Exploring the Best New FPS Games of 2020: A Deep Dive for Gamers

For enthusiasts of the first-person shooter genre, 2020 presented an exciting landscape of new releases, promising both innovation and nostalgic returns. Staying abreast of all the significant titles can be a formidable challenge, given the sheer volume of games launched across various platforms. Fortunately, a curated selection, such as the one presented in the video above, serves as an invaluable guide for navigating these waters, highlighting the standout FPS games that truly captured attention.

The year was marked by a remarkable diversity within the FPS category, featuring everything from rhythm-based rogue-likes to expansive open-world experiences with robust shooting mechanics. This article delves deeper into some of the most anticipated and impactful first-person shooter titles of 2020, offering additional context and insight into what made them notable. A look at the landscape reveals how developers continued to push boundaries, embracing new technologies like VR while also honoring the rich history of the genre.

Innovative Rhythms and Classic Resurgences in FPS Gaming

One of the year’s most distinct offerings was BPM: Bullets Per Minute, a title that ingeniously fused the high-octane action of a first-person shooter with the rhythmic demands of a music game. Priced at just $20, this game quickly garnered a reputation for its unique concept, where every action—shooting, dodging, reloading—must be performed to the beat of a heavy metal soundtrack. This mechanic, while challenging, was found to naturally synchronize the player’s movements with the intense, randomly generated dungeon environments, creating a flow state often compared to the frantic pace of classic Doom titles. It was made available across Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, thus ensuring broad accessibility for a diverse player base.

Moreover, the long-awaited return of a beloved series was seen with Serious Sam 4. Developed by Croteam, this entry successfully rekindled the spirit of its predecessors, emphasizing colossal horde-based combat that harked back to the over-the-top shooters of the 1990s. The game was designed to amplify the established formula, pushing the absurdity and scale to an extreme degree. While some players noted a departure in art style from earlier, more cartoony iterations, the core experience of battling seemingly endless waves of enemies with an arsenal of powerful weapons was largely celebrated, proving that sometimes, simply doing what you do best, but bigger and better, is what fans truly desire from an FPS game.

The Growing Realm of VR and Revered Remakes

The year 2020 was pivotal for virtual reality (VR) gaming, with one of the most significant releases being Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. This title marked the franchise’s first installment since 2012’s Warfighter, which faced criticism for its buggy launch and overall lackluster reception. The new Medal of Honor, launched on December 11th, 2020, was entirely built for VR, indicating a strategic move by its developers to leverage the immersive potential of the technology. The game’s subtitle, “Above and Beyond,” was widely interpreted as an homage to the series’ historical precedence over titles like Call of Duty, signaling an ambition to reclaim its legacy within the military shooter genre. This launch was reflective of VR shooters finally hitting their stride, with the hardware and software maturing to deliver truly compelling experiences.

In addition to new VR experiences, the appeal of revisiting classic **FPS games** was highlighted by the remake of XIII. The original, released in 2003, was celebrated for its distinctive cel-shaded art style, which was ahead of its time. The 2020 remake aimed to modernize this visual flair, expanding upon the graphic novel aesthetic while updating gameplay for contemporary audiences. The narrative, centered on a protagonist suffering from amnesia and implicated in the assassination of the U.S. President, offered a compelling, comic book-oriented story that many players were eager to re-experience. Scheduled for release on November 10th, it was made available across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows, demonstrating a commitment to broad platform support.

Co-op Adventures and Relentless Arcade Action

Cooperative play remained a strong draw in 2020, evidenced by titles like Deep Rock Galactic and Second Extinction. Deep Rock Galactic, a four-player co-op FPS, immersed players as space dwarves exploring fully destructible, procedurally generated environments. The gameplay loop involved digging for resources and fending off alien threats, drawing comparisons to the addictive qualities of Left 4 Dead and Minecraft. The commitment of its developers to continuous updates and content additions was frequently praised, ensuring the game maintained a fresh and engaging experience on Xbox One and Windows. Its blend of exploration, combat, and teamwork was seen as a refreshing take on the co-op shooter formula.

Further strengthening the co-op segment was Second Extinction, an upcoming three-player co-op experience that soon entered early access. This game pitted players against mutated dinosaurs in an arcadey, large-scale environment. A distinctive feature of Second Extinction was its community-driven “War Effort” system, where player actions collectively influenced a dynamic threat level across regions of a larger map. The goal was to systematically clear these threats, adding a meta-game layer to the intense dinosaur combat. Releasing on October 13th for Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, it presented a promising blend of action and strategic community engagement.

For those who craved raw, unadulterated speed, ULTRAKILL delivered an unapologetically retro-inspired, fast-paced shooting experience. This game intentionally invoked the mid-90s PC aesthetic reminiscent of Quake, yet it seamlessly integrated modern mobility and combat mechanics similar to the new Doom series. Players were thrust into relentless rooms filled with enemies, demanding constant movement, strategic dodging, and quick reflexes to survive. The game’s brutal difficulty and continuous action were celebrated for providing an intense and exhilarating challenge, making it a favorite among fans of classic arena shooters and available to play on PC.

Similarly, Gunfire Reborn offered a refreshing blend of FPS, rogue-like, and RPG elements, setting itself apart with a truly unique aesthetic and gameplay loop. This co-op adventure immersed players in a magical world, where progression through procedurally generated levels was possible with up to three other players. Each character possessed distinct abilities, adding a strategic layer to team composition and combat encounters. The game’s vibrant and genuinely unique world design, especially for an **FPS game**, was noted as a welcome departure from more conventional settings. Its availability on Steam allowed many to discover its fresh approach to the genre.

Strategic Thinking and Bullet-Time Mastery

The concept of time manipulation in first-person shooters was expertly explored in SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE. This title, an expansion or standalone experience within the SUPERHOT franchise, captivated players with its core mechanic: time only moves when the player moves. This singular rule transformed the game from a mere shooter into a strategic puzzle, where every bullet, every enemy movement, and every action had to be meticulously planned. Players found themselves utilizing bullet time not just for dramatic effect, but as a fundamental tool for dodging incoming fire, lining up precise shots, and navigating complex combat scenarios. This unique blend of FPS action and strategic puzzle-solving was celebrated for its innovative design, offering a thoroughly enjoyable experience whether or not previous titles in the series had been played. It was widely accessible on PC, inviting many to engage with its distinctive mechanics.

Battle Royale Dominance and Competitive Arenas

The Battle Royale genre continued its ascendancy in 2020, with Call of Duty: Warzone emerging as a dominant force. As a free-to-play Battle Royale integrated into the Call of Duty ecosystem, it quickly amassed a massive player base. While the fundamental rules were familiar, Warzone distinguished itself with its large-scale matches, accommodating up to 150 players, and occasionally even 200 in limited-time modes. A defining feature was the Gulag respawn system, which offered players a one-time chance to re-enter the match by winning a 1v1 duel against another fallen player. This innovative mechanic added a strategic layer and a second chance, enhancing the overall intensity of the already tight Call of Duty gameplay. Available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, its reach was extensive, and its eventual presence on next-generation consoles was highly anticipated.

Another major player in the competitive **FPS games** scene was Valorant, which skillfully blended the tactical precision of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with the character abilities often seen in hero shooters like Overwatch. This fusion resulted in a distinctly new competitive experience that resonated deeply with players. Its objective-based gameplay, typically involving planting or defusing a bomb, was elevated by the unique agent abilities that allowed for diverse strategies and team compositions. Launched during a year where competitive shooters continued to thrive, Valorant quickly established itself as a significant free-to-play title, garnering a dedicated community and attracting professional players. Currently exclusive to PC, its impact on the esports landscape was immediate and substantial.

Iconic Franchises Redefined in FPS Games

The legacy of iconic **FPS games** was not just honored but significantly enhanced in 2020. DOOM Eternal exemplified this, building upon the acclaimed 2016 reboot with a philosophy of “bigger, better, more insane.” The game was praised for its relentless pacing, expanded combat mechanics, and intricate level design that rewarded aggressive, strategic play. A standout addition was the grappling hook shotgun, which transformed traversal and combat into a dynamic, fluid dance across arenas. This enhancement allowed for verticality and mobility previously unseen in the series, cementing DOOM Eternal’s status as a pinnacle of the fast-paced action **first-person shooter** genre. It reaffirmed that, for many, the core of Doom’s appeal lies in its unwavering commitment to over-the-top, demon-slaying spectacle.

Meanwhile, the Call of Duty franchise delivered its annual single-player offering with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. This entry promised a deep dive into the politically charged era of the 1980s Cold War, a setting that has been underutilized in modern shooters. Building on the robust gameplay mechanics seen in titles like Warzone, the single-player campaign was anticipated to offer a refined and engaging narrative experience. Discussions around the game also touched upon its potential for depicting controversial historical events, suggesting a willingness by the developers to explore complex themes within the context of a blockbuster **FPS game**. Released on November 13th for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, it aimed to provide a polished, narrative-driven experience for the holiday season.

Immersive Worlds and Future Frontiers in FPS Gaming

The year’s most groundbreaking achievement in virtual reality was arguably Half-Life: Alyx. Even for those unfamiliar with the deep lore of the Half-Life universe, Alyx was recognized as a landmark title, setting new benchmarks for storytelling, interaction, and immersion in VR. Positioned as a prequel to Half-Life 2, it offered a narrative rich with detail and environmental storytelling, even if it wasn’t the direct sequel many fans had long awaited. While its teleporter movement mechanism was noted by some as slightly detracting from immersion, the overall consensus was that nearly every other aspect of the game was executed with near perfection. It unequivocally demonstrated the sophisticated potential of VR as a platform for rich, story-driven **first-person shooter** experiences.

Finally, though more than strictly an FPS, Cyberpunk 2077 featured incredibly robust first-person shooting mechanics that contributed significantly to its appeal. This highly anticipated open-world RPG, set in the sprawling, dystopian Night City, offered a vast universe for exploration. The FPS elements included cover systems, destructible environments, and a diverse array of futuristic weaponry, all designed to immerse players deeply into its cyberpunk aesthetic. The promise of exploring such a meticulously crafted world, coupled with dynamic gunplay and extensive RPG systems, generated immense excitement. Cyberpunk 2077 was released later in the year across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, aiming to deliver a genre-defining experience that blended narrative depth with engaging **first-person shooter** action.

The year 2020 truly underscored the versatility and enduring appeal of **FPS games**, showcasing titles that innovated, iterated, and redefined expectations for the genre. From the strategic depths of VR experiences to the frantic pace of competitive arenas, and the nostalgic pull of classic revivals, there was something for every type of player. Whether you were seeking a new co-op challenge or a solo journey into a cyberpunk future, the diverse range of **first-person shooter** releases made 2020 a memorable year for gaming, encouraging exploration of every title discussed in the video and beyond.