30 Overrated Shooter Games Everyone Seems To Like

As a huge gamer, I’ve noticed that first-person and third-person shooters are everywhere – they’re some of the biggest games ever made! And while tons of people love them and keep playing, they also seem to always be at the center of arguments about how good they really are and how much interesting stuff there is to do in them. I put together a list of 30 popular shooter games that, even though people constantly criticize them, still manage to be huge hits. It really shows how complicated it is for games to connect with players these days, whether they come out every year or are constantly updated as a ‘live service’.

‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’ (2023)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a first-person shooter game made by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision. It follows Task Force 141 as they pursue Vladimir Makarov around the world. The game’s multiplayer mode includes updated versions of all 16 maps from the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2009). Although the game sold well, some players criticized its short story and how similar it was to the previous installment. A large-scale open-world Zombies mode was also introduced.

‘Overwatch 2’ (2022)

Overwatch 2 is a team-based action game made by Blizzard Entertainment, designed to succeed the original Overwatch. It’s now free to play, and matches feature five players per team instead of the original six. Although people generally like how it plays, there’s been a lot of talk about how the game makes money and the fact that some planned features for playing against the computer were cancelled. Despite these concerns, Overwatch 2 continues to be popular, with regular updates and new characters added. The shift in how the game is funded compared to the first Overwatch has been a point of criticism.

‘Destiny 2’ (2017)

Okay, so ‘Destiny 2’ is this online shooter I’ve been playing for ages. It’s made by Bungie – originally they worked with Activision, but now Bungie handles everything themselves. Basically, you’re a Guardian, and your job is to protect Earth from aliens in this huge sci-fi world. It’s got a lot of RPG stuff too, like constantly getting new loot and leveling up your character. It’s been really successful, and Bungie keeps adding content, but some people, including me sometimes, get frustrated with how they remove older content and how expensive the expansions can be.

‘Apex Legends’ (2019)

Apex Legends is a popular online shooter game where players compete to be the last team standing. Created by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, it’s set in the same world as the game Titanfall and focuses on teamwork and characters with special abilities. The game is known for its fast-paced action and innovative way players communicate. While generally well-received, some players have criticized the cost of cosmetic items. Apex Legends remains a major title in competitive gaming.

‘Valorant’ (2020)

Valorant is a team-based shooting game created by Riot Games. It’s known for its accurate shooting and unique characters, blending elements of games like Counter-Strike and Overwatch. The game has a ranked system that’s popular with professional esports players and fans. While some players find the cosmetic items expensive and the gameplay demanding, Valorant remains incredibly popular to watch on streaming services worldwide.

‘Fortnite’ (2017)

As a huge fan, I’ve been amazed watching ‘Fortnite’ take over the world! It’s basically a shooter where you fight to be the last one standing, but what really sets it apart is the building – you can create structures on the fly, which is so cool. Epic Games is constantly keeping things fresh with new map changes and awesome crossovers with popular movies, shows, and artists. While it can be a little tricky to pick up at first because of all the building, there are so many players still enjoying it. Plus, their Battle Pass system is something a lot of other games have tried to copy – it’s a really smart way to keep the game funded and give players tons of rewards.

‘Halo Infinite’ (2021)

Halo Infinite is a first-person shooter game made by 343 Industries and published by Xbox Game Studios. It offers both a large, open-world campaign and a free-to-play multiplayer mode. The developers aimed to recapture the look and feel of the first three Halo games. While the game was initially well-received, players soon criticized the slow release of new content and updates after launch. Since then, the game has been updated several times to improve the way players progress and earn rewards.

‘Far Cry 6’ (2021)

Far Cry 6 is an open-world, first-person shooter game made by Ubisoft. In it, you play as a rebel fighter trying to take down a dictator in the made-up Caribbean country of Yara. The game offers a lot of weapons, vehicles, and a detailed crafting system. While enjoyable, many critics have pointed out that it doesn’t stray far from the formula of previous Far Cry games and lacks major new features. Some players have also found the large game world to be somewhat repetitive.

‘Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege’ (2015)

Rainbow Six Siege, created by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft, is a team-based tactical shooter where players work together and can destroy parts of the environment. It’s become a popular esports game with a complex competitive scene. Although it’s very successful, new players often find it hard to learn, and the community can sometimes be negative. Ubisoft continues to support the game with regular updates that add new characters and change existing maps.

‘Borderlands 3’ (2019)

Borderlands 3 is a fast-paced, action-packed shooter with role-playing elements, created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. Unlike previous games in the series, Borderlands 3 lets players explore planets beyond Pandora. It boasts a huge number of unique, randomly generated weapons and offers four different character classes to choose from. Players generally loved the improved shooting mechanics, but opinions were divided on the story and humor. 2K and Gearbox continue to add new content and seasonal events to the game.

‘Battlefield 2042’ (2021)

Battlefield 2042 is an online multiplayer shooting game made by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. It moved away from traditional player classes, letting players customize individual characters, and allowed for large-scale battles with up to 128 players. However, the game had a rocky start, with many technical problems and complaints about the maps and missing features. The developers have released a lot of updates to fix these issues, bringing back classic classes and making the game more enjoyable. Even with these improvements, Battlefield 2042 is often mentioned as an example of a major game that didn’t live up to expectations.

‘Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’ (2020)

Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software and published by Activision, ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’ is a game set in the 1980s. It offers a campaign with different possible endings, as well as a strong multiplayer experience. The game connected to the existing ‘Call of Duty: Warzone’, allowing players to share progress and content between the two. While some players thought the game’s technology wasn’t as advanced as the previous installment from 2019, its popular Zombies mode and regular updates kept players engaged for a long time.

‘Gears 5’ (2019)

Gears 5 is a third-person shooting game made by The Coalition and published by Xbox Game Studios. The story follows Kait Diaz as she learns about the enemy’s beginnings and her own family. It added more open-world exploration and a new three-player co-op mode called Escape. Critics liked the game’s graphics and improved fighting, but the way players leveled up online caused some problems at first. Despite this, Gears 5 is still a key game for Xbox.

‘Tom Clancy’s The Division 2’ (2019)

I’ve been playing ‘The Division 2’ for a while now, and it’s a pretty solid online shooter RPG. You’re basically an agent trying to rebuild Washington D.C. after a really bad pandemic hits. One of the things I really enjoy is how much loot you can find, and the endgame Raids are seriously challenging. It’s way better than how the first ‘Division’ launched, although sometimes the gear grind felt a little too complicated. Ubisoft still keeps it fresh with new seasons and story content, which is great.

‘Doom Eternal’ (2020)

Doom Eternal is a fast-paced, first-person shooter game made by id Software and published by Bethesda Softworks. It continues the story from the 2016 Doom reboot, focusing on quick action and carefully managing your resources. Players need to skillfully use different weapons and moves to get health, ammunition, and armor by defeating enemies. While many people appreciated the game’s detailed mechanics, some felt the added platforming and complicated systems took away from the main gameplay. Doom Eternal is also known for running very smoothly on various gaming systems.

‘BioShock Infinite’ (2013)

BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooting game created by Irrational Games and published by 2K Games. The game takes place in the airborne city of Columbia, where players take on the role of Booker DeWitt and try to save a woman named Elizabeth. When it first came out, BioShock Infinite was highly praised for its story and beautiful visuals. However, looking back, some critics note that its combat and levels were more straightforward than in earlier BioShock games. Despite this, it’s still considered an important game when talking about how stories can be told through game environments and creating immersive worlds.

‘Fallout 4’ (2015)

Okay, so ‘Fallout 4’ is this awesome action RPG made by Bethesda. You basically crawl out of a vault into what’s left of Boston after the bombs dropped, and your main goal is to find your kidnapped family. What I really loved was building up settlements – it was super in-depth! The shooting felt way better than in previous ‘Fallout’ games too. I did hear some older fans weren’t thrilled with how the conversations worked, and that it felt more like an action game than a true RPG sometimes. But honestly, it’s still one of the most popular ‘Fallout’ games ever made, and for good reason!

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ (2020)

Cyberpunk 2077 is an expansive action game created by CD Projekt Red. Players explore a futuristic, troubled city called Night City as a mercenary, caught in a world of cybernetic enhancements and powerful corporations. While the game initially faced many technical issues, especially on older consoles, it has become very popular again after the release of the ‘Phantom Liberty’ expansion and substantial improvements to its performance. It’s often praised for its bold vision and the impressive turnaround it made after a rocky start.

‘Titanfall 2’ (2016)

Titanfall 2 is a fast-paced, first-person shooter game created by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. It’s celebrated for how smoothly characters move and the strong connection players feel with both their pilot and their giant robot, called a Titan. The game features a highly praised story mode and several exciting multiplayer options. While critics loved it, the game didn’t sell as well as expected, likely because it came out around the same time as other popular shooting games. Many fans consider it a classic, although some believe its devoted fanbase sometimes ignores its shortcomings.

‘Team Fortress 2’ (2007)

As a huge fan, I can tell you that ‘Team Fortress 2’ is this amazing team-based shooter made by Valve. What really sets it apart is its unique, cartoonish art style and the nine totally different classes you can play – each one feels completely unique! It was also way ahead of its time with things like a whole in-game economy for hats and other cosmetic items. Even though it’s still incredibly popular and I play it all the time on Steam, the community does get frustrated sometimes because we’re all hoping for more big updates and dealing with annoying bots. Still, it’s a classic!

‘Left 4 Dead 2’ (2009)

Left 4 Dead 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter game made by Valve where up to four players team up to fight waves of zombies across the southern United States. It added new types of zombies, weapons, and smarter enemy behavior to keep the gameplay exciting. Although some reviewers thought it came out quickly after the first Left 4 Dead, the game remains popular thanks to a strong community and tons of player-created content available on the Steam Workshop.

‘Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus’ (2017)

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a fast-paced, first-person shooter game created by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game puts you in the role of B.J. Blazkowicz, who is trying to start a new American Revolution against an occupying army. It’s praised for its gripping story and intense combat, though some players found it more challenging and the levels harder to navigate than the first game. Despite this, it won awards for its compelling story and well-developed characters.

‘Counter-Strike 2’ (2023)

Counter-Strike 2 is a fast-paced, team-based shooter game created by Valve. It’s a free update to the popular game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, built with an improved game engine. The update included new features like realistic smoke effects and a more reliable server system. Although it’s currently one of the most played games worldwide, some players have pointed out missing features and initial technical issues. Counter-Strike 2 remains the main game for major esports competitions.

‘Star Wars Battlefront II’ (2017)

Star Wars Battlefront II is an action-packed shooter game made by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. It lets players experience battles from all three eras of the Star Wars movies, with combat happening both on the ground and in space. The game initially received a lot of criticism because of how it handled in-game purchases, which led to a widespread discussion about microtransactions. However, after several years of updates that removed those problematic systems and added a lot of new content, the game’s reputation has greatly improved. Now, it’s considered a complete and satisfying game for Star Wars fans.

‘Resident Evil 6’ (2012)

Resident Evil 6 is an action-packed third-person shooter created by Capcom. The game offers four different storylines that connect, letting players experience the adventures of well-known characters like Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield. It leaned heavily into action, with exciting sequences and a detailed combat system. While some longtime fans felt it strayed too far from the series’ horror origins and became overly complicated, it’s still one of Capcom’s most successful games.

‘Metro Exodus’ (2019)

Metro Exodus is a first-person shooting game created by 4A Games and published by Deep Silver. Unlike previous games in the series, it moves the action from the Moscow subway tunnels into the vast Russian wilderness, featuring large, open levels to explore. The game focuses on being stealthy, carefully managing resources, and simply surviving in a world after a nuclear disaster. While many players loved the game’s immersive atmosphere, some felt the voice acting and story cutscenes weren’t always up to par. Metro Exodus wraps up the story that began in the popular novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky.

‘Crysis 3’ (2013)

I remember playing ‘Crysis 3’ when it first came out – it was a first-person shooter where you fought both humans and aliens in a ruined, dome-covered New York City. The coolest part was the nanosuit, which gave you all sorts of abilities. Back then, everyone used it to test how powerful their PCs were because the graphics were seriously cutting-edge. Honestly, I thought the story campaign was a little shorter and not quite as groundbreaking as the first ‘Crysis,’ but it still looked amazing and really showed off what the CryEngine could do.

‘Call of Duty: Warzone’ (2020)

Call of Duty: Warzone is a free-to-play battle royale game made by Infinity Ward and Raven Software, and published by Activision. It originally launched as its own game, but was later connected to other Call of Duty titles. A special feature of Warzone is the ability to fight to get back into a match even after being eliminated. While incredibly popular, it has faced criticism for being a very large download and for players cheating. The game is constantly updated with new maps and weapons each season.

‘PUBG: Battlegrounds’ (2017)

PUBG: Battlegrounds is a popular online shooting game created by PUBG Studios and published by Krafton. It’s well-known for helping make the battle royale style of game famous worldwide. In the game, players jump onto an island and search for weapons and gear while the safe playing area gets smaller. While it’s been incredibly successful, some players have noted issues with how well the game runs on different computers and that it can be a bit slower-paced than other similar games. Despite this, PUBG remains one of the most played games ever, especially in Asia.

‘Borderlands 2’ (2012)

Borderlands 2 is an action-packed shooter RPG created by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. Players take on the roles of treasure hunters trying to stop the evil Handsome Jack on the planet Pandora. Many consider it the best game in the Borderlands series thanks to its clever writing and satisfying loot system. While some find the challenging difficulty can make battles feel a bit repetitive, the game is remembered for its long-term support after release and its unique art style.

Please share which shooter games you believe are the most overrated in the comments.

2026-01-09 04:19