Best FPS Games Forgotten by Time

I’ve been reflecting on video games that don’t get much attention anymore, and it seems like first-person shooters have a surprisingly large number of forgotten games.

Many popular franchises from twenty years ago never got a second installment, even if they were well-made or had a dedicated fanbase.

I was really surprised by how many promising video game shooters never lived up to their potential. They either weren’t profitable enough, developers focused on different ideas, or they just didn’t know how to finish them properly.

We’re revisiting some fantastic first-person shooter games that didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Here’s our list of the ten best FPS games that time has forgotten.

10. Homefront

A New Military Turn

Early in the 21st century, first-person shooter games became incredibly popular. The rise of ‘modern warfare’ as a theme let developers create compelling, fictional worlds, as seen in games like Homefront.

The storyline feels tired and predictable – another case of everything being bad except for the US. However, the concept of flipping that trope and portraying America as the occupied nation was a refreshing idea, especially given how many similar games already exist.

The gameplay itself was fairly typical, but it got the job done. What really stood out were the incredible real-time moments, which always made you feel like you were desperately trying to hold off an overwhelmingly powerful enemy.

I was easily affected by things back then, so it might be interesting to revisit it now and see if it still holds up, but I’ll always remember how much of an impact my first time playing Homefront had on me.

9. Darkwatch

A Vampire Between Borders

I loved the movie Van Helsing as a kid – I probably watched it five times! That’s likely why I still have such fond memories of Darkwatch, which I always thought was a really great, but overlooked, game.

This game was unique because it mixed vampire lore, dark fantasy, and Western elements, setting it apart from most games in the genre. Instead of playing as a typical soldier, you control ghouls, skeletons, and vampires.

Despite clearly taking inspiration from Halo and sometimes struggling with accurate targeting, the game still felt unique and immersive thanks to its beautiful atmosphere and the seamless shifts between shooting and horseback riding.

It wasn’t flawless, but Darkwatch offered something truly different, and I still find myself thinking about it years later. Updating it for today’s gamers might be difficult, but I believe it will always have a dedicated following, even if it’s just among those who remember it fondly.

8. Ricochet

One of Valve’s Hidden Gems

Developer(s)	Valve
Publisher(s)	Valve
Release Date	Nov 1, 2000
Platforms	PC
Genre(s)	FPS, Multiplayer, Action
ESRB	E

I grew up spending a lot of time in internet cafes, and Valve games were always a big part of my childhood. Most of them still hold up today, but there’s one strange exception: Ricochet.

It seems only an American developer could have come up with a game featuring discs as bullets and levels made of floating platforms packed with surfaces to bounce shots off of – especially back when most first-person shooters stuck to a very standard design.

There was a unique excitement in defeating opponents by skillfully launching discs to knock them out of the arena, and the way you could freeze or damage them with collected power-ups was incredibly satisfying. Matches were fast and action-packed, always leaving you eager to play again.

Look, I get why everyone talks about Half-Life and Team Fortress – they’re classics for a reason. But honestly, if you ever played Ricochet, you remember it. It was just a ridiculously fun game, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a good memory of it.

7. The Darkness 2

Stealing Hearts, Literally

As first-person shooters moved beyond simply recreating historical wars, unique and engaging games like The Darkness 2 started to appear.

It’s hard to explain how captivating it was to switch from using a standard pistol to employing a bizarre weapon – a box with a demonic tentacle – to stun opponents, then levitate and decapitate them with another tentacle. It was incredibly addictive.

You could mix high-tech weapons like an Uzi with medieval swords, or wield a club powerful enough to create black holes, dramatically defeating enemies and creating an unforgettable, rarely matched experience.

Despite its imaginative ideas, The Darkness 2 felt a bit shallow because the main story was exciting but over too quickly. This lack of substantial content really hurt the game, and it never quite overcame it. However, some players still consider it a hidden gem – a game that truly stands out if you give it a chance.

6. Bulletstorm

Creative Visceralities

I get why some of those other games slipped people’s minds, even though I think they deserved better. But honestly, I just can’t understand how anyone could forget about Bulletstorm – it was amazing!

Critics loved it, praising its creativity and flexibility, and the marketing campaign was fresh and captivating. While the game had many standout moments, it ultimately didn’t reach a wider audience beyond its initial players.

Honestly, the way this game handles skillshots is amazing. It’s seriously one of the most inventive things I’ve seen in a first-person shooter, and it really pushes you to try out all the weapons and abilities. It’s the kind of feature that would make any FPS fan happy, and it instantly feels like a game that could become a classic.

Bulletstorm was a fantastic game with a great story, impressive visuals, and well-designed levels – it deserved a sequel. Unfortunately, market forces prevented the developers, People Can Fly, from continuing the series.

5. Syndicate

An Underrated Resurrection

The original Syndicate series started to lose popularity, but the 2012 first-person shooter version revitalized it. It’s still one of the most memorable gaming experiences I’ve had in the last ten years.

This game offered a remarkably engaging adventure thanks to its imaginative futuristic world, weapons designed for the setting, believable superpowers, and a compelling story filled with backstabbing and power struggles between corporations.

While some find the story unoriginal and the plot predictable – criticisms I can see, though I disagree with – I think the main reason it didn’t gain much attention was simply that too many similar stories were released around the same time.

2012 was a big year for shooters, with popular games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Borderlands 2, Halo 4, and Far Cry 3 all coming out. This made it tough for Syndicate to stand out, but I still loved it. I’d be thrilled if they ever made a sequel!

4. Singularity

Raven Software At Its Best

Before being continually assigned to work on the Call of Duty franchise, Raven Software was a developer capable of making excellent and varied games, with Singularity often considered their standout title.

The very first time I used the Time Manipulation Device to actually change the year and see the world and enemies around me transform, I was absolutely stunned – my jaw actually hurt from being so amazed!

Even though it wasn’t true, controlling the game’s physics like in Half-Life or using special abilities like in BioShock made me feel like I was playing a game of that same high quality – and that feeling was incredibly powerful and enjoyable.

The story is incredibly engaging, with plenty of unexpected twists and multiple endings that make you want to play through the campaign again. This really solidifies Singularity’s place as one of the best games in its genre.

3. Crysis

A Missed Icon

Most gamers are familiar with Crysis and its impact on the video game world, especially first-person shooters. But it’s been a while since anyone’s really talked about it, hasn’t it?

It’s been a long time since anyone discussed the series, and it seems Crytek has put any plans for a fourth game on hold indefinitely, suggesting they’re no longer prioritizing it.

People who played games in the 2000s remember Nomad’s adventure as a visually impressive and fun experience. However, it’s sadly become a forgotten franchise, fading from public memory more than many other once-popular series.

It’s disappointing because the original Crysis game was groundbreaking, and the second and third installments were both solid sequels, even if they weren’t as ambitious. I suspect that when Crysis 4 eventually comes out, this discussion will no longer be relevant.

2. Black

The Power of Destruction

To be honest, I didn’t discover Black until a few years ago, long after it came out. I found out it was a first-person shooter with a dedicated, though small, group of fans.

I noticed a lot of people were really enthusiastic about this game, so I decided to try it through Game Pass. I quickly understood why it had been overlooked for so long, but also why it still has such a dedicated fanbase.

I remember when this game came out, around the same time as titles like Battlefield 2142 and Rainbow Six Vegas. Honestly, the shooting felt really outdated and awkward compared to those others. But, man, the environments you could destroy were amazing, and there were so many different kinds of missions to play – that part was seriously impressive!

This game isn’t about over-the-top action; instead, it focuses on the environment around the shooting. The levels are complex and tower upwards like a maze, which can be challenging but also feels fresh and original.

The game’s high difficulty and ability to cause widespread destruction created intense, exciting moments, but these moments ultimately felt out of reach. It’s a shame Black was overlooked, but it seems it was always meant to be.

1. Unreal Tournament

A Timeless Classic

Before online console gaming was popular, I rarely spent a lot of time on one game—except for Unreal Tournament.

I’ve lost count of the hours I’ve poured into this amazing first-person shooter – it’s truly one of the games that defined the genre, and honestly, one of the greatest sequels ever made. It’s just that good!

The game stood out with its impressive weapons, which looked and sounded powerful, creating a feeling of control. Its levels were beautifully designed and visually striking, while the enemy AI provided a challenging and unpredictable experience. Each map offered a variety of looks and complex gameplay options thanks to its multiple game modes.

Unreal Tournament is a truly groundbreaking game that shaped the first-person shooter genre, and few others have had such a lasting impact. It’s amazing that even the people who made it have largely forgotten it, but I’ll always champion it as one of the best and most overlooked FPS games ever created.

2025-12-11 19:44