It's been incredible to witness how much the free-to-play multiplayer scene has exploded with online games. Every company is trying to get a piece of this craze and while many titles can bleed together and seem derivative of each other, it's also pushed some developers to actually challenge the genre and come up with something fun and different.
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Valorant made a strong impression with audiences during its beta phase, but it's recently put out its full release and allowed players to see what it's all about. It's a satisfying tactical first-person shooter, but there are many games out there that conjure a similar vibe. Accordingly, here are 15 games to play if you love Valorant.
Updated by Kristy Ambrose on April 1st, 2021: The history of the FPS goes all the way back to Duck Hunt and includes some of the gaming world's most beloved titles, including Doom and Goldeneye. The continuing development of online gaming has given the genre a whole new dimension. Being part of a team and enjoying the exciting environment that the FPS shooter typically provides are just two reasons that Valorant is getting so much attention, and it's not alone. In response to the overwhelming demand, we've added five more FPS titles for your pew-pewing pleasure.
15 The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is really a stunning package where Obsidian Entertainment has put together a sleek and creative action RPG game. The Outer Worlds is a brilliant journey from beginning to end. Players must explore and survive several foreign planets among other settings, but the narrative is parsed out in an innovative way based on how other characters are encountered.
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The game forces players to really consider who they trust and what they believe. It also is set within an engaging, quirky, and unique futuristic setting in which massive corporate entities control most aspects of day-to-day life, which helps make the story just as entertaining as the gameplay.
14 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
The fourth game in the popular series, this installment consists of two teams with opposing objectives. Specifically, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pits a group of terrorists against a team of counter-terrorists. It's available on a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation 4, and it's also currently free-to-play.
It is possible to start as a solo player and use the game's matchmaking services to find a team, which will be easy because this is one of the most popular games on the Steam platform.
13 Borderlands 3
The Borderlands series is still trucking along and blowing people's minds with its exaggerated take on the end of the world and the dissolution of society. Borderlands 3 doesn't mess with its pre-established formula, but it leans into its strong foundation and eccentric characters.
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There’s chaotic energy in Borderlands 3 that complements the apocalyptic story and decision-making that the characters must work through. Borderlands 3 features the same polished art style and dark sense of humor as its predecessors and is the perfect title for gamers who want something a little more absurd than Valorant.
12 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars video games have a hit or miss reputation, but in recent years they’ve made an effort to improve their quality and strive for something more comprehensive. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order takes the idea of an outlaw on the run against a powerful enemy, but then imbues it with the spectacle of Star Wars and Force powers. It’s a creative spin on the action-adventure genre and it’s a great pick for fans of Valorant that are looking for something with a bit more of a fantastic slant.
11 Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 came out over a decade ago and even though the team-based multiplayer shooter community had grown exponentially in that time, Team Fortress 2 helped set the mold and continuously received updates that kept the game feeling vibrant and alive.
Admittedly, the game's community is smaller now, but it's a testament to how gameplay doesn't have to be overly complicated to connect. Valorant is an evolution of Team Fortress 2, but for people who want a bit of a retro touch to the game then this is the right alternative.
10 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
This FPS is focused on planning and teamwork, and the objectives include environmental destruction and player cooperation. Each player chooses an Operative with unique skills to bring their own strengths to the group, and although each character comes with a unique kit of tools and abilities, each one is either an Attacker or Defender.
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There are several different gameplay modes that teams can use in both PVE and PV formats. Missions include diffusing a bomb, rescuing hostages, or taking control of certain locations or objects.
9 Control
Control is a phenomenal spin on the third-person shooter genre and it features a bunch of the ideas seen in titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, but doesn't bring along with it the baggage of the Star Wars franchise.
Control brings psychic powers and reality-bending abilities into the arsenal of the protagonist, which turns many tired shooter staples into reinvigorated designs. It also builds a fantastic universe that’s full of amazing sci-fi concepts. Control is still a very fresh title and if there's any justice a sequel will eventually be on the way.
8 Battleborn
Battleborn is another free-to-play first-person shooter game that's easy to have missed in the boom of similar titles. Battleborn doesn't exactly do anything new, but the extravagant enemies that it features and the creative weapons that are available are what make this game a winner.
The desolate and destroyed environments are also the perfect areas for battle and just feel grandiose in scale. Big guns begin to cause diminishing returns, so Battleborn's more archaic, yet powerful arsenal is a delight. Battleborn is a thin experience, but it's easy, fun, and knows how to ramp up the chaos.
7 Tom Clancy's The Division 2
For the longest time, Tom Clancy titles like Rainbow Six focused on grounded espionage and tactical shooters. The list of games has greatly expanded and the more recent The Division series posits a futuristic setting that's in the throes of a pandemic.
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The Division 2 improves upon the original and makes sure that its powerful story and tactical gameplay work together. The Division 2 is a game where its nihilism works for it and it's the ideal choice for those that want a more depressing and gritty experience.
6 Escape from Tarkov
Escape from Tarkov's setting and story are fictional but intended to mimic real life. Two private paramilitary organizations are using the fictional region of Norvinsk as their battleground, and the main objective of the game is revealed in the title.
The developers intended this game to be gritty, realistic, and hardcore, so death means losing almost every item acquired. That's one of the reasons Escape from Tarkov is only available on Windows and has been in closed beta mode since 2017. However, it has a dedicated following and is a must for those dedicated to playing a more grounded FPS.
5 Apex Legends
Apex Legends is one of the newer free-to-play first-person shooters to come along and although it doesn't stray too far from the basics, it's become one of the more popular titles in the genre. The game works due to its varied and engaging characters, as well as its seasonal approach that progressively feeds players new content. The battle royale fad isn't in any danger of dying down, but as certain titles fade out of the spotlight, it seems like Apex Legends will remain a major contender with a huge fanbase.
4 PlanetSide 2
The arena version of PlanetSide 2 shut down only three months into early access, but the RPG sequel is still an FPS and has a strong element of team play involved. In fact, this sequel in the PlanetSide franchise is specifically designed to accommodate thousands of players using the same active map.
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The backstory involves three warring factions and their battle for ultimate control of the planet Auraxis. PlanetSide 2 actually set the Guinness World Record for the biggest online FPS battle ever with over 1200 players involved.
3 Paladins
Paladins is another free-to-play shooter that’s set in a fantastical land where superpowers and unbelievable weapons are the norm. The gameplay in Paladins isn't that different from its competition, it's a hero shooter that prides itself in the crazy characters that it provides. These extreme personalities and the rapid gameplay that it provides make Paladins a very addictive experience that's hard to put down. It’s not exactly that different from Valorant, but it’s a flashier title that’s packs plenty of appeal for casual players and a younger demographic.
2 Fortnite: Save the World
Before the Battle Royale version of Fortnite sucks all the bullets out of a player's virtual gun, bear in mind this isn't the only way to play this popular FPS. Fans of the more methodical, planned approach that sets Valorant apart will appreciate this mode of gameplay in Fortnite.
Teams of four have to cooperate in order to survive a post-apocalyptic world overrun by "husks" which are zombie-like creatures. In addition to fighting the zombies, players have to work together to defend their base, rescue survivors, and gather resources.
1 Overwatch
Even gamers that have zero interest in team-based hero shooters have likely heard of Overwatch. It's a hit from Blizzard that’s quickly become one of the notable company’s most lucrative properties.
Overwatch is a genuine phenomenon that's taken over the video game industry and helped make the genre so popular in the first place. It's easy, fun, and full of memorable characters that try to engage with the audience. A sequel is on the way, but it looks like support for the original Overwatch is in no danger of disappearing.