First person shooters are by far the most popular games in the world. Due to their popularity, shooters have been made into the subject of movies based on video game licenses like Doom and Max Payne, and also used as influences in films like Gamer and Shoot ‘Em Up.
By Gabe Gurwin November 11, 2020 A few years ago, it was hard to find any decent free-to-play games that weren’t MMORPGs, and good free first-person shooter (FPS) games were almost non-existent. Left 4 Dead 2 is a frantic first-person shooter that will pit you and 3 of your friends against hordes of zombies. Previous The 20 Best Free Games for Mac in 2020.
Needless to say, shooters aren’t going away any time soon, and some of them—such as the ones we’ve listed ahead, are entirely free to play so you can get a solid experience without having to pay a single cent for the experience. These games are completely free and tend to get updated with new content. It’s worth noting that we are not listing these games in any particular order and all are worth checking out. Likewise, because these games are free-to-play the titles will come and go and as a result we’ll continue to monitor the game and make note if any server shutdowns have been announced. As a result, please check back often for future updates.
#15 Enemy Territory: RTCW
Platforms: PC
Return to Castle Wolfenstein is one of the earliest instances that a high quality, and fully polished first person shooter was made available for free beyond what was typically available in the form of mods for existing games. Developed by Splash Damage, it was originally designed as the multiplayer mode for Return to Castle Wolfenstein but was released instead as a free standalone download.
Enemy Territory: RTCW was a new breed of game that saw two teams—the Axis and Allies—battle each other not for flags or points, but for actual territory. With one team on defense and the other on offense, players on both teams were divided into various classes to better supplement their team’s capabilities out on the field. Despite being over a decade old, the game still enjoys a healthy online community.
#14 Apex Legends
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO
Apex Legends was a surprise video game release from developers Respawn Entertainment. After EA had acquired the development studio, it was believed that the only real game on the development team’s plate was Titanfall 3 but in early February of 2019, Apex Legends was announced along with released into the market. This is a battle royale video game title which takes place in the same universe of Titanfall. In fact, the game is set just a few decades after the events of Titanfall 2 and it plays similar to other battle royale focused titles such as Fortnite with mixed hero focused characters.
In the game, players are divided up into squads of three with a total of twenty teams. Each player then picks a character which will have their own unique abilities and attributes. When the match starts, players are dropped into a large map where they must rely on fellow teammates while scavenging for resources and weapons. As the map size shrinks, players must work on defeating all of the opposing teams in hopes that their team is the last standing. There are the traditional microtransactions within the game such as Respawn Entertainment’s take on loot boxes but the title is certainly gaining plenty of gamers as already the title received over twenty million downloads in its first week.
#13 Tribes Ascend
Platforms: PC
Tribes Ascend is the successor to the highly successful Tribes series of games by Dynamix from over a decade ago. It’s also the first one in the series to be entirely free to play. Players can enjoy the game by simply playing it for free or paying for weapon upgrades and additional utilities for their characters.
Much like the original games, Tribes Ascend allows players to traverse and battle across vast stretches of terrain and even board flying fortresses with jetpacks and ski to improve their speed while on the ground. Fans of the original games should feel at home with this one.
#12 Team Fortress 2
Platforms: PC, PS3, 360
Team Fortress 2 offers a variety of game modes, ranging from simple Capture the Flag and Team Deathmatch, to a mode called Push the Cart in which one team attempts to move a cart across the map while the other team sets up defenses to prevent it from going through. There’s even a variety of variations on these modes, which see both teams pushing separate carts. The game also plays host to a variety of objective control modes and a bomb delivery mode.
In addition to all of those competitive team-vs-team modes, players can also indulge in a cooperative ‘horde’ mode called Mann vs Mann, which pitches players against throngs of robotic enemies across a variety of maps.
The game’s complexity is increased several fold with the division of character classes, which help to provide players with discernible roles out on the field, and a large variety of weapons and customization. One of the game’s biggest draws is its use of hats and other decorative equipment, which can be acquired simply by playing the game, or as bonuses for purchasing other games on Steam.
#11 Planetside 2
Platforms: PC, PS4
The original Planetside may have died a miserable death when developers were moved off its team, but SOE opted to give the franchise another chance with a sequel a few years later. The game rose out of the ashes of its predecessor like some mythical bird, soaring into the heavens and quickly became one of the most engrossing first person shooters to date.
Planetside 2 sees full scale battles taking place over the face of the planet Auraxis, where three distinct groups battle for territorial dominance. They have at their disposal numerous vehicles and weapons to allow for a futuristic experience of war. but be warned that this isn’t a game that’s easy to pick up and play. You’ll need to invest some time in getting with a dedicated group of players and staging assaults, or you may find yourself lost and alone without a clue as to your objectives.
#10 Dirty Bomb
Platforms: PC
Dirty Bomb is a free-to-play first-person shooter from the makers of Brink, Quake Wars: Enemy Territory and the venerable Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory. It goes without saying that no one does class and objective-based multiplayer gameplay quite like Splash Damage, and it really shows with Dirty Bomb, which is a follow-up of the iterations and evolution of the multiplayer gameplay of their previous titles. Best thing about it is that it’s free to play. A good game that’s free? What more could you ask for?
#9 Ring of Elysium
Platform: PC
The battle royale genre has been receiving a plethora of video game titles each year hoping to make a big splash. It can be tough to swift through the video game titles from the genre, but if you’re after a new battle royale game worth playing then we suggest looking into the game, Ring of Elysium. This is somewhat unique as the game is not just about lasting against the other slew of players on the map but instead focuses on escaping.
Overall, players are dropped in a big open world where you need to survive a storm rolling in. As you slowly find yourself making way closer to enemy player threats, the game would add a helicopter that can hold a select few players. This means you may have to carefully plan your venture to the rescue point and take out opposing players along the way to ensure you have a seat on the helicopter before it bails from the story
#8 Warface
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO
Warface was developed by Crytek which launched on the Windows platform back in 2013. The video game offered players different classes to choose from such as being a sniper, rifleman, engineer, or a medic . Within the game, players could be a Sniper, Rifleman, Engineer, or Medic and each of these classes offer their own different role that could come into play during matches.
Likewise, the game offered the ability for players to customize their weapons. However, most of these weapons require Warface Dollars and as expected Warface Dollars could be bought within the game through real currency. With that said, Warface Dollars is also a reward during matches thus allowing players the ability to enjoy the game a bit more freely than having to feel forced into spending money in order to play a bit more competitively. The game is still currently supported on the PC platform, however, since its launch on the Xbox 360 the port was officially discounted in 2015.
#7 Argo
Platforms: PC
Developed under Bohemia Interactive, Argo is a tactical style shooter that launched in 2017. The video game is a free-to-play MMO that is set on a fictional island known as Malden where a space station has crashed. In the game, players are a mercenary for one of two rival factions in which the goal is to claim the remnants of the crashed space station. However, there are various modes available to enjoy as well such as Combat Patrol, where players must complete a variety of tasks or Link, a game mode that is set in a smaller map where players must hack a central computer. Another interesting aspect that may be well worth making a note about is that Argo features a scenario editor. Being a newer title, we expect Argo to stick around for quite some time.
#6 Quake Champions
Platforms: PC
Quake Champions is the latest Quake main entry title since Quake 4 released in 2005. This is another fast-paced arena FPS where players will face against each other with a roster full characters that have their own unique abilities and traits. Likewise, you’ll even find some new faces in the roster such as B.J. Blazkoicz from the Wolfenstein series along with the infamous Doomguy from the recently rebooted Doom franchise. If you like classic style Quake then this is definitely a must-play however, at the current moment the title is only in early access. Regardless, publishers Bethesda Softworks have stated that the game will be a free-to-play title and will be supported through various means such as a battle pass model that would give players an extra few cosmetics and in-game currency by completing select weekly challenges.
#5 Paladins
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO, NS
Often considered an Overwatch clone, Paladins is still a fantastic game. There are some slight differences between the two hero-based shooters, but you’ll still find that each hero in Paladins will have their own unique abilities that they can bring in to the fight. Luckily, with Paladins, you can enjoy the game across several platforms making it a video game well worth trying out. With hero-based shooters becoming popular, Paladins is one of the video game titles that continues to make its way on gamers consoles and PCs. Likewise, the video game also holds a number of different gameplay modes which can be as simple as a Team Deathmatch or more focused missions type modes such as Onslaught where players must capture an area to gain points.
#4 Line of Sight
Platforms: PC
Line of Sight is another FPS title that launched in 2017. The video game was developed by BlackSpot Entertainment in which the developers call their video game as if BioShock series mashed with the Call of Duty franchise. Not only will players have a wide array of weapons to choose from in their battles, but developers also play on what they call psyonic abilities.
It’s with this added psyonic abilities supernatural abilities that players can use towards their advantage in taking out opponents or as a means of a support. Likewise, there is a number of maps to go through as well with over twenty different locations scattered around the globe. If you’re looking for a real free-to-play experience without other gamers spending money to improve their weapons or stats then Line of Sight may be your best bet. Developers have stated that there are no weapons that can be improved with real-world currency.
#3 Valorant
Platforms: PC
Riot Games has been known for its hit MOBA title League of Legends for years. However, in 2020 we got a new genre video game release with Valorant. This is an FPS team-based tactical shooter that is often described as Overwatch mixed with CSGO. The game is very much focused around FPS where you complete objectives and take out the opposing team. Each round players will be able to spend money earned to get additional weapons, ammo among other aids for the match. However, the mix of this game is the roster of heroes. Each has a unique attribute and ability to give a rather diverse range of strategies players can make use of. It’s worth pointing out that the game’s roster of heroes is something that takes a backseat as certain abilities take several rounds to charge up. As a result, you can’t go into the game expecting to spam hero powers the entire time.
This game is also currently only available on the PC platform. With that said, the development team over at Riot Games have expressed their desire to bring the title over onto console platforms as well. At the time of writing this, the team is actively prototyping the game in hopes of bringing out Valorant outside of the PC platform. This is also a really new game as it just released in 2020 so we expect there to be plenty of new and exciting content being added in over the years.
#2 Black Squad
Platforms: PC
Another 2017 release that makes our list is Black Squad, an FPS that has quickly started to make a name for itself. The video game was developed by NS Studio and originally released in Korea but it only recently started to spread to new markets. Black Squad acts as a fast-paced military strategy shooter with an emphasis on free-to-play. Luckily for players, there’s no feeling of being at a disadvantage if you don’t opt to purchase anything in-game. Developers have made the game in which microtransactions are not required, instead, everything within the game can be bought with in-game currency that’s rewarded as you play. We’re interested in seeing how Black Squad grows as right now the title is only available as an Early Access game through Steam.
#1 Call of Duty: Warzone
Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO
Call of Duty: Warzone is a free-to-play battle royale game. This is an official Call of Duty title that was developed by Infinity Ward and Raven Software so you can go in with some high expectations. In the game, players are dropped into a massive map with the goal of surviving as the last player alive when the match ends. You can join in a group of three and work together otherwise there is a solos option that allows a free-for-all experience. Just like with other battle royale games, the map is not only large and continues to shrink over time, but there is loot available on the ground to gather such as better weapons and armor.
There’s even a nice little side mission after your character is killed. Depending on how many people are alive in-game, you can face against an opponent in a 1v1. The winner gets deployed back into the game with nothing but a pistol which grants another chance to potentially win the game but also roaming the map at a great disadvantage.
Honorable Mention
Hawken
Platforms: PS4, XBO
Developed by Adhesive Games, Hawken is a first person shooter in which you pilot the body of a gigantic mech and fight your way across war torn cities in conventional team deathmatch and free-for-all modes as well as a more in-depth “siege” mode that sees two teams fighting it out for the control of territory. Players can choose between three different classes of mechs, and instead of managing their ammo, they have to manage their heat—as their giant guns are prone to overheating when fired continuously making battles intense if you’re dealing with multiple opponents at once. While this game has since been removed from the PC platform and servers shutdown, there has been some interesting developments. A fan group managed to make Hawken playable once again although at the moment it’s only local single-player gameplay with bots to face against. Perhaps this movement can bring out the ability to enjoy this game online once again.
By Vernon Roderick, Last updated: July 11, 2020
If you’ve tried gaming at least once, you’re probably already aware of how important it is to know your FPS at all times during a game.
With this, you’ll have an edge against players that will help you with your competitive gaming. However, seeing your FPS at all times is not as simple as you think. FPS counters were made for this exact reason.
You’re not required to have a high-end computer to access such features. What you need is some knowledge of what FPS is and the patience to look for reliable FPS counters. After all, there is some software that instead of helping you will only make you suffer through viruses, malware, etc.
So today, we’re going to talk about FPS counters that are accessible to all gamers around the web, and we’re not just talking about your typical ones, we’ll talk about the best there is. But before that, of course, you’ll first have to know more about what FPS is for the sake of those who have only started gaming recently.
Part 1. A Brief Overview of FPS for Gamers
FPS is a term referring to Frames-Per-Second. As the name suggests, it is the unit of measure for the frames that are displayed by the computer every second. So why exactly does this make it so important to gamers?
This is because each device is only able to display a limited number of frames. Getting a high number will mean that your device is of high-quality and will display the graphics smoothly. On the other hand, if the FPS is low, it just means that the device is poor at displaying graphics.
For gamers, having a low FPS is a very alarming issue. After all, you don’t want to find out that your device is only capable to do so much.
So how can you know that you’re actually on a pretty good standing when it comes to FPS?
Part 2. What Should be Your FPS?
As previously said, the FPS is the number of frames your device can display every second, currently. This means that it can change depending on your graphic settings and the current screen being displayed.
For example, if you are running on low resolution, you will get a higher number on your FPS since it doesn’t take too much effort for the computer to display such low-quality graphics. Having a high resolution will lead to lower FPS.
Regardless, you’ll have to remember the ranges of the FPS you will want to see on your FPS counter:
- 30 FPS– The lowest range of FPS that you can see. This is also the most common and is typically seen on low-end PCs. Most of the time, people with such FPS will try to lower their graphic settings to get a higher number and avoid it dropping it 20 FPS.
- 60 FPS– Although not that high, it is still enough to run most games nowadays. It is seen on most middle-range PCs. Despite that, people with this FPS still lower their graphics settings since it might make their gameplay better.
- 120 FPS– A rather rare sight for gamers, but also one of their dreams. It can only be achieved if you have a high-end PC on top of expensive graphics cards. Middle-range PCs can also achieve this if the graphics settings are set to the lowest.
- 240 FPS– The highest number your FPS counter can give you, but it is seen as an unobtainable feat by many gamers, the reason being that they can’t afford the maintenance cost, let alone the initial price, of such high-quality hardware.
While these ranges of FPS is easy to remember, the most important thing you have to take note of is that FPS can change depending on your graphic settings and the current screen being displayed. Thus, the need for FPS counters became prevalent, which leads us to our next topic.
Part 3. Why Do You Need an FPS Counter?
As a gamer, it is important to focus on the game more than anything else. You’ll have to take it at your own pace and remember to adjust to the game’s situation.
However, gamers aren’t used to adjusting their gameplay according to changes in their FPS. They can’t possibly react to a sudden drop on their FPS. In the worst case, the FPS drop may cause their defeat in their respective games.
On the other hand, if the FPS suddenly skyrockets, it can still take them by surprise. Their previous gameplay will be ruined and they’ll have to adjust to another that is suited for one that tackles a game with high FPS.
The moment they get caught off guard, it has the potential to lead to their doom. Plus, they can’t possibly go to the settings and check their FPS every second.
That’s why FPS counters are very essential to gamers. Since most games don’t display the FPS normally, they use FPS counters to add another aspect of the game.
With all that being said, here are some recommendations for the FPS counter you should check out in case you decide to use one.
Part 4. FPS Counter for Gaming
#1. Steam’s In-Game Overlay
Steam is a storefront for all kinds of games you can think of. It is accessible in your macOS, Windows, and PCs running on other operating systems. It also offers people a community portal where they can connect with people and talk about their favorite games. It promotes cooperative gaming.
However, even this game has its flaws. For one, there’s no default setting that allows you to see your FPS through a built-in FPS counter. Fortunately, the issue has been circulated throughout the community that it even reached the moderators. Thus, they’ve added a feature called In-game FPS counter. Here’s how you can use it on Steam.
- Open the Steam
- Go to the Settings.
- Click on the In-Game
- Click on the dropdown menu under the In-game FPS counter.
- Select anything besides Off. The option that you choose will indicate the position wherein the FPS counter will appear.
While it may look small to you, the FPS counter should still be visible. This should actually be the best size to avoid distracting you too much from the game.
However, as you may have already realized, the Steam In-Game FPS Counter only appears on games played on Steam, obviously. So we’ll talk about an FPS counter that will hopefully help you with other games.
#2. NVIDIA GeForce Experience
You may have heard of NVIDIA a couple of times, being the gamer you are. In fact, you might even have an NVIDIA graphics card on your PC right now. If that’s the case, then gaining access to an FPS counter will be as easy as pie for you.
As you can see, NVIDIA is a graphics hardware that allows for a better experience with your PC. More specifically, it focuses on gaming.
For one, it allows for automatic game optimization. That means you don’t have to adjust your graphics settings to suit your gamer’s preferences. NVIDIA does it for you automatically. It also accesses the game’s graphics settings so it can set a setting that fits your graphic card’s capabilities perfectly. This will allow you to maximize your graphics.
However, the most important thing you have to remember right now is that NVIDIA also offers an FPS counter. This feature can be accessed through the NVIDIA GeForce Experience. Here’s how you can use the feature:
- Go to the NVIDIA GeForce Experience
- Click on the Settings button that is indicated by a gear.
- Under the Share section, click on the Settings
- Under the Home section, look for Overlays and click on it.
- You will be taken to the Overlays
There should be many options such as Camera, Status Indicator, Viewers, and most importantly, FPS Counter. Click on FPS Counter.
- The FPS Counter button should now be highlighted green. Now what you have to do is set the position where it should appear.
There will be four boxes you can choose from which should indicate the position where the FPS counter should appear. Choose which position depending on your preferences.
With that, you’ll already gain access to an FPS counter no matter which game you play. However, as previously said, it can only be accessed if you have an NVIDIA graphics card. Since some of us have different graphics cards, we’ll talk about more options for the best FPS counter.
Note: The following options will have their own set of instructions for you to learn by yourself.
#3. FRAPS
How do I display the FPS counter? FRAPS is perhaps one of the most popular FPS counter third-party software made for PC gamers. It has many functionalities and it doesn’t only show the FPS, it can also increase it. It is capable of many things and you can easily set it up once you installed it on your PC.
Compared to other third-party FPS counters, it’s definitely on top. However, you can only gain access to FRAPS by paying some bucks. You can buy your way to FRAPS with $37 and you won’t have to pay for anything for your lifetime.
However, once you pay for it, you’ll see that it’s actually worth it. The FPS counter can be configured. You can set its position, shortcut, and more.
#4. FPS Monitor
Just like FRAPS, FPS Monitor is another specialized software made as an FPS counter. It was developed in a similar way as FRAPS.
It has a lot of functions, a clear interface, and a wide range of configurations. You can even set the settings while gaming.
In addition, it supports all sorts of operating systems. Fortunately, there’s a free version of the tool. But of course, if you want to support them, you can always opt for the paid premium version.
#5. DXtory
Our last option for a third-party FPS counter is DXtory. DXtory is more of a video capture tool that was made for OpenGL applications and DirectX. So it’s kind of like Steam in a way that you can’t use it on other games that aren’t running on these two specific components.
Either way, it allows you to have access to an FPS counter at all times. Of course, there are other gaming features as well, including the screenshot feature.
Part 5. The Final Word
Knowing about FPS is a very beneficial objective for every gamer. Even more so when it comes to understanding its importance. Alas, you can’t easily manipulate your FPS to your advantage. You can only monitor it so you can adjust your gameplay accordingly.
However, it won’t be as easy as you think. You’ll have to think of software that will serve as an FPS counter for you. Once you gain access to one of these tools, you’ll find that you can easily improve your gameplay with just the addition of a small number on your screen.