy beginnings in Doom and Quake to the rise of online multiplayer games such as Apex: Legends and Valorant, the genre has become as diverse as the people who play it.

With the rise in their popularity, developers often use FPS games as a way to tell exciting and engaging stories that push players’ abilities and expectations. Some of these titles blend multiple genres and take people to places no other genre can, all the while maintaining the fun, action-packed mechanics that make the genre such a joy to play.

Updated: February 17th, 2024 By Andy Chapman: With the rise of online gaming, single-player FPS games have often taken a back seat to their competitive multiplayer counterparts. Far from dead, single-player FPS games continue to attract players worldwide, with their rich story-driven gameplay and engaging, detailed game worlds. Many FPS games have branched out to incorporate different genres, such as survival horror and RPGs, creating rich stories for players to enjoy. This article has been updated to reflect the variety of story-driven FPS games available to players and to give credit to the games that paved the way for modern titles.

15 Resident Evil Village

Metascore: 84

• Average Campaign Length: 9-10 hours

The second game to feature the character Ethan Winters, Resident Evil Village begins to move away from the horror genre and into straight FPS territory, with its greater emphasis on shooting. The story plunges Ethan into a European backwater community of vampires and monsters as he searches for his kidnapped daughter.

The game also features the iconic Lady Dimitrescu as one of the central villains, and with its fantastic world-building and action-packed set pieces, Resident Evil: Village is a memorable installment in the long-running series.

14 The Outer Worlds

Metascore: 85

• Average Campaign Length: 13-14 hours

Bringing role-playing mechanics and a retro-futuristic style to its game world, The Outer Worlds is an immersive FPS shooter that will please fans of both the FPS and RPG genres.

Developed by the same team as Fallout: New Vegas, Obsidian brought the same level of interactive storytelling to The Outer Worlds. The game is considered the spiritual successor to Fallout: New Vegas. Although The Outer Worlds has a greater emphasis on its FPS elements, the story-driven nature of the game mixes perfectly with the action and setting, which takes players to a variety of alien worlds.

13 Cyberpunk 2077

Metascore 86

• Average Campaign Length: 25 hours

Following on from the huge success of The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red were under a lot of pressure with their next release. Based on the tabletop role-playing game, Cyberpunk 2077 was released to much controversy, with its numerous bugs and low quality on previous generation consoles.

The game has come a long way since its rocky start, and more players are discovering the rich and varied world of Night City. Cyberpunk follows mercenary V, who is implanted with the bio-chip of rockstar and terrorist Johnny Silverhand, played by Keanu Reeves. The game is a sprawling sci-fi epic that offers a lot of freedom in the player’s choices, spread over a vibrant open world.

12 Resistance 2

Metascore: 87

• Average Campaign Length: 10 hours

Resistance: Fall Of Man was one of the PS3’s exclusive launch titles and was a fun, action-filled shooter set in an alternative timeline where aliens invaded the Earth in the 1940s. The game was a refreshing take on WW2 shooters and was generally well-received.

It was only with Resistance 2 that the series came into its own. With a fleshed-out world and a deeper storyline, the game took everything great about the first installment and cranked it up. Resistance 3 followed later and was another great addition to this largely forgotten series.

11 Deathloop

Metascore 88

• Average Campaign Length: 15-16 hours

Deathloop takes the familiar Groundhog Day time-loop trope and revitalizes it in a vibrant FPS game with a rich and detailed game world. Deathloop follows Colt, an assassin who must take out eight targets in a single day, or the loop resets and he must try again.

Set on a mysterious island known as Blackreef, players must learn the target’s patterns and locations to be successful. Colt can use a variety of actions to achieve his goals, including parkour, stealth, or even just go in guns blazing. Deathloop is a great example of how a narrative can inform gameplay, creating a unique FPS game that is both challenging and addictive.

10 Dishonored

Metascore 88

• Average Campaign Length: 12 hours

This popular FPS game has grown a cult following with its slick art style and fluid gameplay. Set in the fictional city of Dunwall, Dishonored follows the fallen bodyguard Corvo Attano, who must fight to clear his name after being framed for the murder of the Empress he was supposed to protect.

Based loosely on Victorian London, Dunwall is a grim backdrop with dark alleyways and dangerous gangs haunting the city’s streets. To help fight their way through the game, the player has access to various weapons and supernatural abilities, which include teleportation and slowing time. The game has become a classic in the genre and is a must-play for fans looking for a unique FPS experience.

9 Far Cry 3

Metascore: 88

• Average Campaign Length: 15-16 hours

The Far Cry series has consistently delivered exciting story-driven FPS games for many years, engaging players in their often vibrant and deadly game worlds. With multiple entries into the main series, as well as several spin-off games, the Far Cry franchise has cemented its place in FPS history.

The game that took the series to its current level is undoubtedly Far Cry 3. Set on a stunning tropical island, the story revolves around Jason Brody and his friends, who must go up against local Pirate Lord Vaas Montenegro and fight to take back control of the island.

8 Titanfall 2

Metascore: 89

• Average Campaign Length: 6 hours

Titanfall 2 was a genre-defining FPS game that blended the fast-paced action and movement of FPS games with the destructive firepower of Mech games. The game follows Jack Cooper as he discovers new abilities and gets to know his Titan BT-7274, all the while defeating multiple enemy types and navigating platforming obstacles.

Titanfall 2 was released to critical acclaim, perfectly blending a linear storyline with excellent gameplay, likable characters, and a fully realized game world. For players looking for an immersive story-driven FPS experience, Titanfall 2 comes highly recommended.

7 Borderlands 2

Metascore: 89

• Average Campaign Length: 30 hours

The vibrant and irreverent Borderlands is a stand-out series of FPS games that brings looting and shooting mayhem to a whole new level of fun. Merging mild RPG mechanics with a stunning cell-shaded art style, Borderlands looks great and plays brilliantly.

With the first game being heavy on action and light on story, it was with Borderlands 2 that the series came into its own. With the inclusion of antagonist Handsome Jack, Borderlands 2 found its narrative footing and fleshed out its world-building, creating a seriously fun gaming experience.

6 Metro 2033

Metascore 90

• Average Campaign Length: 9-10 hours

Based on the novel by Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro 2033 presents a bleak depiction of a post-apocalyptic Moscow, where the inhabitants are forced to live within the underground metro system and survive the frequent attacks from roaming outlaws and horrific monsters.

The two original games got a much-needed upgrade with the release of Metro 2033 Redux, which features the original game, as well as its sequel, Metro: Last Light, and with the addition of the third sequel, Metro Exodus, this has become a must-have trilogy for many FPS fans.

5 Bioshock Infinite

Metascore: 94

• Average Campaign Length: 11-12 hours

The second sequel in the series, BioShock Infinite, was a breath of fresh air and continued to push story-driven FPS games into more complex and interesting areas. BioShock Infinite takes players to the floating city of Columbia and follows Detective Booker Dewitt as he searches for the mysterious Elizabeth.

The game brings the same level of interactive storytelling that the first game accomplished so well, with fully realized characters and settings. On top of this, it pushes storytelling to new places with deeper questions about the self and the nature of reality.

4 Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Metascore: 94

• Average Campaign Length: 6-7 hours

Before the Call of Duty franchise was primarily an online multiplayer experience, the series was the leader in epic World War 2 shooters. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare revitalized this trend and helped change the nature of the gaming industry as a whole.

The Modern Warfare campaign was a shot of adrenaline to the FPS genre, with multiple playable characters each fighting in a different warzone. From stealth missions with the SAS to full-frontal assaults with the U.S. Marines, the game blended a high-stakes narrative with heart-pumping action that made it an instant classic.

3 BioShock

Metascore: 96

• Average Campaign Length: 12 hours

The first BioShock game was a groundbreaking release that took storytelling to whole new levels of immersion. Set within the underwater city of Rapture, the unfolding story forces the player to make moral decisions and eventually leads to surprising twists that change the nature of the story up until that point.

The underwater world created in BioShock is a masterclass in world-building, blending retro-futuristic elements with a sinister atmosphere where horrors wait around every corner. When it comes to story-driven FPS games, few do it better than BioShock.

2 Half-Life 2

Metascore: 96

• Average Campaign Length: 13 hours

In terms of classic first-person shooter games, Half-Life will often feature on most players’ lists. One of the first FPS games to put a greater emphasis on the story, Half-Life brought players into an immersive and chaotic world where the protagonist is a scientist rather than a superhuman killing machine.

Half-Life 2 took the elements of the first game and expanded on them, fleshing out the story and game world to create an even more engaging and fun experience. The success of Half-Life 2 helped the character of Gordon Freeman become one of the most beloved protagonists in gaming history.

1 Halo: Combat Evolved

Metascore: 97

• Average Campaign Length: 10 hours

One of the biggest franchises in gaming history, Halo was the poster child for Xbox consoles and helped to set the standard for FPS games going forward. At the core of the series is an epic fight for humanity. Halo is set in the 26th century when faster-than-light travel allowed humanity to colonize distant planets. The game follows super soldier Master Chief as he fights against the alien alliance known as the Covenant and parasitic aliens called The Flood.

Halo: Combat Evolved was released as a launch game for the Xbox in 2001 and received widespread acclaim and financial success. Master Chief became a fan favorite almost overnight and stands as one of gaming’s most iconic characters. The series went on to become one of the most beloved franchises in the world.