Top 10 Shooters To Play Right Now [Game Informer]
What makes a good shooter? Immediate answers might include punchy phrases/words like “gun feel” or “kit customization.” Even so, it’s hard to define the gratification that comes with securing that coveted victory in ranked multiplayer or surviving a seemingly never-ending onslaught in single-player horde mode. A good shooter tends to contain a smorgasbord of enticing components – gripping atmosphere, weapon/ability balancing, enjoyable arenas, etc. Regardless of style (e.g., FPS, third-person, top-down), the aforementioned features tend to mesh well with polished gameplay, sweeping narratives, and new or improved mechanics. If you feel at home sprinting through multilayered environments, mowing down adversaries with precision and cunning, then the ten games on this list are definitely worth your time and attention.
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<div class="field field--name-field-list-item-title field--type-string field--label-hidden gi5-field-list-item-title gi5-string field__item">Splitgate</div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-list-item-sub field--type-string field--label-hidden gi5-field-list-item-sub gi5-string field__item">PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC</div>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-copy field--type-text-long field--label-hidden gi5-field-copy gi5-text-long field__item"><span><span>Splitgate flew under the radar for a long time until it gained traction following a record-shattering 10 million open beta downloads. The energized Halo-Portal hybrid is a true Cinderella story. Developer 1047 Games began its gradual rise to prominence in the relative safety of a Stanford University dorm room. We spoke and played with CEO Ian Proulx back in 2019, who voiced his goal of creating an accessible game that was hard to master. Three years later, Splitgate’s nuanced mechanics and arcade aesthetic have piqued the interest of casual gamers and professional esports athletes alike. Season 0 was just announced at Gamescom in light of 1047’s prior decision to <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/08/19/splitgate-open-beta-extended-for-the-forseeable-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener">indefinitely extend</a> Splitgate’s open beta period. Once the backend is sorted, expect the game’s full launch to follow.</span></span> | <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/opinion/2021/08/17/to-succeed-in-splitgate-you-must-embrace-the-silly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Our Impressions</a>
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<div class="field field--name-field-list-item-title field--type-string field--label-hidden gi5-field-list-item-title gi5-string field__item">Returnal</div>
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<div class="field field--name-field-list-item-sub field--type-string field--label-hidden gi5-field-list-item-sub gi5-string field__item">PlayStation 5</div>
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<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-copy field--type-text-long field--label-hidden gi5-field-copy gi5-text-long field__item"><span><span>As our very own <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/returnal/returnal-review-haunting-harmony" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dan Tack marvelously put it</a>, “Returnal is a relentless nightmare that’s a dream to play.” A sci-fi horror roguelike, Housemarque’s first third-person shooter drips with eerie tension. The stormy, hallucinogenic planet of Atropos houses serpentine foliage, ancient architecture, and malformed species. You are Selene, an intergalactic explorer marooned in a dangerous world. With a bevy of weapons and discoverable abilities checkered through Atropos’ myriad environments, you’ll trek through unforgiving forests and wastelands to discover the true meaning behind Selene’s reappearing farmstead and the astronaut that haunts her innermost thoughts. In Returnal, death is rebirth. What will you do with each new life? </span></span>| <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/returnal/returnal-review-haunting-harmony" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Our Review</a>