[regawdless]

This is an OT for all the amazing retro style fps. Recommendations, news, impressions, hype.
For me, these games are way more fun than most of the "real" modern shooters. No cinematic direction, just pure joy. Fast gameplay, focus on good level design, action galore.

I absolutely love how many high quality retro shooter got made in the last years and are still in development. Like, I just went through upcoming games and there are so many bonkers looking ones, it's the best gaming time to be alive!

I know that @Elektro Demon is with me on this!

I'll start with some of the most well known games:

Available on:
Windows, MacOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Out of Early Access now, also included in Gamepass.
Great visuals, controls, design, just lovely. And gore. A lot of gore. Amazing game!

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Available on:
Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

High quality game, very well made, interesting levels and great style.

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Available on:
PC

HERETIC style shooter. Now even with very nice looking raytracing! Game itself is sublime.

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Available on:
PC, Nintendo Switch

Fast, pretty damn ugly (but true to the inspiration I guess), still mad fun, great level design with tons of secrets, very atmospheric!

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Ashes 2063 mod for Doom II

Ashes is a Post-apocalypse themed total conversion for the GZDoom engine. It combines old school build style level design and Doom style action with a twist of Stalker and Fallout.

www.moddb.com

I'd also like to try Ashes 2063, which is a Doom 2 mod. Looks pretty cool tbh.

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Available on:
PC

Retro horror comic style shooter, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft. Looking sweet!
Edit: Played it, it's great.

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Available on:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5

This is an interested one. It's a rhythm based rogue like fps. You have to shoot, reload and dodge in the rhythm of the beat etc. It has a very unique visual style, is hard as shit and really good.

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Available on:
Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5

Release date: September 15th 2022

Rhythm based shooter like BPM, but more refined, with better mechanics, a real campaign, real songs with vocals that are building up more the better you play. Kinda cringe art style and setting, but solid gameplay. Doom 2016 inspired, but with its own twist.

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Available on:
Microsoft Windows

Release date unknown

Bloody, action packed game, gun-fu, F.E.A.R style slo mo and wapon feel.

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Available on:
Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5

Release date: May 13, 2021

"Severed Steel is a single-player FPS featuring a fluid stunt system, destructible voxel environments, loads of bullet time, and a unique one-armed protagonist. It's you, your trigger finger, and a steel-toed boot against a superstructure full of bad guys. Chain together wall runs, dives, flips, and slides to take every last enemy down."

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Available on:
PC

Release date: Unknown, currently in EA.

"All old-school FPS action. No Bullshit. Lots of blood & gore. Slaughter your way through nightmarish industrial mazes, transformed cityscapes and surreal alien structures to cut down the Growth in this ultraviolent, fast-paced, and merciless retro-styled first person shooter."

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Available on: PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, PC

Release date: 2023

"Shelly "Bombshell" Harrison is back in this highly interactive mix of first person action and road movie adventure. Embark on an adrenaline-fueled journey around the USA. Use an enormous arsenal of weapons and skills to battle treacherous soldiers and vile mutants, all while trying to save mankind."

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Available on: PC

Release date of Chapter One: October 13, 2022

"Death is only the beginning. Crawl from your grave and gear up to fight your way through the ranks of a mysterious and twisted cult. You, your guns, and your dynamite will have to shoot, slide, blast, duck, dodge, and maybe throw a gib or two to survive in this old-school-inspired shooter."

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Will add more and more games to this OT. Dozens of amazing games on the horizon!

 

[Barnabot]

heresy! you forgot this





forgive him father. At least he mentioned prodeus.

 

[regawdless]

heresy! you forgot this





forgive him father. At least he mentioned prodeus.

I'm working at the moment so I could only pick a few. There are MANY more that we should mention.

And regarding Forgive me Father, you should look at my Steam cart right now....

Spoiler: Don't come at me bro.

edit: Will use this post to be an extension of the OT down the line, when the opening post gets too big.

 

[regawdless]

Edit: Put it into the first post

Just purchased Forgive Me Father. Will check it out when I find the time. I'll simply add all the good games to the OT, so that we'll have a nice overview over all the great games.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

These games are pretty fun because they have to design actual levels full of interesting enemies with weapons that are entertaining to use. Forgive Me Father looks great; the art style of Void Bastards but gunplay that actually looks fun.

So far this gen, I've played Ion Fury, Ziggurat, Project Warlock, Strafe, Mothergunship, and I have Dusk on the way. Prodeus is mine once it hits console. I know some of the ones I mentioned (Ziggurat, Strafe, Mothergunship) are more rogue-lite but I think they have the same boomershooter vibe to em.

Upcoming game called Hyperviolent caught my attention a bit ago. strikes that good balance between 90s cheesy and halfway-decent spritework/graphics/animations.

 

[regawdless]

Many cool retro shooter on sale currently! I just bought a bunch of em. God help my wallet.

 

[Cravis]

Can't wait for Prodeus on X Box. Got the EA on PC but I'm more of a console gamer nowadays.

 

[regawdless]

Just added BPM - Bullets Per Minute

Played it a bit, and wow is this a unique game. Very hard, because you have to shoot, dodge and reload in the rhythm of the music, which has a learning curve. It's a rogue like game with randomly generated levels and a great art style. It looks very good. Gameplay is a ton of fun, with great feeling movement and many upgrades to find.

Will definitely play more of it. Can't imagine playing this on a console with a controller though. Many smaller enemies and fast gameplay, so beware if you are a console player and are thinking about picking it up.

Edit: well so there's no progression system at all, it's only run based with finding random stuff during the individual runs. Only thing you can unlock are some characters. It's a bummer, I'm a progression whore and don't like starting again with nothing and doing the boring first level again and again.

 

[Kuranghi]

Severed Steel is sweet, I played the demo and was already having tons of fun 30 seconds after I booted it. Gotta play on mouse to really play it though, unless you're some sort of analogue stick god.

Just dive, slide and wall run constantly. I found the magnum gun the most fun just nailing head shots while flipping and such, great game.

Going to buy the full release soon.

 

[regawdless]

Severed Steel is sweet, I played the demo and was already having tons of fun 30 seconds after I booted it. Gotta play on mouse to really play it though, unless you're some sort of analogue stick god.

Just dive, slide and wall run constantly. I found the magnum gun the most fun just nailing head shots while flipping and such, great game.

Going to buy the full release soon.

It's currently on sale, I bought it yesterday without playing the demo. 40% off is a sweet deal. Let's see when I'll be able to play it, will share my impressions.

 

[Dreamlord]

It is also on cdkeys for £3.69 and I just bought it. Will try it out in a couple of weeks.

 

[Rock And Roll]

Ion Fury and Dusk are aces. I think the reason behind the boomer shooter phenomenon really isn't about nostalgia but rather modern FPS titles have a campaign as an afterthought, if it's included at all. FPS is probably my favourite genre of play even if the last 10-15 years have been pretty barren on the AAA side of things. The boomer shooters go back to a time of smart game design with dope weapons were the standard of the genre.

 

[Cravis]

Ion Fury and Dusk are aces. I think the reason behind the boomer shooter phenomenon really isn't about nostalgia but rather modern FPS titles have a campaign as an afterthought, if it's included at all. FPS is probably my favourite genre of play even if the last 10-15 years have been pretty barren on the AAA side of things. The boomer shooters go back to a time of smart game design with dope weapons were the standard of the genre.

Old but still relevant

 

[Kuranghi]

Old but still relevant

Definitely, but ironically Doom 2016 is like the one on the left.

 

[regawdless]

Definitely, but ironically Doom 2016 is like the one on the left.

Doom 2016 was brilliant. It took the best from the old games and modernized it. For me, it kinda falls into this category here to some extend, despite its modern visuals.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

The modern Quake port is worth going through, for anyone who is in the mood for this style of FPS but hasn't gone through in awhile. It still holds up.

 

[Cravis]

Really enjoying what I've got to play of this

 

[regawdless]

Really enjoying what I've got to play of this

What makes it good? Last Postal I played was the first one I think lol.

 

[Cravis]

What makes it good? Last Postal I played was the first one I think lol.

Postal 2 and 4 were more open world objective based. This is old school FPS. Navigate the level, collect keys, kills enemies, find the exit.

Weapons are over the top with names like Brain Fucker Gun 69000 and Gun Goes Brrrr. The pussy blower is absolutely hilarious. Fires live cats then you can suck them back up with the vacuum to fire again

 

[HariSeldon]

Postal 2 and 4 were more open world objective based. This is old school FPS. Navigate the level, collect keys, kills enemies, find the exit.

Weapons are over the top with names like Brain Fucker Gun 69000 and Gun Goes Brrrr. The pussy blower is absolutely hilarious. Fires live cats then you can suck them back up with the vacuum to fire again

Stole the holy hand grenade from Worms (which stole it from Monty Python Holy Grail obviously).

 

[regawdless]

I refunded BPM.

While I really liked a lot about the game, the non existent progression outside of the randomized runs and always starting over with nothing killed it for me. If they'd implement unlockables and shit to blast through the first level at least, I'd love the game.

Then I saw a pretty similar game: Metal: Hellsinger.

Same rhythm based gameplay, but more refined, with better mechanics and deeper. With an evolving song for each level. And with real levels and a story, no rogue light shit. It's kinda cringe and cheesy, made by hilarious metal heads. But it's really fun, played the demo and will most likely buy the game. Will add it to the OP.

With songs from:

 

[regawdless]

I also played and refunded Kingdom of the Dead.

It has a unique style and the concept was intruiging. Monochrome colors, with the red blood as a nice contrast. It pissed me off from the beginning though. I couldn't move, didn't work on KBM. After some time, I tried the controller, which worked. Turns out you need to unplug your controller to be able to play with keyboard and mouse. Which... this is the full release of your game. What the fuck is this incompetence.

It's a horror style shooter, where you basically have to score headshots. Otherwise, the enemies can take too many bullets for you to survive/have enough ammo. I love headshots, so this was cool. The atmosphere and the world were pretty nice, it's dark and bleak. But the weapon feedback and the overall feeling weren't great. Many people really like the game, but it's not for me.

 

[regawdless]

I'm currently playing Forgive Me Father and loving it. @Barnabot was absolutely right, this game should be one of the first ones to come to mind when talking about this genre. Such a great art style, very well hidden secrets, crazy action fun, varied levels, good upgrade system where you have to chose between offense and defense.

And many little references to different stuff. Like these ones:

 

[Barnabot]

I'm currently playing Forgive Me Father and loving it. @Barnabot was absolutely right, this game should be one of the first ones to come to mind when talking about this genre. Such a great art style, very well hidden secrets, crazy action fun, varied levels, good upgrade system where you have to chose between offense and defense.

And many little references to different stuff. Like these ones:

I see you got the right upgrade to you rifle. I got the other one which shoots a large green ball. It sucks

save ammo for boss battles and learn to be moving non-stop during these fights.

 

[regawdless]

I see you got the right upgrade to you rifle. I got the other one which shoots a large green ball. It sucks

save ammo for boss battles and learn to be moving non-stop during these fights.

I'm always moving like a madman, I have internalized the Q3A gaming style.

I like the upgrade system, and some of the upgrades look pretty neat, I like how the weapons change after doing it.

I always test the new fire modes a bit, and then go back to the last save file to make the real decision. And there are reset points, so there's always the possibility to re spec.

 

[mcz117chief]

Old but still relevant

The one on the left is only good if you already know the maps like the backside of your hand. I prefer Call of Duty over any boomer shooter because of its simple design and fast paced action which is something I need in an FPS shooter. Once I know the game inside and out I can tolerate a complex design but being stuck on a level for 30 minutes looking for a key is not my idea a of a good FPS game. It is also the reason why I never finished DOOM 2, Duke Nukem 3D or BLOOD, because I would just play the first few levels which I know so I can keep the pace going but quickly lose interest in further levels as I get lost all the time.

I do prefer atmospheric games like Medal of Honor Airborne/Pacific, Call of Duty, SW Battlefront, Halo etc.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

The one on the left is only good if you already know the maps like the backside of your hand. I prefer Call of Duty over any boomer shooter because of its simple design and fast paced action which is something I need in an FPS shooter. Once I know the game inside and out I can tolerate a complex design but being stuck on a level for 30 minutes looking for a key is not my idea a of a good FPS game. It is also the reason why I never finished DOOM 2, Duke Nukem 3D or BLOOD, because I would just play the first few levels which I know so I can keep the pace going but quickly lose interest.

I do prefer atmospheric games like Medal of Honor Airborne/Pacific, Call of Duty, SW Battlefront, Halo etc.

personally I think SW Dark Forces was the first first-person-shooter where levels became distinctive and memorable, where every segment of a map felt like it was interconnected and you could navigate by visual cues. Most DOOM-style shooters were basically just fast-paced Might & Magic / first person AD&D dungeon labyrinths with an open skybox.

 

[mcz117chief]

personally I think SW Dark Forces was the first first-person-shooter where levels became distinctive and memorable, where every segment of a map felt like it was interconnected and you could navigate by visual cues. Most DOOM-style shooters were basically just fast-paced Might & Magic / first person AD&D dungeon labyrinths with an open skybox.

Dark Forces is pretty good except for the sewer level, the elevator shenanigans in the prison and the conveyer belts at the end. Still, I only finished it because it is Star Wars.

 

[Cravis]

I'm currently playing Forgive Me Father and loving it. @Barnabot was absolutely right, this game should be one of the first ones to come to mind when talking about this genre. Such a great art style, very well hidden secrets, crazy action fun, varied levels, good upgrade system where you have to chose between offense and defense.

And many little references to different stuff. Like these ones:

Thank you for bringing this one to my attention. I bought it and am loving it. The art style and level design are amazing. Really enjoying it.

 

[regawdless]

Thank you for bringing this one to my attention. I bought it and am loving it. The art style and level design are amazing. Really enjoying it.

I'm glad you like it! I'm very close to the end of the game and it's an ever escalating wild ride. Gets rather challenging towards the end, with some intense and messy encounters. I feel like it overstays its welcome a bit now. It's still a great game with many good ideas.

 

[regawdless]

Can't wait for TREPANG 2! There was a demo two years ago and since then there is no release date. They're working on it and it looks bonkers, but it doesn't feel like it'll release any time soon.



Will add it to the first post.

 

[regawdless]

Stygian Revery

Looked promising at first glance, but pretty shitty once combat gets going. This one won't be good, I call it right now.

 

[regawdless]

Added Severed Steel to the OP because I just played it.

Damn solid game. Movement is amazing, fast, controls are on point, simple visuals but good style, especially with the RT reflections. Running it maxed at 5k with RT at 144fps. It has a very good DLSS implementation which looks cleaner than native and reduces the noise inside of the RT reflections. It has fully destructible voxel environments, slow mo, dodging, sliding and double jump, which means carnage. I'm having a great time with it, recommended!

 

[Dreamlord]

Added Severed Steel to the OP because I just played it.

Damn solid game. Movement is amazing, fast, controls are on point, simple visuals but good style, especially with the RT reflections. Running it maxed at 5k with RT at 144fps. It has a very good DLSS implementation which looks cleaner than native and reduces the noise inside of the RT reflections. It has fully destructible voxel environments, slow mo, dodging, sliding and double jump, which means carnage. I'm having a great time with it, recommended!

It gets quite hard after a few levels. Needs a lot of concentration. I like it, but have not yet finished it.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

The running and shooting reminds me of Ghostrunner. I might pick up Severed Steel but PS4 version instead of Switch, since performance seems kinda important

 

[Gold Loot]

Happy to report that severed Steel plays great on PS5. Controller aiming and movement feels surprisingly well.

 

[regawdless]

The running and shooting reminds me of Ghostrunner. I might pick up Severed Steel but PS4 version instead of Switch, since performance seems kinda important

Happy to report that severed Steel plays great on PS5. Controller aiming and movement feels surprisingly well.

It gets quite hard after a few levels. Needs a lot of concentration. I like it, but have not yet finished it.

Playing the game on the standard difficulty, I'm not breezing through it. Mostly because of the speed and getting my shit together regarding the movement, I'm doing many very stupid moves and am all over the place. Have to get into it. Moevement is much more fluid and fast compared to Ghostrunner. When I saw all the platforms it's available for, my first thought was "Oh the horror of playing this with a controller!"

But great to hear that it plays well with it. I have to say that the options menu is GREAT. You can customize it a lot, with automated kicking when enemies are in range or adjust the wall running speed for example. Really good stuff here by the devs.

 

[Bonfires Down]

This one looks sweet. Early Access for now though.

 

[Bunta]

Great thread, was looking for an overview of this sub-genre.
There's an addon/extension for Ion Fury in the works called Ion Fury: Aftershock, it keeps getting pushed back though:

Steam:

GOG:

Ion Fury: Aftershock

Ion Fury Continues: The Explosive Aftershock! Just when you thought it was over, the bat

www.gog.com

 

[regawdless]

Great thread, was looking for an overview of this sub-genre.
There's an addon/extension for Ion Fury in the works called Ion Fury: Aftershock, it keeps getting pushed back though:

Steam:

GOG:

Ion Fury: Aftershock

Ion Fury Continues: The Explosive Aftershock! Just when you thought it was over, the bat

www.gog.com

I keep an eye on this one as well. Really have to play the base game. Started it, liked it a lot, but then some big game came around and distracted me.