Whether you love it or hate it, the term ‘Boomer Shooter’ is now deeply ingrained in the discussion of the contemporary retro FPS scene. It’s got little to do with the actual generation of human beings, of course, and more so with the broader idea of reviving the retro FPS.
And, indeed, what a revival it’s been. Over the past decade or so, fans of the classic retro FPS have received more remarkable games than one could shake a boomstick at. From Dusk’s slavish retreading of classic niche tropes to Ultrakill’s redefining of them, retro FPS fans have been eating very well.
PC’s finest boomer shooters
Keeping in mind all of the above, some retro FPS titles are better than others, and some of them have been so finely tuned that they’re nothing short of interactive (hyper-violent) artwork. To demonstrate this idea, we’ve come up with a list of phenomenal retro first-person shooters that every genre fan ought to play through. Note, however, that we’re not including actual remakes and remasters here, which means that the likes of Nightdive Studios’ Quake 2 won’t be remarked upon, delightful as they are.
#10: Forgive Me Father
While many classic first-person shooters have tackled Lovecraftian horror tropes to some extent, none of them have truly gone all-out. At least, not to the extent that Forgive Me Father has gone. Fun, brutal, and visually striking, Forgive Me Father lets you demolish a whole pantheon’s worth of Outer Gods and their unholy spawn with a shottie, and sometimes that’s all you really need.
#9: Warhammer 40K: Boltgun
Simply by choosing to adapt the revered Warhammer 40,000 universe into retro FPS format, it was a given that Boltgun would have everything it needed to succeed. And succeed it did, with a punchy and satisfying combat loop consisting of brutal, bloody carnage. While the game’s level design isn’t always perfect, it is fairly inventive and interesting and will keep you busy throughout.
#8: Ion Fury
Ion Fury pulls the legendary Build Engine (of Duke Nukem 3D fame) into the contemporary era kicking and screaming. It’s a surprisingly deep and engaging boomer shooter with a very likable protagonist, yes, but Ion Fury’s arguably most important feature is that it revives a specific kind of retro shooter archetype in a way no other game has yet surpassed. Another big pro is that Ion Fury is fairly long and chock-full of secrets, which means it lends itself to those who want meaningful exploration.
#7: HROT
HROT certainly wears its inspiration on the proverbial sleeve, often getting described as the unlikely love-child of Quake and STALKER, of all things. This description isn’t necessarily wrong, however, and the unmistakably Soviet vibe of HROT is a joy to behold. Those who experienced the Soviet and post-Soviet era culture and vibe may find the game oddly familiar in some indistinctive way, and those who haven’t have something uniquely fascinating to experience first-hand.
#6: Cultic
Cultic is a uniquely modern take on Blood and its ilk. Dark, grimy, and satisfyingly “chunky” in all the right ways, this game isn’t afraid of embracing modernity where it makes sense to do so. To that end, the protagonist can slide, combat roll, dodge, and upgrade his weaponry as one does in a true contemporary FPS. Heck, you can even see your feet. Cultic’s episodic release schedule means it’s not yet finished, however, and therefore isn’t the best of the best. Yet.
#5: Prodeus
What Cultic is to Blood, Prodeus is to Doom (2016). This game is what you get by combining modern-day FPS sensibilities with the visual style of ye olden shooters. The end result is a dynamic and ever-changing shooter that feels just right in all the important ways. Prodeus is bad to the bone, and somehow, it will keep reminding you of both the old Doom and the new one, as weird as that sounds.
#4: Turbo Overkill
The very essence of Turbo Overkill is fully encapsulated in its over-the-top title. Here is a game where your avatar wields a chainsaw leg and a sniper rifle that incurs damage by teleporting you into your enemy. What more of a sales pitch does one need, really? All cheekiness aside, Turbo Overkill is a game that celebrates its genre in the best way possible: by saying yes to almost all of its best ideas and tropes. Further, the fact that Turbo Overkill only got to spot #4 on this list also speaks to the quality of the top three featured games.
#3: Ultrakill
Whereas most of the other games shown on this list take their cues from Doom, Quake, and the like, Ultrakill also steals a few key ideas from none other than Devil May Cry. Sleek, wonderfully weird, and addictive as all hell, Ultrakill’s only real downside is that it’s still unfinished. Indeed, Ultrakill is a great example of Early Access done well, allowing players to jump right into the proverbial sausage as it is being made. For those who just don’t want to spend money on something unfinished, though, we highly recommend keeping an eye on Ultrakill all the same.
#2: Amid Evil
The modern combo of Heretic, Hexen, and Quake you didn’t know you needed, Amid Evil is a true and booming celebration of the boomer shooter niche. This game revels in dishing out complex, looping levels, however, which means it might not be a perfect fit for every player. Those who love it when a retro FPS gets weird will feel right at home in Amid Evil, but we’ll be the first to admit it might not click with everyone. Yet, there’s no denying the quality of the game and the fact that it is very clear and pointed in what it’s trying to emulate.
#1: Dusk
Whereas Amid Evil may or may not click with some players, Dusk is basically as good as it gets in the context of retro FPS games. Even if we disregard its most recent upgrades and improvements, Dusk provided as good of a boomer shooter revival as anyone could’ve asked for. On top of delightful, true-to-form combat, Dusk also supports virtually all the movement techs you may remember from back in the day, including bunny hopping. Fast, brutal, and flashy in all the right ways, Dusk is pretty much the best of the best, and not playing it is doing oneself a huge disservice.
