The PlayStation 4 is one of the most popular consoles of all time, and it’s home to some of the best shooters of the current generation. Shooter games are unquestionably popular, especially with Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Fortnite heading the lineup. Not only have these games’ stories become more complex and the characters more diverse, but new locations and activities create increasingly versatile gameplay.
Shooters can have a broad appeal and are often some of the bestselling games on modern consoles. But there are so many to choose from. In this breakdown, we’ll go through the best shooters on PS4 — including free FPS games, twin-stick shooters, and tactical multiplayer PS4 games. We’ve also found the best PS4 games overall.
Recommended reading:
- The best PS4 games you can play right now
- The best multiplayer games on PS4
- The best free FPS games you can play right now
First-person shooters
Killzone: Shadow Fall
M
Platforms
PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Guerrilla Games
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
November 15, 2013
A launch title for the PlayStation 4, Killzone: Shadow Fall had the very difficult task of convincing interested players that it was worth taking the leap into the next generation of consoles. It managed to do its job and then some, with a campaign that featured gorgeous, colorful environments and snappy shooting that took full advantage of the new Ps4 controllers. Where Shadow: Fall excelled even more was in its competitive multiplayer, which focused more on coordination and team play than some of its competitors.
Overwatch
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Strategy
Developer
Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher
Blizzard Entertainment, Square Enix
Release
May 24, 2016
One of the most influential games of the decade, Blizzard’s Overwatch certainly didn’t invent the “hero shooter,” but it took the concept and polished it to a stunning sheen. With a growing cast of unique heroes that all play differently from one another, the amount of variety you can get in a standard multiplayer match is unparalleled, and seasonal events such as “Lucioball” offer fun twists on the traditional game mechanics. Overwatch has all the Blizzard charm we expected, but the way its classes all balance each other out to create a competitive team game blew us away. Best of all, we have much more Overwatch to look forward to, as its sequel is due some time in the (hopefully) near future.
Titanfall 2
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
October 28, 2016
Respawn Entertainment’s original Titanfall was a terrific multiplayer game with an exciting mix of first-person shooting and mech-based combat, but it was light on content and didn’t offer a campaign mode. The studio addressed that fully in Titanfall 2, which delivered a time-traveling story with a surprising amount of heart and plenty of robot-destroying action. Its competitive mode didn’t disappoint, either with a wide number of modes and a progression system that made your character feel important in every match. Sadly, its underwhelming sales may mean we never get a full sequel, but the Titanfall brand lives on.
Read our full Titanfall 2 review
Apex Legends
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Respawn Entertainment
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
February 04, 2019
Taking the Titans out of Titanfall and turning it into a battle royale game sounds like the most cynical thing an EA-owned studio could possibly do. Perhaps it is, but Respawn Entertainment somehow managed to make it the most engaging battle royale game yet. Apex Legends is cut from the same cloth as Warzone or even PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, but the ability to respawn and redeploy keeps players from getting too comfortable during late-game moments. It helps that it keeps Titanfall 2’s unmatched shooting, and gives players several heroes to choose from each round.
Read our full Apex Legends review
Battlefield V
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter
Developer
EA Digital Illusions CE
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
November 20, 2018
Sure, Battlefield V didn’t turn out the way players were hoping for when it first launched, but has now become a fantastic large-scale multiplayer shooter. With classic Battlefield destruction on enormous maps and multi-stage events putting a new twist on the series’ formula, Battlefield V feels like the next evolution of online multiplayer. The campaign wasn’t a huge improvement, but the series has never had a big focus on that aspect anyway.
Read our full Battlefield V review
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
MachineGames
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
October 27, 2017
No one was expecting 2014’s Wolfenstein: The New Order to be as thought-provoking and emotional as it was, but all eyes were on MachineGames to deliver in the sequel Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. The studio somehow managed to top the previous game, moving the action to an alternate history version of the United States overtaken by the Nazis in the 1960s. It delivers multiple twists we weren’t expecting alongside all the fascist-killing action we were expecting, and it even incorporated clever side objectives for those looking to make the most of their time with it.
DOOM Eternal
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
March 20, 2020
Wolfenstein returned to PlayStation 4 as a story-driven, character-focused first-person shooter. Doom, and the sequel Doom Eternal, did not. For the reboot of its classic first-person shooter series, Id Software focused only on what truly matters in a Doom game — killing demons — and it paid off in a big way. Shotguns, rocket launchers, assault rifles, a chainsaw, and the classic “BFG” are all available to slaughter the hellspawn, and slaughter them you will. The sequel upped the guns, gore, and heavy metal in every way possible, making it one of the most exhilarating FPS campaigns available on the PS4.
Read our full DOOM Eternal review
Call of Duty: Vanguard
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Sledgehammer Games
Publisher
Activision
Release
November 05, 2021
Whether Call of Duty: Vanguard is better than Black Ops is still up for debate, but the newer Call of Duty game will always have the most active player base, making it an easy recommendation for most Call of Duty fans. Vanguard sends us back into the past for the campaign yet again to the various theaters of WWII with another extremely polished rollercoaster ride of missions that run the gamut from stealth to all-out explosive action. Zombies mode, a fan favorite, also makes a return in a brand new form. Now connected with Warzone, its battle royale mode, this iteration of the long-running franchise feels like it has major staying power.
Read our full Call of Duty: Vanguard review
Metro Exodus
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
4A Games
Publisher
Deep Silver
Release
February 15, 2019
After setting Metro 2033 and its sequel Metro: Last Light primarily in the titular subway system, 4A Games changed things up considerably. Metro Exodus is largely set outdoors, with protagonist Artyom and his companions attempting to find a safe haven after a nuclear apocalypse destroyed much of civilization. Exodus doesn’t drop the series’ claustrophobic or horror-based elements, but the varied environments, expanded crafting and customization systems, and brilliant climax help to make it the best game in the series by a considerable margin.
SUPERHOT
T
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Puzzle, Tactical, Indie
Developer
SUPERHOT Team
Publisher
IMGN.PRO, SUPERHOT Team
Release
February 25, 2016
First-person shooters – especially those with single-player modes – tend to follow a similar “hide, shoot, and hide again” formula. No one told that to the creators of Superhot, which turns shooting into a puzzle game by only making time move when you move. Battles that seem impossible can be won by planning your every action ahead of time, after which the game lets you relive the glory with a full video replay. The hacker-centric story layered on top of the gameplay is equally brilliant, and you can spend much of your time just reading IRC messages instead of shooting bad guys.
Firewall Zero Hour
T
Platforms
PlayStation VR
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
First Contact Entertainment
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
August 28, 2018
PlayStation VR enthusiasts have limited options for competitive multiplayer games, but Firewall: Zero Hour has managed to impress tactical-minded shooter fans with its methodical and team-focused approach. Similar to Rainbow Six Siege but with you actually becoming an operator in the game. Firewall is compatible with the PSVR’s Aim controller and features 3D audio. This makes the action feel more realistic than ever before, and you can choose between single-player, cooperative, or competitive game modes.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
December 01, 2015
Ubisoft canceled its ambitious Rainbow 6: Patriots, which would have focused on economic strife and the ugly side of capitalism, but the company didn’t leave the series in limbo. Instead, it created Rainbow Six Siege, a multiplayer-focused shooter with destructible environments that forces players to look in all directions as they pick off the enemy team one by one. Every shot matters, and with squads working together in unison, the joy of executing a winning strategy is immense. Of course, so is the pain of getting killed two seconds into a round.
Destiny 2
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Tactical, Adventure
Developer
Bungie
Publisher
Activision
Release
September 06, 2017
Destiny felt like a half-baked game that could have used significantly more time in the oven, but Bungie didn’t make the same mistake twice with Destiny 2. A thrilling campaign with an imposing villain took players from Earth to Io, Titan, and Nessus, with tons of exciting set-piece moments and a thrilling final battle. Competitive play in the “Crucible” is among the best of any multiplayer shooter, and the game has only increased the amount of cooperative content you can enjoy since its launch in 2017. Plus, you can even play most of the content for free!
Read our full Destiny 2 review
Borderlands 3
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Gearbox Software
Publisher
2K Games
Release
September 13, 2019
Finally released after what we’d say is the end of this console generation, Borderlands 3 didn’t exactly reignite the flames of passion surrounding the FPS genre, but its reluctance to change up the Borderlands formula was appreciated by the die-hard fans. If you like the loot shooter genre but can’t be doing with the online elements of The Division 2 or Destiny 2, Borderlands 3 might be what you’re looking for. It’s like if Michael Bay had directed Mad Max: Fury Road: it’s fast, everyone is out of their minds, but you can get the gist of the story while scrolling through Twitter during cutscenes. To get you started with this one, we’ve found the best weapons in Borderlands 3.
Third-person shooters
Ratchet & Clank
E10
Platforms
PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Adventure
Developer
Insomniac Games
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
April 12, 2016
Not quite a remake, but not quite not a remake, Ratchet & Clank managed to take the thrilling blend of third-person shooting and platforming from the original PS2 game and turn it into a wonderful PS4 exclusive. With a ton of silly and powerful weapons to choose from and a difficulty level appropriate for players of all skills, Ratchet & Clank is a wonderful introduction to the genre, and its writing will have you laughing out loud throughout.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
T
Platforms
PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter, Adventure
Developer
Naughty Dog
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release
May 10, 2016
The last of Nathan Drake’s grand adventures, Uncharted 4 sends the treasure-hunting explorer out on one last job, this time accompanied by his brother. Darker than the first three games but still filled with banter and witty one-liners, Uncharted 4 is a fitting conclusion to Drake’s storyline, and it’s packed with gun battles against waves of baddies. Stealth attacks give you more options for how you engage, but things will still often come to all-out firefights.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
M
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Massive Entertainment - A Ubisoft Studio
Publisher
Ubisoft
Release
March 15, 2019
Building on the success of the original 2016 game, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is everything you could want in a sequel. Its progression system avoids forcing you to grind for levels. Its story missions offer varied environments and a fair challenge. Its side content and competitive multiplayer give you plenty of reasons to walk off the beaten path. Aside from all of that, though, it just feels good, with realistic weaponry and abilities that force you to change up your tactics in the middle of fights.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2
E10
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter
Developer
PopCap Games
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
February 23, 2016
If the violence of Call of Duty or Battlefield is too much for your younger shooter fans, they can still get a great multiplayer experience in Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2. With kill-based and objective-based game modes to choose from, Garden Warfare 2 delivers all the competitive multiplayer action you want with a healthy dose of goofiness. All character classes from the first game can be imported into the sequel, and newcomers like “Kernel Corn” are incredibly fun. With wave-based cooperative modes and even a light story, it’s an underrated gem that is for more than just kids.
Fortnite
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy
Developer
Epic Games
Publisher
Epic Games
Release
July 25, 2017
The most popular game on the planet right now, Fortnite found success for a reason. By taking the building mechanics of its “Save the World” mode and combining them with battle royale, Epic Games was able to create something more frenetic and fast-paced than any other game in the genre. Its initial success wasn’t a fluke, as the company has consistently updated it with new weapons, areas, and activities. Fortnite has become some video game fans’ only game, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Read our full Fortnite review
Arcade and isometric shooters
Nex Machina
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Housemarque
Publisher
Housemarque
Release
June 20, 2017
An arcade shooter designed in collaboration with Robotron 2084 and Smash TV creator Eugene Jarvis, Housemarque’s Nex Machina is unapologetically old-school. Huge waves of enemies fire so many projectiles at you that you can barely see your own character, and must move with pinpoint accuracy to survive. Nex Machina is a challenge for even the most experienced gamers, and finishing it will bring you immense satisfaction. The game’s honest and ingenious graphics make it incredible to play and explore. Nex Machina is distinctive for its graphics and gameplay, and you’d have a hard time finding a similar experience elsewhere.
Helldivers
T
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Arrowhead Game Studios
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Release
March 03, 2015
Helldivers is a combination of a tactical isometric shooting game and a response to Starship Troopers and is much slower than most of the other games on this list. Your task is to survive dangerous terrain while killing three different types of enemies. The gameplay is very difficult and leaves little room for error. You can play Helldivers either solo or as part of a team, but be aware that your team will need to be committed. This game requires teamwork and cooperation to defeat enemies without stepping on each other, which could destroy you.
RESOGUN
E10
Platforms
PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Housemarque
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
November 15, 2013
With a sleek design and retro arcade-like style, Resogun packs in action and entertainment. To maximize your screen view, Resogun uses sights instead of a large weapon. Resogun is similar to Nex Machina and other Flash-based mini-games that you would find in an arcade or play in a school hallway between classes. If you take Defender, combine it with Datastorm, and throw in some flashy neon, you’ve got Resogun. New features are available if you buy the Defenders and Heroes bundles. They make the games more exciting and unpredictable and include a couch co-op option.
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