First-person shootershave come a long way since the days ofMIDI MazeandDoom. Full 3D meshes are used instead of 2D sprites, dial-up internet isn’t needed to compete with others, and the variety of game types in FPS games easily trump what was available decades ago. All of that said, most FPS games still take inspiration from these classic games.
Deemed “arena shooters” by most, this subgenre of FPS focuses on weapon pickups, map control, and a massive skill ceiling. A dead genre by today’s standards, arena shooters set the groundwork for most FPS titles today and are still worth experiencing. Of course, while arena shooters might be nowhere near as popular as they used to be, this doesn’t mean that fans aren’t spoiled for choice when it comes to checking one of the many games that encompass this bracket and are pretty enjoyable in their own right!
Updated on August 09, 2025 by Ritwik Mitra:Arena shooters are slowly but surely dying out, which is a shame for players who loved the arcade-y nature of this experience. However, there are many classic games in this genre that fans can enjoy, and it helps that the rise of indie gaming has allowed imaginative developers to add their own unique spin to this genre too! This means that players can definitely have a great time checking out one of the many arena shooters around that promote boundless fun over realism.
Platform(s)
Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color
During the late 90s and early 2000s, severalarena shooterscropped up after games likeDoomandQuakebecame mainstream. With console gaming supporting the FPS genresince the release ofGoldenEye 007, many other titles were released on these mainstream consoles that aimed to cash in on the hype.
One such title wasTurok: Rage Wars, released on the Nintendo 64 and featuring a robust multiplayer mode that was a blast to play at the time. If players get the opportunity to play this title now, they shouldn’t miss out on this opportunity… especially if there are more players willing to give this title a shot. Another version of this title was released on the Game Boy Color, although its storyline and gameplay were quite different from its home console iteration.
2001
PC, Wii, Mobile
The moniker of a free-to-play game causes many doubts to creep up into the minds of people who simply aren’t confident in such releases given their track record. However, in earlier times, any free game that became even slightly popular was worth checking out because the fame alone made it clear that these games did something right, andCubeis no exception to this golden rule.
The game was mostly known for the engine it was based on, butCubeitself was a pretty funarena shooterthat fans of the genre could check out. The sequel,Cube 2: Sauerbraten, was even better, with its advanced engine being to develop titles likeRed Eclipse.
PC
WithQuake’s titles dying out as more and more modern FPS multiplayer games took over the limelight instead, many fans were sad that their beloved arena shooters would not see the light of day anymore. This is whereWarsowdecided to pick up the pieces, implementing many of the unique gameplay features from theQuakeseries while adding unique additions of its own.
The end result is agreat arena shooterthat isstill receiving updates to this day.Warsowmay not be the most popular shooter around, but it definitely scratches the itch left behind by the arena shooters of yore and features enough depth that players can get hooked on this title for hours on end if not more.
id Software
Quake Championswas a game released to satiate the demands of players who wanted to check out a classicarena shooterwith modern graphics and sensibilities. While the game does lack in some departments,Quake Championsis a pretty competent title that any fan of the genre should check out.
The abilities of different characters are fun to use, while the gameplay itself is solid. The free-to-play model means that more people can check this game out, although this does come at the cost of slow and uninteresting progression.
19Doom Eternal
Thesequel to 2016’sDoomtried to be bigger, bolder, and better in every way possible. While some people didn’t like the sheer amount of gameplay mechanics that players needed to juggle in this title, the majority of this game’s reception was positive.
The classic designs of enemies inDoom Eternalmade the game feel more retro and engaging than ever before. This, coupled with the massive arsenal of weapons Doomguy has access to, makesDoom Eternalone of thebest single-player arena shootersaround.
Overwatch 2is a classic example of what modernarena shootersfeel like. The focus on short and intense multiplayer matches coupled with the addition of unique heroes makes for a great time indeed.
WhileOverwatch 2has been slightly disappointing, players still have hope for this sequel to turn things around. Blizzard is a company that hasn’t really generated a ton of confidence in fans with their recent string of controversies and game releases, and Overwatch 2 simply needs to improve exponentially if they wish to convince fans that shutting down the first game’s servers was the right way to go.
This free-to-play romp from Team Xontic isn’t exactly a household name, but it’s often been regarded as one of the most underrated PC shooters in recent years.
Even if it’s a bit rough around the edges, the gameplay shines with some tight mechanics, ample action, and loads of multiplayer options. With its fast-paced nature and wild physics,Xonoticchannels that classicUnrealvibe while still doing its own thing.
A slew of fun futuristic weapons can be wielded within various sci-fi stages to zap and blast foes into oblivion. A whopping sixteen game modes round out this FPS, and range from more typical capture the flag and deathmatch to aRocket League-esque soccer showdown.
Reakktor Studios classifies the look and feel of this one as a spiritual successor to what many consider the “golden age” of the FPS; games of the late ’90s and early 2000s. The few that have unearthed this hidden gem would likely agree — asTOXIKK’s environments and map layouts resemble classics likeQuake,GoldenEye, and evenTurok.
While the game is one among many indie attempts at thearena shooterrevival,TOXIKKstands out for its solid mechanics, pretty visuals, and authentic recapturing ofUnreal Tournament 2004. Not only this, but the weapon arsenal is particularly fun to play around with, featuring everything from flak cannons to flamethrowers.
It would be hard to talk about arena shooterswithout mentioningSerious Sam, a classic franchise that many fans of retro shooters still love to this day. The fact that this game received a fourth entry in the modern era was a treat for fans… even if the gameplay itself wasn’t particularly exciting.
Regardless, the first twoSerious Samgames did a great job of letting players fight tough enemies in massive arenas, making for a great time as players shot down hordes of baddies. It wasn’t complicated by any stretch of the imagination… but it didn’t need to be.
PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox
This surprise hit from 2002 is often considered a spiritual successor toGoldenEye 007, despiteTimeSplitters 2’s cartoony aurora and alien premise being pretty far removed from the Rare classic. It makes sense, as Free Radical Design, the studio behind the game, finds itself home to several refugees of the British studio.
The comparisons can certainly be made — from the super fun split-screen multiplayer to the memorable campaign and solid mechanics.TimeSplitters, and this more robust sequel, truly shine when being pitted against three other friends in a variety of colorful maps. The nifty option to customize several elements and throw in up to ten AI bots helps mix things up and adds to the entertaining chaos.
The game even offers a relatively user-friendly map maker, as well as a System Link functionality (sans the GameCube version) for sixteen-player anarchy.
