Best upcoming FPS games: Mouse, Star Wars, STALKER 2
The wonderful world of FPS games, the first-person shooter, is in for another back-to-back banger in 2024 and 2025 looks even more exciting.
With a stacked 2024, we wanted to single out some of the most exciting first-person shooters coming in the next few months and even into 2025.
From old favorites getting new expansions, and fresh ideas in an already packed arena. Boomer shooters, modern shooters. You name it, we’re going to talk about it.
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Graven
Releasing this January after time in early access, Graven is a more open-ended game. Taking inspiration from games like Hexen, it’s more focused on magic and fantasy than guns. You get quests, loot, and upgrade yourself through the game.
There are these wide open areas for you to explore, where you’ll do typical things like complete quests. It’s a fascinating combination of retro style and influences, on top of modern typical activities, making for an exciting breath of fresh air.
Wrath: Aeon of Ruin
Literally built on the Quake 1 engine, Wrath: Aeon of Ruin brings authenticity to the table. It’s a super fast paced game, with all the drippings of boomer shooters. Maps are made by those from the original Quake scene, and it is genuinely a lot of fun.
It’s been in early access for some time and is finally leaving it this year. Wrath is available on PC.
Star Wars: Dark Forces remaster
Boomer shooters, in 2024? It’s more likely than you think. The latest Nightdive remaster is Star Wars: Dark Forces, a game originally dubbed as a “DOOM Clone” – as all FPS games were.
This brings back Dark Forces, an excellent old school FPS game that sees you infiltrate Imperial bases with your blaster at the ready. It’s fantastic, dripping with a true retro Star Wars atmosphere before the dreaded Prequel era started.
It launches on February 28 across all platforms.
Ripout
A co-operative shooter set in the horrors of a sci-fi world. You and your squad need to make it through a series of survival scenarios, and use the power of your “Pet Gun.” These can be customized to your liking, and the game is filled with loot to upgrade yourself with.
Ripout is currently in early access and available for the PC.
Phantom Fury
Duke Nukem Forever is a game that some FPS fans old enough will still be disappointed by. Phantom Fury appears to be trying to rectify the past by creating its own version of Duke’s jump to the polygonal FPS in 1998. And 2001. And 2007. And 2011.
A continuation of Ion Fury, a hardcore boomer shooter built inside the original Build engine – just like Duke 3D – Phantom Fury brings Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison into a new world. It seems to be taking Shelly on a world tour, with all the interactivity and violence you’d expect from a modern boomer shooter.
The game is slated for 2024 and will be released on PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox.
STALKER 2
A sequel to a series that defines the phrase “cult favorite”. STALKER 2 is looking like a mighty follow up to the bizarre original series. While the original might have lost its horror edge over time, STALKER 2 seems to be using technology to ensure that doesn’t happen again.
Set in the wastes of nuclear fallout, it’s a kill-or-be-killed world out there. The original game was brutal and incredibly well designed around catching you off guard. If it can even hold a candle to the original, it could be one of the best games released in 2024.
Robobeat
Following Metal: Hellsinger and Hi-Fi Rush last year, the music-action game is slowly becoming one of the most intriguing sub-genres. Based entirely around shooting in time with the beat, Robobeat pulls from roguelikes for its main conceit.
However, the most eyebrow-raising aspect is the built-in music editor. This allows you to bring in your own tracks, edit out the less exciting sections, and shoot to your own beat. Kind of like what Audiosurf was trying to do for PC rhythm games.
So far it just seems to be coming to PC, which would make sense what with the music tools.
Call of Duty 2024
Dexerto featuring Call of Duty on a list of FPS games? Stop the presses.
Call of Duty is about to enter its first truly interesting year since Activision’s introduction of Sledgehammer Games as a third in the development cycle.
With the Microsoft buyout now complete, how will a Call of Duty game in 2024 pan out after the tumultuous development of Modern Warfare 3? What does a Call of Duty game look like under a rule that isn’t the Bobby Kotick (ex-CEO of Activision) regime?
While the game has probably been in development for a couple of years at this point, it’ll be the ongoing support from the renewed Activision that’ll determine how this plays out.
Rumors currently point to a Gulf War scenario, pulling us back to the past once again. Though, as with many Call of Duty games since the original Modern Warfare in 2007, it’ll be that multiplayer that’s vital to its success. If the intricacies of the game’s meta aren’t met with open arms by the community, it could be a tricky time for one of the staples of video games.
Destiny 2: The Final Shape
Destiny 2’s current story arc is drawing to a close, and Bungie has delayed The Final Shape to ensure it’s just right.
While not strictly a new game in itself, Destiny 2: The Final Shape seems to be the culmination of nearly a decade of work. It introduces a new area to the game, as well as new abilities for the classes.
Destiny 2 might be a little divisive among the community. However, if The Final Shape hits the highs of previous expansions like The Taken King and The Witch Queen, we could be in for one of the best FPS campaigns of this year.
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando
Did you know John Carpenter loves video games? The director’s not-so-secret love is seemingly manifesting itself as a survival FPS game against hordes of zombies.
The game seems to be trying to fill the void that Back 4 Blood and Redfall couldn’t fill, some good old co-op shooting. While zombies might be a tired concept, it’s going to be exciting to see what John Carpenter is going to bring to the table in terms of concepts around the world.
Hopefully, it’s less Ghosts of Mars and more his seminal movies. Did anyone ever play that PS2 game of The Thing? You should check that out too.
Mouse
Saving the most exciting for last, Mouse is an upcoming boomer shooter-esque game with an incredible style. With an animation style based on 1930s rubber hose animation, the only direct comparison would be something like Cuphead. Seeing it in motion in the small trailers released so far is exquisite.
It’ll also draw from noir movies of the era, as you, a private detective take on the seedy underbelly infesting your town.
Mouse launches in 2025, with a PC version confirmed so far.
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