Best Xbox first person shooters: Unbeatable FPS games

From sci-fi worlds filled with aliens to games based on real conflicts that recount history's darkest moments, here are the best Xbox first-person shooters.

Sean Carey

Published 31 Dec 2023

We're taking aim at the best first person shooters on Xbox. The first-person shooter (FPS) genre is one of the most popular in gaming. The list of first-person shooters available on Xbox is constantly growing, and with so many FPS games available, there's something out there for most tastes, from sci-fi worlds filled with futuristic weapons and alien monsters to games based on real conflicts that recount some of the darkest moments from our history.

If you're looking to decide which first-person shooter you should play next, look no further, as we've narrowed down the choice by using a combination of site review scores, community ratings, and some editorial input to put together our list of the best Xbox first-person shooters.

13. Prodeus

Release date: September 23, 2022
Developer: Bounding Box Software
On Game Pass? No

The Doom-inspired Prodeus absolutely should not be missed. It’s quite a unique first-person shooter as it's a modern game, with all the performance and visuals that come with that, that features old-school gameplay similar to the bomber shooters of yore: Quake and Doom. The game is a bit light on the narrative side of things, but that doesn't matter too much once you're blasting your way through rooms of gruesome-looking enemies with your arsenal of weapons, leaving nothing but a bloody mess in your wake.

12. Superhot

Release date: May 3, 2016
Developer: Superhot Team
On Game Pass? No

The Superhot team managed to take what seems like a fairly simple mechanic and turn it into a game that is full of possibilities. Having time's movement synced to that of the player provided a fresh twist on the shooter genre, and real-time replays give the player another chance to feel awesome about what they just pulled off. Despite the relatively short length of the main levels, the Challenge and Endless modes should provide most players with plenty to sink their teeth into. The short, fast, and furious nature of the levels won't be for everyone, but it's one of the most innovative shooters in years, and everyone should definitely give it a try.

11. Metro Exodus

Release date: February 15, 2019
Developer: 4A Games
On Game Pass? No

To bring a traditionally linear game into an open-world mold without breaking what made it special is a monumental task. Metro is a series known for its ability to capture a dreary underground with a sense of horror, and desperation. These elements remain intact, but the new structure brings so much more to play that Metro Exodus becomes a better game than its predecessors in every way. The level design is impeccable, seamlessly blending linear levels and open-world design while giving you a choice in how you approach a situation.

By breaking out of the subway tunnels, the game also offers a far greater range of environments to explore. The world itself is wonderful to experience, with tons of little details to enjoy and just the right amount of horror to keep you on edge. Thankfully, despite moving into the open world, there is just enough stealth gameplay to keep fans of the original two games satiated.

10. Rainbow Six Siege

Release date: December 1, 2015
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
On Game Pass? Yes

The change in direction for Ubisoft's Rainbow Six series wasn't to everyone's tastes when it launched back in 2015, but for those who love competitive multiplayer shooters, many found a new game to master with Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege. Matches in Siege offer an intense experience that will have your tactical brain kicking into overdrive as soon as a round begins. With its destructive environments and a plethora of Operators each with their own unique abilities, there are countless ways you can approach a situation as either an attacker or a defender, but while it's tempting to try and go it solo, wins will only come from working your squad.

9. Battlefield 1

Release date: October 21, 2016
Developer: DICE
On Game Pass? Yes via Game Pass Ultimate with EA Play

There are so many great Battlefield games, and it's hard to pick just one, but we've opted for WW1 shooter Battlefield 1. DICE absolutely nailed the WWI aesthetics with Battlefield 1, with its stunning locations and interesting multiplayer maps. There are deserts, Italian mountainsides, and city streets, which all evoke the period so staunchly you feel like you could be there. Even today, the visuals still stand up and easily looks better than its sequel, Battlefield V. The campaign is very short, but the whole game just sounds and feels so good in action. That feeling when you nail a long-distance shot is like no other game series. Add in the fantastic class system, good destruction mechanics, and fun vehicle play — there is no better place to enter the battlefield.

8. Wolfenstein: The New Order

Release date: May 20, 2014
Developer: MachineGames
On Game Pass? Yes

This single-player FPS from Machine Games sees beefy hero B.J. Blazkowicz arise from a coma after attacking a Nazi castle in WWII and failing. When he wakes, the world is in a pretty awful state — the Nazis won. This new order is rich with a steampunk aesthetic which shapes the linear level design with fantastic variety. Don't let the linear levels put you off, though, it's a stylish shooter full of wild ideas. One moment you are warring in a concentration camp, taking out the worst Nazi grandmother in history; the next, you are on a moon base.

The New Order is often brash with its villains, but — perhaps surprisingly — this means it isn't afraid to show you the worst of the Nazi regime in ways that will stay with you for a long time yet. Most importantly, that gives you prime context for committing ultraviolence against the worst people imaginable with dual-wielded weapons firing reams of bullets at men who end up as little more than bloody pulps by the time you are done with them. It feels good, it sounds good, and the array of weapons is wicked — the sum total is perfect.

7. Titanfall 2

Release date: October 28, 2016
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
On Game Pass? Yes via Game Pass Ultimate with EA Play

Respawn took everything that made Titanfall a success and followed it up with one of the finest first-person shooter games around with Titanfall 2. The inclusion of a single-player campaign was very welcomed by many, and although it's pretty short in length, it is an exhilarating ride with some stunning set pieces and memorable moments, and the refined multiplayer will keep you consumed for months to come. Some argue that the original Titanfall's multiplayer is better, thanks to its interesting and more varied map design, and there is a case to be made there, but with the bonus of the campaign, Titanfall 2 is the game that makes our list.

6. BioShock

Release date: August 24, 2007
Developer: Irrational Games
On Game Pass? No

Arguably one of the best games of all time, BioShock is one of those experiences you'll never forget. After your plane crashes into the Atlantic Ocean, you discover the closed-off underwater society of Rapture, and what follows next is a 12-hour thrill ride filled with narrative twists, compelling characters, and genetically enhanced mutants. While the combat is varied thanks to guns and plasmids, what really makes BioShock stand out is the story and setting. Rapture, with its Art Deco style, is beautiful and eerie and easily one of the best video game settings ever created. If you are yet to play BioShock, make sure you jump into the remastered Xbox One version; you won't regret it.

5. Doom

Release date: May 16, 2016
Developer: id Software
On Game Pass? Yes

While Doom and Doom Eternal are both fantastic first-person shooters, we’ve opted to highlight Doom on our list. The 2016 reboot just feels more like a traditional Doom game, with its excellent combat and gameplay. Once you pick up a rhythm, you can easily find yourself lost in a world of death, brutal executions, and gore — and it all feels so fluid! Sure, the story may not be as good as Doom Eternal’s, and it might not look as pretty, but Doom’s gameplay is just superb. In Doom Eternal, Id Software made some tweaks to the combat and added some platforming sections that sort of mess with the rhythm of the game and can stop you from achieving the zen-like killing-machine state that you can so easily slip into with Doom.

4. Destiny 2

Release date: September 6, 2017
Developer: Bungie
On Game Pass? No

If you can get past its seemingly impenetrable lore and story, Destiny 2 is one of the best first-person shooters available, which is kind of what you'd expect from the creators of Halo. The online shooter features some extremely tight and satisfying combat, absolute bucketloads of story content, and more weapons and exotic gear to collect than you could ever dream of. Whether you're playing solo or squadding up with your pals to take on the latest challenging Raid, there is always something exciting going on in Destiny 2.

3. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Release date: November 9, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
On Game Pass? No

When Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare originally released in 2007, it blew people away with its cinematic campaign, tight shooting, and an unrivaled competitive multiplayer experience that took the world by storm. Remastered for the Xbox One generation in 2016 as part of a pricey Infinite Warfare bundle, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered finally released a standalone title in 2017. Filled with memorable missions and characters, the action-packed campaign is well worth revisiting again — who doesn't want to replay All Ghillied Up or work their way through Mile High Club on Veteran difficulty again?

2. Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Release date: November 11, 2014
Developer: 343 Industries, Bungie
On Game Pass? Yes

Featuring the best of what the IP has to offer, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the ultimate collection for Halo fans and would-be Halo fans alike. The collection includes six Halo titles: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4. Not only will these six campaigns keep you busy for hours on end, but each game includes its own multiplayer, maps (there are well over 120 at this point), modes, and game types, so there is a ton of Halo content here to wrap your head around.

If you missed the series until now or want thousands of Gamerscore in one box, start here. Master Chief was, is, and always will be the official mascot of the Xbox brand, so if you're serious about seeing all the green team has to offer, there's no reason to look past this seminal sci-fi series any longer.

1. Apex Legends

apex legends thrillseekers new arenas map

Release date: February 4, 2019
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
On Game Pass? No

Featuring excellent gunplay, interesting and varied maps, and fast-paced moment-to-moment gameplay that feels fresh and exciting, the free-to-play battle royale game Apex Legends tops our list. With its eclectic mix of characters, each with their own abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, you're dropped into one of Apex Legends' ever-evolving and rotating maps in a squad with two other players to battle it out against 19 other teams to be the last team standing. While it is great solo, the real fun is found with friends — nothing quite beats teaming up with pals and securing a frantic win just when you thought your team was down and out.

Respawn has done an excellent job with Apex Legends, and it's continuously evolving, with new characters, maps, and modes constantly being added, and all for the price of free!

Do you agree with our list? What first-person shooters do you think should have made the cut? Let us know down in the comments.

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Written by Sean Carey

Avid Xbox and achievement fan, Sean has committed to playing the best RPGs, racing games, and first-person shooters Xbox Game Pass and his precious free time will allow. Prior to joining TrueAchievements, Sean gained a degree in journalism from Solent University.